The Australia Council's primary responsibility is to help create an environment which encourages the creativity and development of Australian artists, and which provides greater access to arts and cultural activities for all Australians. It supports Australian artists and arts organisations to pursue artistic excellence in creating and presenting their work, to take advantage of opportunities to improve and develop their skills, and to tour and promote their work to wider audiences. It directly supports young, emerging, developing and established artists through a range of grant programs offered across all artforms, and it encourages arts and non-arts organisations to support and present artists' work, thereby expanding employment opportunities for all artists.

http://www.ozco.gov.au