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.