IASKA's mission is to foster the development of new and more productive modes of interaction between contemporary artists and communities by supporting artistic forms that engage with everyday social situations and are based on an exchange between regional, metropolitan and international points of view. Our philosophy is based on the idea that contemporary art should not be isolated in its specialist domain but be an active participant in a broad, cross-disciplinary dialogue involving a wide range of other cultural and social practices. Progressive change in contemporary art is more likely to emerge from an exploration of new ways of engaging the social context than from simply experimenting with new materials, techniques or styles.

IASKA is leading Australia in this field, offering the only program of this kind in rural, remote and regional areas. Through our programs IASKA aims to promote a dialogue between realities that are usually separated by cultural, social, economic, ethnic or geographical distances. We aim to provide established Australian and international artists with varied and challenging opportunities that diversify their life experience so that Australian culture, in its many forms, is reflected in the contemporary arts. By facilitating a direct connection between communities and contemporary art, IASKA aims to significantly increasing audience interest and engagement with contemporary cultural production in traditionally disadvantaged areas.