The LGAQ recognises the important role arts and culture plays within our communities and supports councils to build community pride, identity and sense of place.

The impact of community involvement, participation and innovation through arts and culture, and the inclusion of art in public places, cannot be underestimated as a significant contributor towards cultural understanding, positive mental health, crime reduction and economic development. In addition, the preservation, collection and interpretation of cultural history contribute to a sense of place, belonging and identity.

What is arts and culture?
Art and culture can be described as the creative processes, practices and activities through which a society expresses, records and preserves its values, heritage and innovation.

Arts Queensland defines arts and culture as:
“All forms of creative practice and artistic and cultural expression and activity. This includes but is not limited to visual art, music, dance, writing, craft, theatre, media art, multi-arts, design, public art, events, festivals, exhibitions, community cultural development and preservation of knowledge, stories, heritage and collections". (Artbeat: Regional Arts and Culture Strategy 2010-2014, pg3).

Assistance to communities, artists and councils

The following pages will provide you with more information on arts and culture in regional Queensland.

• News - catch up on what is happening for grant rounds, conferences and policies
• Funding - a one-stop-shop of links for arts and culture funding
• Resources - a comprehensive page of service providers, networks and resources
  
  

Councils can access the LGOnline portal for a comprehensive suite of resources, tools and research that will help develop arts and culture within their region.

Joint Queensland Government and LGAQ initiative

As part of Arts Queensland’s ‘Think Local, Link Local’ strategy (Artbeat: Regional Arts and Culture Strategy 2010-2014, pg27), a Local Government Arts and Culture Reference Group has been established to identify strategies and partnership opportunities for the development of arts and culture in regional Queensland. In addition, an Arts and Culture Policy Officer, located at the LGAQ and funded by Arts Queensland, aims to build on the arts and culture expertise, skills and network of councils and to advocate for the inclusion of arts and culture in Council agendas. For more information contact: Elspeth McEachern, Arts and Culture Policy Officer, LGAQ (07) 3000 2204 or email your enquiry.

Acknowledgements
Injinoo Dance Group - image kindly provided by the Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council.
The LGAQ acknowledges Arts Queensland for the financial support of an Arts and Culture Policy Officer for Local Govenment.