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The Australian Government has returned a culturally significant object to the Government of the Italian Republic.
The ceramic vase has been traced to the southern Italian region of Apulia (Puglia) and was made between 340-325 BCE. It has a bell-shaped body and lugged handles that take on the form of animal heads. This type of vase is also known as a krater.
The circular holes on the object’s surface, known as spall marks, are caused by fragments of limestone in the clay, which slowly expand after the pot is fired and can eventually break through the surface.
A handover ceremony to return the cultural object was hosted by the Italian Ambassador on Friday 26 June.
The vase was detected by the Australian Border Force on import from the United States of America on its way to New Zealand in 2020.
It is protected under Italy’s cultural property laws and a formal request was made by the Government of the Italian Republic for its return. This is the first time the Australian Government is returning a cultural object to Italy under the Protection of Movable Cultural Heritage Act 1986.
The Act provides for the return of foreign cultural property illegally exported from other countries and imported into Australia.
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- Visit our Movable cultural heritage page
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Latest news
Ancient ceramic vase returned to Italy
The Australian Government has returned a culturally significant object to the Government of the Italian Republic.
Piece of history returned to Country
A 19th century Aboriginal ancestral breastplate has been returned to Country, entrusted by the community to be held at the Jervis Bay Maritime Museum.
Five objects of significance to Peru’s cultural heritage returned
The Australian Government has returned 5 pre-Hispanic era objects to the Government of the Republic of Peru.
Have your say on Australia’s next National Cultural Policy
Share your views to help shape the future direction of the creative and culture sector.
Have your say
A new National Cultural Policy
Between 23 March 2026 and 24 May 2026, Australians were invited to share their views and help guide the next National Cultural Policy. Public submissions are being uploaded to this page as they're being reviewed by us. Read the public submissions.
Arts and Screen Employment Pathways Pilot Program
We invited feedback on the development of the new Arts and Screen Employment Pathways Pilot Program to support d/Deaf and disabled artists and arts workers. This consultation is closed.
Review of the Indigenous Art Code
A review of the Indigenous Art Code is underway to strengthen the protections for Indigenous artists and consumers across the country. This consultation is closed.
Revive: a place for every story, a story for every place
After extensive national consultation, in 2023 we delivered a 5 year national cultural policy, Revive—A place for everyone story, a story for every place.
Latest consultations
Review of the Protection of Movable Cultural Heritage Act
Shane Simpson AM finished a review of the Protection of Movable Cultural Heritage Act 1986 in 2015.
Funding programs
What's new
Ancient ceramic vase returned to Italy
The Australian Government has returned a culturally significant object to the Government of the Italian Republic.
Piece of history returned to Country
A 19th century Aboriginal ancestral breastplate has been returned to Country, entrusted by the community to be held at the Jervis Bay Maritime Museum.
Helping Australians discover original contemporary music by Australian artists
The Revive Live program is providing over $500,000 in funding to 2 upcoming music events.
Five objects of significance to Peru’s cultural heritage returned
The Australian Government has returned 5 pre-Hispanic era objects to the Government of the Republic of Peru.
Support programs
Displaying 41 - 50 of 256
Celebrating the impact of our National Cultural Institutions
The latest findings about the trends and impact of Australia’s National Cultural Institutions have been released.
Have your say on the Arts and Screen Employment Pathways Pilot Program
Help shape the design of a new employment program to support d/Deaf and disabled artists and arts workers.
Regional arts projects to receive funding boost
Forty-four new arts projects will share in over $1 million thanks to the Regional Arts Fund.
10 First Nations Ancestors returned from Japan in a world-first
A handover ceremony was held at the Australian Embassy in Tokyo to mark the first return from Japan.
Rare 19th Century ship figurehead of a First Nations woman, Australian National Maritime Museum
The Australian National Maritime Museum (the Museum) has acquired a rare 19th century ship's figurehead of a First Nations woman thanks to support from the National Cultural Heritage Account.
Festivals Australia program bringing together past, present and future
Over $700,000 will be shared amongst successful projects through round 20.
Australia set to light up the 2025 Eurovision stage
The latest recipients of the International Cultural Diplomacy Arts Fund will bring Australian art to the world.
Media release – 36 First Nations Ancestors welcomed home from the United Kingdom
We have welcomed the return of 36 First Nations ancestors from the United Kingdom in a ceremony hosted by the Natural History Museum in London.
Language is key in delivering healthy teeth practices
A pilot project teaching dental health practices to First Nations children in language has shown to improve oral health speech and literacy.
Support the rollout of Equity: the Arts and Disability Associated Plan
Expressions of Interest are now open to join the Implementation Advisory Group for Equity.
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Bringing the show to regional and remote communities
Regional and remote communities across Australia are set to benefit from the latest round of the Australia Council’s Playing Australia program. 10 Jan 2023 Erth’s national regional 2024 tour ARC. Image courtesy of the ERTH Visual and Physical …
NewsIndigenous Art Centre Framework
Published: 1 Oct 2024 The Indigenous Art Centre Framework provides a cooperative framework for art centres, industry service organisations and the Australian Government to work together to build and maintain a professional, strong and ethical Indigenous …
PublicationExport Acquittal for Permits and Certificates of Exemption
Published: 28 Oct 2021 This document contains the form to submit an Export Acquittal for a Permit or Certificate of Exemption issued under the Protection of Movable Cultural Heritage Act 1986 (the Act). Please complete a separate acquittal form for each …
PublicationImport Acquittal for Permits and Certificates of Exemption
Published: 28 Oct 2021 This document contains the form to submit an Import Acquittal for a Permit or Certificate of Exemption issued under the Protection of Movable Cultural Heritage Act 1986 (the Act). Please complete a separate acquittal form for each …
PublicationOverview of the Cultural Gifts Program
Published: 9 Sep 2016 The Cultural Gifts Program encourages Australians to donate items of cultural significance from private collections to public art galleries, museums, libraries and archives. Gifts can range from paintings, books, sculptures, …
PublicationPublic Lending Right Committee—Annual Report 2020–21
Published: 27 Oct 2021 The report covers the 2020–21 financial year and is the 34th annual report of the Public Lending Right Committee since the Act came into effect. public-lending-right-committee-annual-report-2020-21-october2021.docx (DOCX, 232.31 KB) …
PublicationApplication for approval as a valuer
Published: 10 Oct 2016 Application for approval as a valuer—Cultural Gifts Program—Section 30-210 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 . cgp-application-for-approval-as-a-valuer_1.docx (DOCX, 741.42 KB) cgp-application-for-approval-as-a-valuer_1.pdf …
PublicationNational Principles for Reactivating Live Performance Venues and Events
Published: 20 Nov 2020 The National Principles complement the Roadmap and set high level standards for how the arts sector could operate in a COVIDSafe way in the 2020 phase of the pandemic. …
PublicationRoadmap for Reactivating Live Performance Venues and Events
Published: 20 Nov 2020 The Roadmap is a guidance document that provided some additional certainty for the arts sector to reactivating safely in the 2020 phase of the pandemic. roadmap-for-reactivating-live-performance-venues-and-events_0.docx (DOCX, …
PublicationFirst Nations language partnerships to Close the Gap
The Australian Government is investing over $4 million towards a pilot program that will establish 11 place-based partnerships between Indigenous language centres and local service delivery partners in health and early childhood education. 9 Jan 2023 As …
NewsFunding and support program archive
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