Regional Arts Australia is the lead agency for the promotion and development of regional arts practice across Australia. Access to regional touring venues, programs and artists is available through many of its member agencies: Country Arts South Australia, Country Arts Western Australia, Queensland Arts Council, Regional Arts New South Wales, Regional Arts Victoria, Tasmanian Regional Arts and the Northern Territory Department of Arts & Museums.

Regional Arts Australia manages a number of national projects, including the National Arts & Museums Regional Volunteers Training Program, which will deliver basic management, marketing, fundraising and programming training to over 15,000 volunteers in regional and rural areas over the next two years. This program is supported by the Commonwealth of Australia through the Departments of Communications, Information Technology & the Arts and Family & Community Services.

The organisation's members provide varying services, ranging from the organisation and management of touring programs in performing arts (including education programs in some instances) and visual arts through to the development of community projects and festivals. Members also administer significant grant programs funded through the Commonwealth Government's Regional Arts Fund.

The 2002 Regional Arts Australia National Biennial Conference will be held in Albury-Wodonga in from October 11-13 2002. Over 500 delegates are expected for what is the nation's largest regular gathering of regional artsworkers, artists and volunteers and an important forum for debate, discussion and decision. Advance details of the conference program will be available at the Regional Arts Australia booth.

www.regionalarts.com.au