Northern Territory Ministerial Advisory Committee for the Arts

About

The Ministerial Advisory Committee for the Arts (MACA) provides strategic and regionally informed advice to the Minister for Arts on issues, opportunities and challenges affecting the Northern Territory’s arts, culture and creative industries. The Committee supports implementation of the Northern Territory Arts Strategy 2034 and the Northern Territory Arts Strategy Action Plan 2025-2029.

Objectives

The objective of the MACA is to:

• Provide advice on priorities, emerging issues, and opportunities influencing the Northern Territory’s arts and creative industries, including:
  • sector capacity and sustainability, governance, workforce development, digital transformation and environmental responsibility
  • regional and artform-specific strategies that reflect NT communities’ strengths, aspirations, and cultural diversity
  • opportunities for collaboration between government, industry, education, tourism, and community sectors to achieve shared social, cultural, and economic outcomes.
• Consider and advise on the design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of arts and creative industry policies, programs, and initiatives to ensure alignment with the Northern Territory Arts Strategy 2034 and its Action Plan.
• Support communication and accountability by contributing to the development of public communiqués following each meeting.
• Consider issues that the Minister for Arts may refer to the MACA for advice.

Membership

The MACA may have up to 12 members consisting of six (6) Leading Arts Organisations and six (6) Community Members appointed by the Minister for the Arts.

The MACA membership will reflect expertise across the breadth of the creative industries, including visual arts, crafts and design, performing arts (music, dance, theatre, comedy, circus, etc.), literature, digital and interactive media, and community cultural development.

From time to time, relevant organisations such as the Australian Government (i.e. Office for the Arts/ Creative Australia), Northern Territory Government Key Partners identified in the Action Plan 2025-26, Local Government, regional councils and industry experts may be invited to attend as observers or presenters when deemed appropriate.

Observers may contribute to discussions at the invitation of the Chair but do not hold voting rights.

How to Apply

Read the Northern Territory Ministerial Advisory Committee for the Arts Terms of Reference PDF (644.4 KB).

Expressions of interest for the Ministerial Advisory Committee for the Arts are now open. To apply, fill in the application form and email to arts.office@nt.gov.au.

• Ministerial Advisory Committee for the Arts PDF (207.1 KB).
• Ministerial Advisory Committee for the Arts DOCX (111.3 KB).

For more information or for assistance in completing the application form, call Arts NT on 08 8999 8981.

How applications are assessed

Applications close 12 February 2026.

Applications are assessed by a selection panel consisting of staff from Arts NT, Senior Department Officials and an arts sector leader and should represent the geographical, cultural and ethnic diversity of the Territory. Refer to the assessment rubric DOCX (35.2 KB) for detailed guidance.

Who to contact

For more information on the Ministerial Advisory Committee for the Arts email arts.office@nt.gov.au or call 08 8999 8981.

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