Frank Ford (18 Mar 1935 - 27 Sep 2018) was the godfather of cabaret; his dedication and passion was whole-hearted and unwavering.
He was a champion of artists, a mentor to several generations of Adelaide artists and creatives, and an active writer and director.
Sadly, Frank Ford passed away in 2018, a loss felt across the entire Adelaide arts community. To ensure his passion for supporting new work by local artists continued, he bequeathed a generous, long lasting legacy to his beloved SA arts community. Starting in 2019, the Frank Ford Commission will provide $20,000 each year for 10 years, toward the commissioning of new work from a South Australian cabaret artist or group.
Applications for the 2025 Adelaide Cabaret Festival have closed. Applicants will be notified by the end of December, 2024.
Past Frank Ford Commission
Image: 'Skinny' by Michelle Pearson, 2024, Claudio Raschella
"I am so grateful to have received the 2024 Frank Ford Commission to present my new cabaret work, Skinny, at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival. Not only did the funds immensely help with the development of the piece but the producing, marketing and production support provided through this commission was life changing. The debut of Skinny in June 2024 was an immense success and has many festivals around Australia, Edinburgh and NZ interested in programming the work and this would not have been possible without the commission. Frank Ford AM was truly ahead of his time and could see that by providing financial support to emerging cabaret artists in SA was a truly beautiful and significant promotion of South Australian talent. Adelaide Cabaret Festival is considered to be the best in the world and I would like to think that the Frank Ford Commission is a huge part of the success.
Presenting Skinny was incredibly cathartic but it has also elevated my skills as a performer. I am always self-producing my work. To have such an experienced team do this for me and provide me with the opportunity to create and write and simply be the artist was a really memorable and positive experience. I feel like I have taken all the power back that was slowly taken from me throughout my life through body shaming and fly-away comments that encroach on society. So not only has the commission helped me as a performer, it has also helped me heal and it has touched the hearts of audiences that have been inspired and moved by the piece and the messages within it."
- Michelle Pearson, 2024 Commission
Image: Brag Drunch by Post Dining, 2023
"The Frank Ford Commission was pivotal in developing and launching our food/drag/cabaret concept: Brag Drunch. The support provided by the commission alongside the venue, technical and production assistance provided by the Festival Centre and the Cabaret Festival team made for a truly enjoyable experience. Rarely are independent artists given the opportunity to focus so singularly on new experimental work, let alone trial this work as part of such a fantastic program. We can’t wait to see where Brag Drunch goes from here and tribute this ongoing potential to the support of the Frank Ford Commission."
- Post Dining, 2023 Commission
Image: And Then You Go - The Vali Myers Project, 2022, Claudio Raschella
“Receiving the Frank Ford Commission this year allowed me to bring a project to life that I had been dreaming about for a decade. Vali Myers is perhaps one of the most underrated figures in Australian art history, and I wanted to find a way to tell her story in a way that enraptures an audience, honours her immense legacy, and highlights the brilliant talents of the performers involved.
With the funds I received, I was able to bring nine performers and musicians (including myself) together to devise, rehearse and debut the first iteration And Then You Go (The Vali Myers Project). The support of the commission, as well as Adelaide Cabaret Festival team’s commitment to the ambitious vision of the show and its ongoing journey, is immeasurable.
One particular highlight is that Vali Myers’ own family - her sister, a number of nephews and nieces, and some great-nieces - all flew in from various places around Australia to be in the audience for the first show. They had heard about it, had got in touch, and were excited to see the outcome. Fortunately, they were absolutely blown away by the show, and have been very enthusiastic in supporting future productions in any way that they can. Similarly, Ruth Cullen who runs the Vali Myers Trust also came to the show, and expressed the same sentiment. To receive such a positive endorsement from people who knew Vali so personally, people who are connected by blood and invested so deeply in her reputation and legacy, felt like a significant achievement. It is one of many reasons to continue the journey of this project, and to bring the show to further audiences in the future.
Both Frank Ford and Vali Myers were committed to living so authentically, without compromise, and with such commitment to artistic expression, as supporter and as creator. It feels very fitting to have given Vali’s story its first outing on the live stage with Frank’s support.”
- Victoria Falconer, 2022 Commission
Image: Max Savage - ERN: Australia's Greatest Hoax, 2021
"The Frank Ford Commission has been the most unbelievable opportunity. I never had the honour of meeting Frank, but as we load our show into the labyrinthine bowels of the Adelaide Festival Centre, he's been on my mind. I wonder what he'd make of the show and all this. I sincerely hope we do his legacy proud."
– Max Savage, 2021 Commission
Image: Amelia Ryan & Libby O’Donovan - UNSUNG, 2019