The Western Australian Indigenous Art Awards is national awards celebrating the achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists. Launched in 2008, the awards aspire to showcase a representative group of works by each of the Indigenous contemporary artists selected as finalists for the awards. The model for the awards is unique within Australia. The awards acknowledge achievement in three categories: the Western Australian Indigenous Art Award of $50,000, the Western Australian Artist Award of $10,000 and a People's Choice Award of $5,000. In 2009, the exhibition showcases outstanding works by 15 Indigenous artists from across the nation and one artists' group who were selected as the finalists. The artist represented include Ricardo Idagi, Tony Albert, Lorraine Connelly-Northey, Timothy Cook, Nick Cumpston, Wakartu Cory Surprise, Spinifex Arts Project (Women's Collaborative), Dennis Nona, Yinarupa Nangala, Brian McKinnon, Gali Yalkarriwuy Gurruwiwi, Doreen Reid Nakamarra, Tiger Palpatja, Christopher Pease, Shane Pickett, and Daniel Walbidi.