Country Arts Support Program

Country Arts Support Program
Name	Country Arts Support Program
Type	Grant program
Established	1990s
Administrator	Australia Council for the Arts
Region	Rural Australia

Country Arts Support Program

The Country Arts Support Program is an Australian arts funding initiative supporting regional and remote New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania, Australian Capital Territory, and Northern Territory communities. It links local local government bodies, community arts organisations, Indigenous Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders cultural groups, and touring companies to national bodies such as the Australia Council for the Arts and state arts agencies. The program emphasises place-based cultural development across partnerships with institutions like the National Library of Australia, National Gallery of Australia, Museum of Australian Democracy and peak bodies including Regional Arts Australia and state peak organisations.

Overview

The program provides project-specific and strategic support to performing arts companies, visual arts organisations, museums, festivals, and community-driven initiatives in regional centres such as Broken Hill, Bendigo, Wollongong, Toowoomba, Kalgoorlie, Alice Springs, and Launceston. It aims to strengthen links between touring producers like Belvoir St Theatre, Sydney Theatre Company, Circa Contemporary Circus and regional presenters, with collaboration from education providers including University of Melbourne, Australian National University, University of Wollongong, and vocational institutions such as TAFE NSW. Partnerships often involve cultural institutions like Art Gallery of New South Wales, Powerhouse Museum, Art Gallery of South Australia, and festivals such as Woodford Folk Festival, Melbourne International Arts Festival, and Adelaide Fringe.

History

Launched in the late 1990s amid policy discussions involving the Australian Council of State School Organisations and state arts portfolios, the program emerged from models tested by initiatives associated with the Australia Council for the Arts and state arts trusts. Early pilots engaged organisations like Regional Arts Victoria and Country Arts SA and intersected with national debates around arts funding led by figures including Quentin Bryce and ministers from administrations such as the Howard government and later the Rudd government. Over time, reforms connected the program with infrastructure projects involving facilities like the Griffith Regional Theatre and town-based galleries in places such as Armidale and Port Augusta.

Objectives and Priorities

The program prioritises place-based cultural infrastructure, Indigenous cultural maintenance with groups such as Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (NPY) Women’s Council, creative industries workforce development in collaboration with bodies like Screen Australia and Music Australia, and regional festival capacity building with organisers from Byron Bay Writers' Festival and Dark Mofo. It advances priorities including audience development, cultural tourism linked to sites like Uluru, apprenticeship pathways with institutions such as National Institute of Dramatic Art, and heritage interpretation with museums like Australian Museum.

Funding and Administration

Administration is typically shared between the Australia Council for the Arts and state or territory arts agencies including Create NSW, Creative Victoria, Arts Queensland, DLGSC WA, Arts South Australia, and Tasmanian arts bodies. Funded activities range from small project grants to multi-year strategic investment, capital upgrades with councils such as Dubbo Regional Council and delivery partnerships with entities like Country Arts SA and Regional Arts Victoria. Financial oversight references models used by agencies such as the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission.

Eligibility and Application Process

Eligible applicants typically include incorporated community arts organisations, regional councils such as Wellington Shire Council, Indigenous corporations registered under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006, festivals, and not-for-profit presenting organisations like Mildura Arts Centre. Applications require project proposals, partnership agreements with touring producers such as Black Swan State Theatre Company or educational partners like Victorian College of the Arts, and evidence of community engagement used in assessments alongside criteria drawn from national frameworks like those adopted by the Australia Council for the Arts and state arts strategies.

Impact and Evaluation

Independent evaluations have traced social, cultural, and economic outcomes across regional centres, showing links to increased visitor numbers for events such as Timbavati Festival and improved workforce skills via training with institutions like Screen NSW and Australian Film Television and Radio School. Impact studies reference methodology from bodies like the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications and include indicators used by Regional Arts Australia and local chambers of commerce. Evaluations highlight strengthened Indigenous cultural transmission in communities across the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara lands and boosted touring circuits connecting metropolitan producers and regional presenters.

Notable Projects and Recipients

Notable recipients and projects include major regional festivals such as Tropical Colours Festival, capital upgrades at venues like the Civic Theatre (Wagga Wagga), community arts programs run by Katherine Town Council, Indigenous-led projects with organisations like Bangarra Dance Theatre partnering regional hosts, and visual arts commissions installed in towns such as Emerald and Stawell. Recipient organisations often work with national producers including Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Bangarra Dance Theatre, Australian Chamber Orchestra, and institutions such as Museum of Contemporary Art Australia to bring touring works, residencies, and community-engaged programs to regional audiences.

Category:Australian arts funding programs