Our role

The Arts Council’s core functions under the Arts Act 2003 are to:

  • stimulate public interest in the arts;
  • promote knowledge, appreciation and practice of the arts;
  • assist in improving standards in the arts;
  • advise the Minister and other public bodies on the arts.

We do this by:

  • providing financial assistance, mainly, but not exclusively, to artists and arts organisations; we also support others who develop and promote the arts;
  • offering advice and information on the arts to Government and to others;
  • publishing research and information as an advocate for the arts and artists;
  • undertaking a range of projects to promote and develop the arts, often in partnership with others.
 
Desert Rose, (oil on board) - Colin Middleton, 1975, Arts Council Virtual Gallery.
arrow bullet icon

Desert Rose, (oil on board) - Colin Middleton, 1975, Arts Council Virtual Gallery.

Recent publications
10 January 2012: Arts Council prompt payments report (PDF, 0.46 MB)
19 December 2011: Opera policy (DOC, 0.10 MB)
22 November 2011: Annual report and accounts 2010 (PDF, 1.56 MB)