Funding and Support, National Cultural Heritage Account

The National Cultural Heritage Account helps Australian public cultural organisations buy significant objects that they could not otherwise afford.

How it works

Who can apply

Australian cultural institutions can apply for funding. This includes museums, art galleries, libraries, archives, historic buildings, national trusts and local history museums and galleries, and Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander keeping places for sacred/secret material.

When to apply

You can apply at any time. We approve funding on a case-by-case basis.

Funding available

A total of $500,000 is available each year.

Program Information

funding tabs

About The Program

The National Cultural Heritage Account keeps Australian protected objects in Australia so they can be preserved and made available to the public.

Cultural organisations that can care for and provide permanent public access to Australian protected objects have a priority for funding.

Individuals can also apply if they intend to gift the object to an eligible cultural institution with a permanent public collection. In these cases, the grant and the gifting of the object must be simultaneous.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander groups can apply for funding even if they do not have a permanent public collection. This is because of the special significance of Class A objects of heritage to Indigenous communities.

The following Australian protected objects are priorities for funding:

Class A objects in Australia and overseas
Class B objects that have been denied an export permit
Class B objects that have been granted an export permit on condition that they be available at fair market value for purchase by an eligible cultural organisation
Class B objects that are overseas.

Find out more: The National Cultural Heritage Control List.

How to apply

You must apply in writing to us.

Funding is approved on a case-by-case basis and usually covers a proportion of the fair market value of the object. Fair market value is determined by recent auction prices or the actual price paid.

The National Cultural Heritage Committee considers applications and provides recommendations to the Minister for the Arts.

You might be asked to provide at least two independent valuations from valuers approved under the Commonwealth's Cultural Gifts Program.

Find out more: A list of approved Cultural Gift Program valuers.

How to care for your object

After you receive funding you must agree to permanently care for and provide public access to that object.

The National Cultural Heritage Committee must be informed if a cultural organisation loses, can no longer care for or keep safe, or de-accessions an object.

Contact

Cultural Property Section
Department of Communications and the Arts
GPO Box 2154
Canberra ACT 2601

Email: movable.heritage [at] arts.gov.au
Phone: 1800 819 461

Who We've Funded

We have funded state and national institutions, as well as regional and not-for-profit organisations.

Past recipients of funding have included:

2018

Thylacine pelt in complete condition, National Museum of Australia, December 2018
Silver Streak hydroplane, South Australian Maritime Museum, September 2018
The Campbell Epergne, Orange Regional Museum, June 2018
A collection of 23 paintings by artist Jarinyanu David Downs, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, June 2018
19th century Aboriginal shield, Queensland Art Gallery, June 2018

2017

Chamberlain 8 'Australian Special' race car, National Motor Museum, December 2017
15.3 kilogram meteorite, Queensland Museum, September 2017
Untitled(1971) painting by Aboriginal artist Tutuma Tjapangati, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, June 2017
Five piece bedroom suite by WH Rocke and Co, Museums Victoria, June 2017
The Fire of Australia Opal, the South Australian Museum, January 2017

2015

The Bulahdelah and Districts Historical Society's Alunite-veined Rhyolite Specimen, Geological Society of Australia National Rock Garden, June 2015
The Marlborough Chrysoprase Specimen, Geological Society of Australia National Rock Garden, June 2015
'Otto' type stationary engine, Tangyes Limited, serial no 93, c1892, Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, June 2015
Collection of nine drawings by Hilda Rix Nicholas, Australian War Memorial, June 2015
Gold paperweight by Hammerton & Sons, Geelong (1922) presented to Dame Nellie Melba, Museum Victoria, April 2015
Marshall Colonial Traction Engine number 52110, Southern Tablelands Vintage Farm Machinery Club, June 2015

2014

Bechstein Concert Grand Piano, 1878, the Powerhouse Museum, February 2014
John Fowler, Three Speed, Road Locomotive 16161, 1923, the Canberra Museum and Art Gallery, June 2014
Horace Moore-Jones, Landing at ANZAC, Painting, 1915, the Australian War Memorial, June 2014
The Fairfax Media Glass Plate Negative Collection (1908–1930s), the National Library of Australia, June 2014

2013

Virgin Rainbow Opal, the South Australian Museum, January 2013
Innes Motor Car, 1904, the Australian Motorlife Museum, June 2013

2012

Wedgewood Swan Vase, c. 1878, the Powerhouse Museum, February 2012
Two opalised crinoid fossils, South Australian Museum, February 2012
The Fairfax media Glass-Plate Negative Collection (1900–1935), the National Library of Australia, June 2012
Water Dreaming at Kalipinya, the National Gallery of Australia, September 2012
The Mary Anne Friend Journal, c. 1829, the State Library of Western Australia, September 2012
The Marshall T6275 Engine, c. 1914, the New England Antiques Machinery Club, September 2012
The Malcolm Moore Engine, c. 1956, Alexandra Timber Tramways, May 2012

2011

A Department of Aircraft Production (DAP) Beaufort Bomber Mark V–A9–13, Australian Aviation Restoration Group, June 2011
The Rennie Ellis Photographic Collection (1960s to 1980), State Library of Victoria, January 2011
A sundial by Raphael Clint, c. 1837, Port Macquarie Historical Society, October 2011
The Loch Ard Watch, c. 1812, Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum, October 2011

2010

Two Nineteenth-Century Indigenous Shields, National Gallery of Victoria, January 2010
Durack Family Papers collection, State Library of Western Australia, January 2010

2009

The Adelaide Hunt Club Cup 1870, Art Gallery of South Australia, April 2009
The Bruno Benini Photography Archive (1950–2001), Powerhouse Museum, April 2009
Three Omai Relics from the Tobias Furneaux Collection, Australian National Maritime Museum, November 2009
An 1885 blackwood table with inlaid mosaic, Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, December 2009

2008

A 1930s handwritten tonic book used by Harry Telford, trainer and part owner of Phar Lap, Museum Victoria, May 2008
The Charlotte Medal, Australian National Maritime Museum, July 2008

2007

A nineteenth-century Aboriginal wokali bark shield, South Australian Museum, April 2007
Two drawings, A Fight and Another Fight, by Tommy McRae, c. 1890, Museum Victoria, May 2007
A double bass by John Devereux, c. 1856, Powerhouse Museum, May 2007
The Australian Jockey Club Sydney Gold Cup, 1950, Powerhouse Museum, May 2007
A roll top desk, c. 1900, Norfolk Island Museum, June 2007
A Fowler Steam Traction Engine, 1884, Nathalia and District Historical Society, June 2007
Seven sketchbooks by Arthur Streeton, Official War Artist, World War One, Australian War Memorial, June 2007
A Genairco biplane aircraft, 1930, Powerhouse Museum, June 2007
The photographic archive of Mark Strizic, 1957–1977, State Library of Victoria, August 2007
Eleven diaries of the Bussell Family, c. 1832–1840, State Library of Western Australia, August 2007
A daguerreotype Aboriginal Man, Woman and Child, 1847 by Douglas Thomas Kilburn, Museum Victoria, September 2007
An 1896 Fowler 0–6–0T Tank Steam Locomotive, Isis & District Historical Society, October 2007

2006

The Pascoe Ichthyosaur fossil, South Australian Museum, January 2006
A Broadwood Upright Cabinet Piano, c. 1830, National Trust of Australia (Tasmania), February 2006
Two Gulmari Shields, Queensland Museum, February 2006
A Ronisch Concert Grand Piano, c. 1880, School of Music, Australian National University, April 2006
View of Geelong by Eugene Von Guerard, 1856, Geelong Art Gallery, June 2006
A Hobson's Bay Pier Steam Hoisting Engine, c. 1854, Museum Victoria, June 2006

2005

A Clayton & Shuttleworth Steam Traction Engine 1911, Millthorpe & District Historical Society, December 2005

2004

The original Deed of Settlement of the South Australia Company, State Library of South Australia, February 2004
The racing saddle worn on Phar Lap by the jockey, Billy Elliot, Museum Victoria, March 2004
The Holden 'No.1 Prototype', National Museum of Australia, August 2004

2003

Master Blackburn's Starter and Cosh, a cat of nine tails whip made between 1788 and 1892, South Australian Museum, January 2003
A Cliff and Bunting Steam Traction Engine c. 1902, Museum Victoria, May 2003
A Marshall 'Colonial' C Class Oil Tractor c. 1911, Queensland Sugar Museum, February 2003

2001

An Aboriginal painting 'Water Dreaming' 1972 by Old Walter Tjampitjinpa, Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, February 2001
A 1923 Alfa Romeo Tourer motor vehicle, Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery in Launceston, May 2001
The Frodsham Regulator No.1062, Museum Victoria for the Melbourne Observatory in the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne, June 2001The left shoulder plate of the armour worn by Ned Kelly at the siege of Glenrowan in 1880, State Library of Victoria, October 2001