Community Heritage Grants 2010

Presentation by CHG Coordinator, Dianne Dahlitz

Securing Funding

Museum & Gallery Services Qld

Toowoomba - 29 April 2010

What are Community Heritage Grants?

• Aim to preserve & provide access to heritage collections of national significance held by community groups

• Grants of up to $15,000

Who can apply?

• A not-for-profit organisation;

• That owns or manages a collection of national significant material;

• That is accessible to the general public

What types of projects receive funding?

• 2 Types of Project

– 1. Collection Preservation Projects

– 2. Training

Collection Preservation Projects

• 1. Significance Assessment

• 2. Preservation Needs Assessment

• 3. Conservation Activities & Collection Management– Conservation and preservation

activities– Software– Digitisation

1. Significance Assessment

Significance Criteria

• Historic

• Aesthetic

• Scientific or Research

• Social or Spiritual• Significance 2.0 - A Guide to Assessing the Significance of

Collections (2009) - 2nd revised edition (online version) which can be found at: http://significance.collectionscouncil.com.au/online-edition

• Significance - A Guide to Assessing the Significance of Cultural Heritage Objects and Collections (2001) which can be found at:   http://www.collectionsaustralia.net/sector_info_item/5

Tips for answering Section 4 – National

Significance• Make sure your answer refers to the

collection material you are seeking funding for

• Provide as much information about this material as you can

• Identify rare or unique items• Detail items about significant Australians• Relate your answer to the significance

criteria• Attach supporting documents• Refer to the 2009 Assessment Report on

the website

2. Preservation Needs Assessment

• Stage 2 of the 3 stage process

• Assesses physical condition

• Assesses housing and storage facilities

• Makes recommendations – basis for further funding applications

3. Conservation Activities & Collection

Management

• Cairns & District Chinese Ass. – CHG 2008 – Conservation of Metal Objects

Rehousing Collections

• Archival storage materials

• Shelving

• Object cases

Digitisation & SoftwareDigitisation

• Preservation of original materials

• Digital copies management plan

• Outsourcing

Software

• Cataloguing or collection management

• Researched/trialled options

Digitisation

• Page turning of rare manuscript during digitisation

2.Training

• Collection care and handling• Cataloguing• Disaster Preparedness• Collection Management• Assessing significance

• Partnerships with other groups

Care and Handling Training

• Care and handling training workshop

What projects are ineligible?

• Publishing• Exhibitions• Collecting projects• Oral histories (recording or transcription)• Capital works• Microfilming newspapers or magazines• Family history research• Salaries & volunteer costs• Emergency activities• Activities that are complete or in

progress

What are the assessors looking for?

• Evidence of national significance• A clear description of the

collection, who owns it and how it is used

• A project that is feasible & good value for money with a well supported budget

• Projects that will enhance access to collections

• Training projects that will reach many people and collections

Assessment Process

• 1. CHG Coordinator – Confirms eligibility

• 2. Significance Assessor– National significance

• 3. Preservation Assessor– Feasibility– Value for money

• 4. Expert Assessment Panel• Comments from both assessors• Overall application

What do you get?• Grant of up to $15,000

• Intensive Preservation workshop in Canberra (first grant)

TIPS!

• Clearly explain how you will use your grant money

• Attach quotes• Do your research• Type your application• Sign your application & submit

it on time• Applications close 5pm 14 May• Call for advice

Finally…

• CHG is very competitive – if you are unsuccessful don’t take it personally!– Call and ask for feedback– Investigate other options– Try again!

Case Studies

• Miles & District Historical Society (2009) – Significance Assessment of the collection

• Gold Coast and Hinterland Historical Society (2008) – Collection Management Workshops

Miles & District Historical Society – Miles Historical VillageSignificance Assessment - 2009

Gold Coast and Hinterland Historical SocietyCollection Management Workshops - 2008

Dianne DahlitzCHG Coordinator

• 02 6262 1147

• chg@nlagov.au

• www.nla.gov.au/chg