[3] It advocates better recognition and support for the regional, rural and remote arts sector in Australia.
It initiates and manages projects to support regional artists, artsworkers and communities in arts practice, arts promotion and audience development in the regional and rural sectors.
[4] The origin of the Arts Council movement in Australia was the New South Wales based Council for the Encouragement of Music and the Arts (CEMA) formed in 1943 by the singer Dorothy Helmrich modelled on the British organisation of the same name.
Arts Councils were formed in South Australia (1946, lapsed in 1952 and reformed in 1965), Tasmania (1951), the Australian Capital Territory (lapsed in 1952 and reformed in 1962), Queensland (1961), Victoria (1969), the Northern Territory (1967) and Western Australia (1973).
[6] The constituent members of Regional Arts Australia are:[7] In 2003, it joined with four other peak industry bodies, the Federation of Australian Historical Societies, Museums Australia, the Australian Council of National Trusts, and the Australian Library and Information Association, to form The Regional Cultural Alliance in order to "help regional artists gain greater access to skills development and training as well as present a united front when lobbying government ... to better co-ordinate existing programs for cultural development in the regions and recognise the economic opportunities art and culture create for regional centres.