From the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts, Peter Garrett AM MP

Volunteers are the lifeblood of regional arts organisations across Australia. Queensland Arts Council’s regional network of more than 7,000 members in 60 Local Arts Councils is one such arts organisation that thrives on the contribution made by its volunteers.

This publication - Ideas for Action - was commissioned by Queensland Arts Council and developed to support volunteers everywhere who contribute their time, energy and skills to ensure regional arts activities in their communities are a success.

The Australian Government was pleased to provide financial support for Ideas for Action through its Regional Arts Fund which supports sustainable cultural development in communities across regional, remote and isolated parts of Australia. This publication will hopefully inspire volunteers everywhere to try new approaches and activities and add to the rich mix of regional arts activity which occurs every day across Australia.

Congratulations to Queensland Arts Council on this initiative and I hope that arts volunteers across Australia will utilise Ideas in Action and find it a valuable resource.