The Half Dozen Group of Artists was founded in 1941 by Lilian Pedersen, Mona Elliott, Frank Sherrin, Len Shillam, Ann Ross and Rosalie Wilson as a group of professional artists whose aim was ‘to enlarge and add to the art interest of Brisbane’ (Minute Book, 1941). Since 1941 the group has held annual art exhibitions. In 1951, it established the LJ Harvey Memorial Prize, which was administered by the Queensland Art Gallery until 1987. As well as the founding members, other past members have included Irene Amos, Vincent Brown, Nutter Buzzacott, Betty Churcher, Roy Churcher, Margaret Cilento, Donald Friend, Cyril Gibbs, Melville Haysom, L J Harvey, Vida Lahey, Kenneth Macqueen, Daphne Mayo, Jon Molvig, Mervin Moriarty, Margaret Olley, Margaret Preston, Lloyd Rees, John Rigby, William Robinson, Kathleen Shillam, James Wieneke. Since 1975 the group has offered untutored and tutored workshops to its members. Through the 1980s and early 1990s the focus of the group gradually changed to become an association of largely self-taught amateur artists. Members of the Half Dozen Group were also active in the Arts Council of Australia (Queensland Division), and a few records contained in this collection, dating from 1952 to 1960, relate to this group.

A not-for-profit organisation, Queensland Arts Council (also know as Arts Council of Australia, Queensland Division) provided access to live performing arts exhibitions to both metropolitan and region areas of Queensland. The council also lent support to communities in the development of local arts programs. The Council toured mainstage and school productions. It folded in 2016.

In 1973, The Arts Council of Australia (Queensland Division) changed its name to Queensland Arts Council (which became its company name) and the name Arts Council of Australia (Queensland Division) was registered as a trading name. It continued to use both names in its advertising material until its trading name was changed to Artslink Queensland. ArtsLink Queensland folded in 2016.