REGIONAL ARTS AUSTRALIA IS THE LONGEST CONTINUALLY EXISTING ARTS ORGANISATION OF ITS KIND IN AUSTRALIA

In 2023 Regional Arts Australia celebrated 80 years since being established in 1943 as the Council for the Encouragement of Music.

In 1943 our founder Miss Dorothy Helmrich, affectionately known as Dot, envisaged a nation where people living in regional, rural, and remote Australia could contribute, participate, and enjoy the arts on equal level to those living in metropolitan areas.

For 80 years, Regional Arts Australia has been facilitating opportunities, increasing access, maintaining collaborative relationships, and providing timely support to celebrate Australian stories across art forms and across landscapes.

An overview of our history:

1943 - Established as the Council for the Encouragement of Music

1946 - The Arts Council of Australia Founded

Mid 1980s - Start of National conferences (Artlands)

1996 - Establishment of the Regional Arts Fund in which Regional Arts Australia played a vital role

2021 - Name changed from trading as Arts Council of Australia to Regional Arts Australia