About the Australia Council

The Australia Council for the Arts is the Australian Government’s arts funding and advisory body.

We invest extensively in a wide range of activities to support artistic excellence and access for all Australians to the arts and culture. In 2006-07, we provided more than $156 million to artists and organisations.

Supporting artists and organisations through funding programs.
We offer funding programs that provide vital financial support to the arts sector – from individual young artists, to Australia’s flagship performing arts companies, and everything in between.

Investing in opportunities for all Australians to enjoy the arts.
We manage and support projects that get more Australians and their communities participating in the arts.

Promoting the arts and building new audiences in Australia and overseas.
We develop and manage programs that encourage more Australians to value the arts and create demand for the arts at home and overseas.

Building the capacity of the arts sector.
We provide advice, resources and other forms of support to help develop the infrastructure that underpins artistic creation.

Facilitating partnerships between artists, governments, business and communities.
We help forge partnerships in all sectors of society to increase the resources available to artists and arts organisations.

Researching the arts and culture.
We gather insight through research and data collection to become a centre for knowledge about the arts in Australia.

Developing cultural policy and advice.
We provide advice and support for all levels of government to inform arts and cultural policy.

Advocating for the arts with government and the community.
We work actively to increase support for the arts by governments and all Australians.

The Australia Council for the Arts is an Australian Government statutory authority, established under the Australia Council Act 1975.

Our leadership

The Australia Council is led by the governing Council and managed by the executive team.

The Council

The Council is responsible for setting the organisation’s overall direction including its policies, priorities and budget. The Council has between 10 and 14 members: a chairman, deputy chairman, the chairs of the seven artform boards, and several community interest representatives. The Australia Council’s chief executive officer is an ex-officio member of the Council.

Executive team

The Australia Council’s executive team is responsible for the strategic management of the organisation. Its members are the chief executive officer and the executive directors of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts, arts development, ommunity partnerships and market development, corporate resources, governance and public affairs and major performing arts.