National Arts Council Was established under the act no. 23 of 1984. the act was a result of a almagnation of the National Arts Council Act and National Music Council act both of 1974. the allegation was effected in order to streamline the promotion of Arts into a single council and to bring in the theatre arts which has been excluded in the 1974 Acts.
Historically, the governments decision to have these councils was to create an enabling administrative arrangement for the participation of the stakeholders in decision making. the councils also supposed to play the role of agencies in implementing specific culture sector programmes.