Country Arts SA is
statutory corporation created by the
South Australian government
The Government of South Australia, also referred to as the South Australian Government, SA Government or more formally, His Majesty’s Government, is the Australian state democratic administrative authority of South Australia. It is modelled o ...
under the provisions of the ''South Australian Country Arts Trust Act (1992)'', for the purpose of delivering arts to regional
South Australia
South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a state in the southern central part of Australia. It covers some of the most arid parts of the country. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories ...
. Responsibility for the organisation previously rested with
Arts South Australia
Arts South Australia (previously Arts SA) was responsible for managing the South Australian Government's funding for the arts and cultural heritage from about 1996 until late 2018, when it was progressively dismantled, a process complete by early ...
, but since late 2018 has come under the
Department of the Premier and Cabinet.
History
The organisation was created as a statutory body by the ''South Australian Country Arts Trust Act (1992)'' and grew into being during
Diana Laidlaw
Diana Vivienne Laidlaw (born 1951), commonly referred to as Di Laidlaw, is a former Australian Liberal politician. She was a member of the South Australian Legislative Council (1982–2003) and held several ministerial posts.
Early life
La ...
's term as Minister for the Arts.
In 2010, Country Arts SA established an Aboriginal Arts and Cultural Engagement program, and in 2018 it published its second "Stretch" Reconciliation Action Plan, ''Reconciliation Plan 2018–2020'', vowing to "embed principles of self-determination to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have a voice and play a crucial part in making decisions on all aspects of Country Arts SA".
In 2018, under
CEO
A chief executive officer (CEO), also known as a central executive officer (CEO), chief administrator officer (CAO) or just chief executive (CE), is one of a number of corporate executives charged with the management of an organization especially ...
Steve Saffell, it celebrated its 25th anniversary, announcing a programme which would include a number of shows to be presented in
Port Lincoln
Port Lincoln is a town on the Lower Eyre Peninsula in the Australian state of South Australia. It is situated on the shore of Boston Bay, which opens eastward into Spencer Gulf. It is the largest city in the West Coast region, and is located ...
.
Description
The main aim of the organisation is to ensure that regional and remote communities in South Australia have access to the visual and performing arts as well as cultural development opportunities, so it both presents many types of artistic expression, through performance and exhibitions, as well as supporting local artists and performers.
, the organisation had a staff of 167 people, most of whom live and work in regional South Australia and of whom seven were
Aboriginal Australian
Aboriginal Australians are the various Indigenous peoples of the Australian mainland and many of its islands, such as Tasmania, Fraser Island, Hinchinbrook Island, the Tiwi Islands, and Groote Eylandt, but excluding the Torres Strait Island ...
s.
Locations
, Country Arts SA's headquarters is in Port Adelaide, with regional centres at Noarlunga Centre
Noarlunga Centre is a suburb in the City of Onkaparinga in the southern suburbs of Adelaide, South Australia. The suburb is mostly commercial, being dominated by the Centro Colonnades shopping centre and the small 'Inspire Noarlunga' estate t ...
(the Hopgood Theatre), Whyalla
Whyalla was founded as "Hummocks Hill", and was known by that name until 1916. It is the fourth most populous city in the Australian state of South Australia after Adelaide, Mount Gambier and Gawler and along with Port Pirie and Port Augusta ...
(Middleback Arts Centre), Port Pirie (Northern Festival Centre), Renmark (Chaffey Theatre) and Berri (River Lands Gallery).
See also
* Culture of Australia
The culture of Australia is primarily a Western culture, originally derived from Britain but also influenced by the unique geography of Australia and the cultural input of Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and other Australian people. The Br ...
References
{{reflist
Arts in South Australia