AN INDEPENDENT VOICE FOR THE ARTS
The Arts Industry Council SA (AICSA) is a non-government not-for-profit acting as an independent voice for the arts in SA. Run by a volunteer Executive Committee and part-time General Manager, AICSA acts on behalf of our members to advocate for a strong future for South Australian artists, arts workers and arts organisations.
As the state’s independent, sector-wide representative arts body, AICSA is extremely valuable to the South Australian arts sector. AICSA was constituted as an incorporated institution in 1991. The Council receives no ongoing operational funding from the government, and derives its support from the industry through member subscriptions, fundraising, sponsorship, in-kind donations and occasional government project-specific funding.
Our members include over 150 of the state’s arts and cultural organisations, individual arts workers and independent artists. AICSA is able to continue our work solely through the ongoing support of this community and its collective commitment to maintaining our member subscriptions.
We imagine a future in which South Australian artists, cultural workers and organisations are viable, visible and valued – empowered, connected and able to share South Australian stories and creative practice with each other, audiences and the world.
To achieve this vision, we:
- Connect our members, community and cross-sector allies.
- Communicate, listen and learn, and speak on their behalf.
- Advocate and empower the sector to advocate for
themselves.
Our values
- Art first: We advocate for the value of art, culture and creativity as an essential public service that is central to South Australia life and wellbeing.
- Whole of sector, whole of state: We represent and support more than our members. Our work improves conditions for everybody who works, participates in or enjoys South Australian arts and culture.
- Champion: We take our role as a sector ally and champion seriously. As the state’s only independent, state-wide voice for all forms of art, culture and creativity, we are in a position to have brave or difficult conversation others cannot.
- Amplifying effect: As a small organisation, we know we can’t do everything ourselves. Our work has an amplifying effect by connecting and empowering our members, community and cross-sector allies.
In 2025 AICSA is delighted to present this revised strategic direction, which has been prepared by AICSA together with Strategic Consultant, Kate Larsen. This new plan outlines a vision for AICSA and its priorities for the next three years.
The Arts Industry Council of South Australia (AICSA) is managed by an executive of up to thirteen people comprised of up to TEN elected and THREE co-opted financial members. The Executive Committee members volunteer their time to carry out AICSA’s work and are supported by a part-time (0.2FTE) General Manager.
At the Annual General Meeting held on 20 May 2025, there were four nominations received for the Executive Committee with three vacant spaces. AICSA is very pleased to welcome Dave Court, Emily Tulloch and Joanne Hartstone as a new Executive Committee members.
AICSA also said farewell to outgoing Co-Chair Ruth Weldon and Treasurer Julian Hobba. AICSA thanks them for their extraordinary work with AICSA and their many achievements and we wish them well in all of their future endeavours.
AICSA Executive Committee 2025
CO-CHAIRS
- Emma Webb OAM
- Jo O’Callaghan, Head of Programs and Development, Adelaide Fringe
- to be elected
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
- Dave Court, artist
- Dr Tully Barnett, Associate Professor, Flinders University
- Joanne Hartstone, artist and producer
- Nick Hays, Executive Director, ADT
- Pepper Mickan
- Dre Ngatokorua, Journalist, Umeewarra Aboriginal Media Association
- Caitlin Ellen Moore
- Satu Teppo
- Emily Tulloch, artist and Business Development Manager, COMA
- Rebecca Young, CEO, Access2Arts
- Kim Roberts (AICSA General Manager & Public Officer, Co-CEO Nexus Arts)
Should you be interested in being part of the Executive Committee of the Arts Industry Council of South Australia, please contact our General Manager (info@aicsa.net.au) and include your current biography. The annual general meeting takes place each May and includes the election of the Executive Committee.
Former Committee Members
Julian Hobba, Executive Director, State Theatre Company
Ruth Weldon, Acting Development Manager, Nexus Multicultural Arts
Sarah Brady, Producer
Becci Love, Producer
Eleanor Scicchitano, Independent Curator and Writer
Dr Sam Whiting, Lecturer – Creative Industries, UniSA Creative, University of South Australia
Jessica Alice, Director, Writers SA
Justyna Jochym, CEO of Festivals Adelaide
Vincent Ciccarello, Head of Philanthropy and Enterprise, Art Gallery of South Australia
Kristen Eckhardt, Director of Marketing, Sales and Audience Engagement, Adelaide Festival Centre
Nescha Jelk, Co-Executive Director of RUMPUS Theatre
Jane Andrew, Principal Advisor, Public Art and Design
Craige Andrae, Artist
Christie Anthoney, Executive Officer, Festivals Adelaide
Geordie Brookman, Artistic Director, State Theatre Company
Rob Brookman, Theatre Director and advocate
Phil Callaghan, Director, Ausdance SA
Amber Cronin, Cross-disciplinary artist
Chris Drummond, Artistic Director, Brink Productions
Alison Dunn, CEO, Helpmann Academy
Louise Dunn, Director, Nexus Multicultural Arts
Angela Flynn, Director, Kukuni Arts
Jim Giles, Inaugural AICSA Chair
Jodi Glass, General Manager, Adelaide Fringe
David Grice, Managing Director, Musitec
Penny Griggs, Director, Central School of Art
Liz Hawkins, Director of Programming & Development, Adelaide Festival Centre
Gail Kovatseff, Programs, Audience and Industry Development Manager, Adelaide Film Festival
Anne Levy, Former Minister for the Arts
Greg Mackie, CEO, History Trust of South Australia
Ross McHenry, independent musician, composer and producer
Teena Munn, Producer and General Manager
Dearna Newchurch, Producer
Brigid Noone, Director, Fontanelle Gallery
Liz Nowell, CEO, ACE Open
Andy Packer, Artistic Director, Slingsby
Nadia Parker, Event Programmer Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium
Lisa Philip-Harbutt, Director, Community Arts Network SA
Carolyn Ramsay, AICSA Chair (2008-2010)
Brad Rush, Head of Industry and Artist Fund, Adelaide Fringe
Michelle Ryan, Artistic Director, Restless Dance Theatre
David Sefton, Artistic Director
Gabriella Smart, Musician and Artistic Director, Soundstream
Sandy Verschoor, Arts Producer, Festival of Ideas
Tricia Walton, Director Arts Programs, Country Arts SA
Barbara Wiesner, Director, SA Writer’s Centre
The Arts Industry Council of South Australia (AICSA) Annual General Meeting is held in May. The Finance Report is presented to the membership along with the Annual Report. Nominations and elections for the Executive Committee are also held at the AGM.
Executive Committee Nominations
Financial members are eligible to nominate for the AICSA Executive Committee and must be nominated by two financial members. Please contact AICSA on info@aicsa.net.au if you are considering nominating for the Executive Committee.
For voting rights at the AGM, please become a financial member of AICSA or ensure that your AICSA membership is up to date. For any membership queries please contact AICSA General Manager at info@aicsa.net.au
AICSA is delighted to present their 2024 Annual Report.
Our previous annual reports can be found below:
Digital and web partner
Arts South Australia Recovery Grant
Redevelopment of this website was possible with assistance from Arts South Australia’s Arts Recovery Fund.
Arts South Australia
2024 salaries and networking events were possible with assistance from Arts South Australia.
