The Australia International Cultural Council (AICC) is Australia's key cultural diplomacy body. Cultural diplomacy aims to engage overseas audiences through the delivery of high-quality and innovative arts and cultural promotions to increase their understanding of Australia's contemporary identity, values, interests and policies.

As an outcome of the Australia in the Asian Century White Paper, the Australian Government is revamping the AICC to ensure a strategic approach to cultural diplomacy.

Australia's cultural assets include:

• theatre
• dance
• film
• television
• new media
• music
• visual arts
• literature
• cultural heritage and conservation services
• design and architecture
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts
• disability arts
• multicultural arts
• community arts, and
• national collecting institutions.

Objectives

• To promote Australia overseas through the arts and culture and strengthen people‑to‑people linkages through cultural exchanges and creative collaboration;
• To reinforce Australia’s standing as a stable, sophisticated, multicultural and creative nation with a rich and diverse culture; and
• To promote Australia’s Indigenous art and culture.

Goals

• To coordinate programs to project a positive and contemporary image of Australia and Australia’s capabilities internationally through the delivery of high quality and innovative arts and cultural promotions
• To strengthen long-term cultural relationships with our key regional partners, particularly in Asia
• To enhance market access and lead market development strategies for Australian cultural exports
• To strengthen business engagement and connections

Priority regions

Priority regions reflect Australia's broad public diplomacy and foreign and trade policy interests. The priority regions, in order of priority, are currently:

1. Asia
2. South Pacific
3. Middle East and Africa, and
4. the Americas and Western Europe.

Members of the Australia International Cultural Council

Following the recommendations of the Australia in the Asian Century White Paper, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minister for the Arts are currently considering changes to the composition of the Council.

Useful links

• Office for the Arts
• Australia Council for the Arts
• Austrade
• Tourism Australia
• Screen Australia
• Sounds Australia
• Australia Business Arts Foundation
• Arts NSW
• Arts Victoria
• Arts SA
• Arts ACT
• Arts NT
• Department of Culture and the Arts (WA)
• Arts Tasmania
• Arts Queensland
• Australia-China Council
• Australia-India Council
• Australia-Indonesia Institute
• Australia-Japan Foundation
• Australia-Korea Foundation
• Australia-Malaysia Institute
• Australia-Thailand Institute
• Australia Awards
• Council for Australian-Arab Relations
• Council on Australia Latin America Relations