Drawing from its Enabling Law, the Council’s mandate includes the following:
- To plan and co-ordinate Cultural activities towards fostering the development of Literary, Visual and Performing Arts in Nigeria.
- To coordinate national Cultural events amongst the 36 States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
- To promote skills acquisition and youth empowerment through cultural industries.
- To develop and promote the Arts and Crafts Industry through specialized Exhibitions and Expos.
- To promote and develop the revival of Nigerian Arts and Culture through research and publications.
- to render assistance to the States in the field of Arts and Culture;
- to promote the development of music, traditional dancing, drama, indigenous games, opera, cinema, films, photography, folklore, oral tradition, literature and poetry, painting, sculpture, architecture and general arts, wood work, embroidery, weaving and other crafts.
- To establish, for the purpose of carrying out its functions under this Act, a National Endowment Fund for the Arts.
- to network with Arts Councils of other countries of the world and other relevant international agencies such as International Federation of Art Councils and Culture Agencies (IFACCA) and the World Crafts Council (WCC) etc.
- To establish with the approval of the Hon. Minister, Cultural Centres, Theatres, Art Galleries and Craft Centres for the promotion of Arts and Culture.