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About us

Creative Australia is the Australian Government’s principal arts investment and advisory body. We invest in and champion Australian creativity. 

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Tim Hecker presented by The Substation and Room 40, 2023
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Creative Australia is for artists. Creative Australia is for us all.

We invest in creative people and organisations and help build audiences and markets for Australian creative work, both in Australia and internationally. Our establishing legislation, the Creative Australia Act 2023, requires us to uphold and promote freedom of expression in the arts and to support Australian arts practice that reflects the diversity of Australia. As a result, we invest in artists and organisations that represent a range of voices, perspectives and stories.  

Importantly, our decision-making occurs at arm’s-length from the Australian Government minister responsible for the arts. This means that decisions on funding of artists and organisations are made independently from government.     

Empowering the arts and cultural sector

Creative Australia focuses on developing skills and workforce capability, promoting equitable careers and workplaces, and building partnerships to support a sustainable and thriving creative sector. We advocate for the value of arts and culture and for the outcomes and priorities identified by artists and creative workers from across the creative and cultural industries.  

First Nations arts and culture

Creative Australia is dedicated to empowering and celebrating First Nations arts and culture in Australia and internationally. 

Our values

Collaboration

Cooperation with the same purpose

Resilience

Flexible, adaptable and responsive. 

Integrity

Ethical and accountable. 

Service

 Professional and engaged. 

Diversity

Embracing difference

Leadership

Advocate and empower

Our history

We were founded as the Australia Council for the Arts in 1968 and established by the Australia Council Act 1975. In 2012 there was a review of our governance, which resulted in the Australia Council Act 2013. In 2023 as part of the Australian Government’s National Cultural Policy – Revive, we became Creative Australia with an expanded remit to deliver strategic investment for a thriving, modern creative sector.

First Nations thought leadership has been integral to the Australia Council since the first national gathering of First Nations artists in 1973 and the formation of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Board. In 2024, building on this long history, the First Nations Board was established within Creative Australia to oversee investment in First Nations arts and culture.   

The Australia Council for the Arts:

37,000

artists supported

25,000

organisations invested

62,000

investments made

$4.83 billion

value

A place for every story, a story for every place

In January 2023 the Australian Government launched a new National Cultural Policy – Revive: a place for every story, a story for every place. The centrepiece of Revive was the establishment of Creative Australia, an expanded and modernised Australia Council for the Arts, with increased investment and additional functions. This transformational step for the organisation ensures it remains relevant to a modern Australian creative sector and can continue to provide strategic direction and leadership for the arts and cultural sector.

The  Creative Australia Act 2023 replaced the  Australia Council Act 2013

In this section

Who we are

Creative Australia is overseen by the Australia Council Board, the First Nations Board and a number of representative councils.  

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What we do

Creative Australia champions and invests in arts and creativity to benefit all Australians. 

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Corporate social responsibility

Creative Australia aims to deliver investment and support for Australian arts and culture with integrity and transparency.  

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Submissions and advocacy

We advocate for the social, cultural and economic value of arts and creativity to support a thriving arts and cultural sector. 

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Corporate documents

View Creative Australia’s corporate documents, including corporate governance, policies, frameworks, strategies and annual reports. 

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Payment processes for grant recipients and suppliers

Find out about payment processes and how Creative Australia makes secure payments to grant recipients and suppliers. 

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Work with us

Become part of the dedicated and diverse team at Creative Australia serving Australia’s arts and cultural sector. 

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Feedback

We are committed to ensuring that everyone receives fair and reasonable treatment and an efficient standard of service that is sensitive to their individual needs. 

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Contact us

Get in touch with Creative Australia, including support and assistance with our grants and opportunities.  

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Logo Creative Australia

We acknowledge the many Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and honour their Elders past and present.

We respect their deep enduring connection to their lands, waterways and surrounding clan groups since time immemorial. We cherish the richness of First Nations Peoples’ artistic and cultural expressions.

We are privileged to gather on this Country and through this website to share knowledge, culture and art now, and with future generations.

First Nations Peoples should be aware that this website may contain images or names of people who have died.

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We acknowledge the many Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and honour their Elders past and present.

We respect their deep enduring connection to their lands, waterways, and surrounding clan groups since time immemorial. We cherish the richness of First Nations peoples’ artistic and cultural expressions. We are privileged to gather on this Country and to share knowledge, culture and art, now and with future generations.

Art by Jordan Lovegrove