First Nations Arts

First Nations Arts will support and promote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts practice, enhance sustainable career pathways for young First Nations people in the arts, and increase opportunities to grow First Nations audiences.

It will be overseen by the First Nations Board, which will allocate funds to support and invest in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts and promote best practice in First Nations cultural protocols and principles.


Latest news


Monday 9 September 2024

First Nations Arts is proud to welcome the appointments announced today by the Honourable Tony Burke, MP, Minister for the Arts, to the inaugural First Nations Board. Read more here.

Thursday 4 July 2024

New legislation passed by Parliament today establishes First Nations Arts, recognising the crucial place of First Nations stories at the centre of Australia’s arts and culture.

First Nations First  is pillar one of the Australian Government’s National Cultural Policy,  Revive: a place for every story, a story for every place. 

From 2024,  Revive  establishes a dedicated  First Nations Board  to: 

  • invest in, create and produce, First Nations works of scale, with priorities and funding decisions determined by First Nations leaders 
  • develop a First Nations Creative Workforce Development Strategy 
  • promote best practice cultural protocols, self-determination and cultural safety training across arts and cultural organisations. 

First Nations First  recognises and respects the crucial place of First Nations stories at the centre of Australia’s arts and culture. 

Since 1973 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders have brought a guiding voice on matters relating to First Nations arts and culture and to the broader arts and cultural sector. This has been through Creative Australia’s (formerly the Australia Council for the Arts) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Board and the First Nations Arts and Culture Strategy Panel. 

We build upon the wonderful legacy of those who have come before us with the establishment of the First Nations Board on 9 September 2024. The Board members are appointed by the Australian Government’s Minister for Arts.


Expressions of Interest for First Nations Board

If you or someone you know would like to be considered for appointment to the First Nations Board, you can complete an expression of interest form at the Office for the Arts website  here. If you have any questions relating to the form, please contact  appointments@arts.gov.au. 
Read more  here. 

Apply here.

First Nations Board members

Mr Philip Watkins, Co-Chair 

Ms Rachael Maza AM, Co-Chair 

Prof. Clint Bracknell 

Ms Pauline Clague 

Ms Jeanette James 

Ms Deborah Mailman AM 

Mr Daniel Riley 

Ms Rhoda Roberts AO 

Mr Dennis Stokes 

Dr Jared Thomas