The Arts Council Phenomenon is inspired by the first-ever Conference of Commonwealth Arts Councils, sponsored by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation at the University of Kent, Canterbury, England, in April 1979. Written by Dr Jean Battersby, Chief Executive of the Australia Council, to a commission from the Foundation, using a transcript and papers from the Conference, the report identifies and presents the principal ideas and problems which arose during the three days of meetings. In doing so, it offers a succinct and accessible introduction to the issues facing Commonwealth cultural relations at the time.