[13] From 2015 until August 2018, Arts South Australia was headed by Peter Louca, former chief of staff to Minister Jack Snelling[19] and one-time Labor Party candidate for the federal seat of Mayo.
They are qualified to work on a range of materials, including paper, photographs, textiles, sculptures, and heritage building features in the laboratories, and also provide advice on optimum storage conditions for collections.
Artlab has also undertaken several projects outside of Australia, including cultural preservation in Bali in partnership with the Indonesian Government and others, funded by the World Bank, and work in Taipei and Hong Kong.
[39] Artlab's services include disaster preparedness planning, environmental management of display and storage conditions in order to prevent deterioration, and research and analysis that contributes to both the development of conservation practice and to a greater knowledge and understanding of cultural artefacts and works of art.
It operated as a business enterprise within Arts SA, with initial investment made by the South Australian government and possessing the capability and policy to run a commercial service.
At that time, Artlab warned of the "critical skills shortage...within the heritage industry", and the need for providing courses for people to become stone masons, wheelwrights, carriage makers, and gilders.