Movable cultural heritage

Movable cultural heritage includes objects that people create or collect and forms an important part of a nation's identity. These objects are known as cultural property and can be artistic, technological, historical or natural in origin.

There is increasing trade and exchange of cultural property between nations. This exchange can enhance international appreciation of cultural diversity, but it can also lead to the loss of significant aspects of a nation's cultural heritage.

Many countries have laws which regulate the export of cultural property. There is a wide range of cultural property protected including:

• Indigenous art and artefacts
• Works of fine and decorative art
• Scientific and archaeological artefacts
• Fossils, meteorites and minerals
• Agricultural and industrial heritage
• Books, stamps and medals
• Historic materials

In Australia, national and international cultural property is protected through the Protection of Movable Cultural Heritage Act 1986 (PMCH Act).  The PMCH Act gives effect to the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property.

Find out more about the Australian Protection of Movable Cultural Heritage Act 1986 and the 1970 UNESCO Convention

Exporting cultural property from Australia

The export of Australia's significant cultural property is regulated under the PMCH Act. It is not intended to restrict normal and legitimate trade in cultural property and does not affect an individual's right to own or sell within Australia.

The PMCH Act implements a system of export permits for certain cultural property defined as 'Australian protected objects'.
Australian protected objects form part of the movable cultural heritage of Australia and meet the criteria established under the National Cultural Heritage Control List.

Find out more about the export of cultural property

Importing cultural property into Australia

The PMCH Act also protects foreign cultural property.  Foreign governments can request the return of cultural property which has been illegally taken from their country and imported into Australia.  If you are importing cultural property into Australia you must ensure its exportation has not contravened cultural laws in its country of origin.

Australian protected objects that are currently overseas may be legally imported and subsequently re-exported if a certificate of exemption has been issued.

Find out about importing cultural property

Further information

• The PMCH Act is administered by the Minister for the Arts. The Cultural Property and Gifts Section of the Office for the Arts, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet provides the Secretariat to the National Cultural Heritage Committee.
• The National Cultural Heritage Account assists public cultural organisations to purchase Australian cultural property. The acquisition of nationally important objects for public collections enables Australians to access their valuable movable cultural heritage.
• Administrative information on the PMCH Act is available in the Movable Cultural Heritage Annual Reports

Quicklinks

• Make sure it's above board poster (PDF - 358 KB)
• Make sure it's above board brochure (PDF - 442 KB)
• Make sure it's above board brochure (HTML)
• Application for a certificate of exemption from export control (Word - 67 KB)
• Application for a certificate of exemption from export control (PDF - 110 KB)
• Export permit [application] (PDF - 110 KB)
• Export permit [application] (Word - 180 KB)

Contacts

For advice on exporting cultural property, for more information about the PMCH Act or if you have information on possible illegal exports and imports, please contact:

Cultural Property and Gifts Section
Office for the Arts
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
PO Box 6500
Canberra ACT 2600

Email: movable.heritage@pmc.gov.au
Tel: 02 6210 2929
Fax: 02 6210 2905