News

New strategic partnership between RAA and the Australia Council

3 December 2003

IT’S A SIGNIFICANT BOOST FOR THE ARTS in regional, rural and remote communities. The Australia Council has made a $420,000 investment in a new strategic partnership with Regional Arts Australia, and there’s more to come.

The Australia Council funding will be invested in two main areas over three years:

• $270,000 towards a regional arts infrastructure and communication strategy and
• $150,000 towards the RAA biennial conference, including $100,000 towards Meeting Place, the 2004 Regional Arts Australia biennial national conference to be held in Horsham next October. In addition to its cash contribution, the Australia Council will also provide additional resources in communications and research for the conference.

Further funding for special projects may be negotiated later. In particular,
the parties are keen to develop a regional leadership program, building on the investment in the communication exchange — meetings of communications, marketing and audience development professionals working in regional Australia which have been organised by RAA
in the last two years.

The partnership is a significant win for Regional Arts Australia.

Australia Council CEO, Jennifer Bott said, “Our investment recognises Regional Arts Australia’s significant achievements to date, and the organisation’s leadership role in the ongoing development of regional arts
in Australia.”

“We look forward to working in this strategic partnership to increase the strength and sustainability of regional, rural and remote communities across Australia through an ongoing engagement with arts and cultural development activities and organisations.”

The new funding ensures the regional arts sector will continue to have an ongoing profile through national advocacy by RAA, and goes a long way to guarantee another fantastic national conference next year.

For more information about Regional Arts Australia, the national body for the arts in regional, rural and remote Australia, visit the website here.