国際アーツカウンシル・文化機関連盟（IFACCA） The International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies (IFACCA)

The International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies (IFACCA) is a global network of arts councils and national arts agencies. The Federation was launched in December 2000 at the Canada meeting of the World Summit on Arts and Culture. The IFACCA mission is to create an international resource and meeting ground for all those whose public responsibility it is to support excellence and diversity in artistic endeavor.

Currently (2007) there are 62 National Members from 56 countries and the Federation is constantly soliciting additional Affiliate Members among arts foundations, publicly supported NPOs engaged in arts sponsorship and research and individuals. Presently there are 49 such Affiliate Members, including the Japan Foundation. The IFACCA offices are located in the Sydney, Australia, in the office complex of the Australia Council.

Operating funds for the IFACCA come from membership fees from the agencies of the National Members and donations and grants from individuals and foundations. The initial operating budget for the 2001-2002 fiscal year was US$175,000.

The current Chairman of the Board is Risto Ruohonen, former chairman (CEO) of the Arts Council of Finland and current Director of the Finnish National Gallery. The executive Director is Sarah Gardner of the Australia Council.

The first IFACCA World Summit on the Arts and Culture was hosted by the Canada Council in Ottawa in December 2000. The second summit was held in Singapore in 2003 and the third was held in June of 2006 in cooperation with the British Arts Council in Gateshead, Newcastle. The next World Summit will be held from September 21-25 in Johannesburg, South Africa, hosted by that country’s Arts Council. Each of these World Summits is attended by approximately 500 representatives of the arts councils of the member nations.

Main Activities

Research Assistance
Supplying information and supporting research aimed at addressing arts and cultural policy issues and providing examples of best practices from the various countries.

Publishing the newsletter ACORNS for member organizations
To improve the management and sharing of information and ideas between arts councils and culture agencies, we have commissioned the editing committee Arts Hub to produce ACORNS , an online news service for and about arts councils and culture agencies. The contents are updated biweekly and include press releases from the member country arts agencies and information about grants, events like international summits, the latest publications and research reports and employment opportunities. There is also access provided to an online newsletter and information archive on the home page.

World Summit on Arts and Culture
IFACCA holds its general meeting, the World Summit on Arts and Culture, once every three years to provide national arts councils, ministries and others with an opportunity to discuss key issues affecting public support for the arts and creativity in light of material, social and economic changes in the times. Each summit is attended by about 500 representatives from IFACCA member organizations and others.
http://www.artsummit.org

Mini-Summits
Apart from the triennial World Summit on Arts and Culture, IFACCA’s secretariat works with members to organize mini-summits on key arts topics.

Training, Exchange
IFACCA’s Future Leaders Exchange (FLEx) is designed to build relationships and develop the skills of people working in national arts councils and culture agencies through training and research projects.

Website
The IFACCA website is multilingual with English, French and Spanish versions. It provides the latest press releases from the member country arts agencies, the member newsletter ACORNS , an information archive, an information exchange roundtable “D’Art” and databases.