Museum Grants

Museums Australia (Victoria) offers $120,000 in small grants each year through:  

These programs are supported by the Victorian Government through the Community Support Fund.

Exhibition Services Grants

Exhibition Services aims to develop the awareness and value of Victoria’s museums and galleries by encouraging these organisations to develop static and touring exhibitions to promote the stories of rich and diverse collections across Victoria to a broad audience.

In 2010, two new grant categories will create opportunities to develop online exhibitions and digital stories.

REMINDER - EXHIBITION SERVICES GRANTS DEADLINE 5PM FRIDAY 2 JULY 2010

Aims of Exhibition Services

  • enhance access, awareness and community engagement of the rich cultural history in Victoria
  • support museums and public galleries, archives and libraries to develop static and touring exhibitions through the provision of facilitation, advice, an annual grants program and professional development opportunities
  • support projects that incorporate historical or cultural heritage including art, science, social and natural history
  • provide an environment for building sustainable capacities and for presentation of quality
  • programming in regional Victoria
  • provide metropolitan and regional communities with opportunities to engage and participate in a diverse range of cultural experiences
  • provide and encourage opportunities for metropolitan and regional networking and collaboration between museums, historical societies and local government


The program offers four distinct areas of assistance:

1. Facilitation services

Facilitation is a key element of the program and will assist those grant recipients who are planning for an exhibition for the first time. The aim for this process is to allow grant recipients to can draw on the Exhibition Services Manager to facilitate the exhibition development process and help them to developing skills and capacities they can use for future exhibition projects.

2. Exhibition Grants

This grant will assist collecting organisations to develop a collections based exhibition for either their venue or for tour. Grants of up to $10,000 are available for organisations to:

  • develop a static exhibition
  • tour an exhibition
  • apply for exhibition infrastructure
  • develop an online exhibition
  • develop a digital story

3. Advisory

The fundamental aim of the program is to empower museums to embark on independent exhibition activities whether they are static or touring. Exhibition Services provides advice on:

  • planning for exhibition spaces
  • programming and installation of museum exhibitions
  • marketing
  • sources of funding
  • evaluation

This is implemented through:

  • distribution of information through site visits
  • manuals
  • professional development opportunities including workshops and seminars, grants, networks ongoing access to specialist expertise

Professional Development is a key component of Exhibition Services that aims to build on and develop skills in exhibition development so small organizations develop and enhance their exhibition programs.

4. On-demand workshops:

A range of on-demand workshops in Exhibition Development is available to groups and communities.

For more information, please contact:
Georgia Rouette, Manager, Exhibition Grants
Telephone (03) 8341 7342    Regional freecall 1800 680 082       

Museum Assistance Grants

MA(Vic) Assistance Grants enhance the preservation of collections, collection management and community access in public museums and galleries. The grants are for small infrastructure projects that cost under $10,000. A typical grant is between $2,000 and $4,000.

The available funds are expected to provide between 7 and 12 grants each year. Grants can cover the costs of practical requirements including museum and gallery fittings,equipment, repairs, signage, specialised services, tools and other items.

Grant recipients are expected to make informed, quality improvements in light of Museum Accreditation Program (MAP) requirements and the National Standards for Australian Museums and Galleries.

How are Museum Assistance Grants allocated?

In 2010, grants totalling $60,000 are available for museums:

  • that meet the Museums Australia definition of a museum
  • located in the greater Melbourne metropolitan region and the south-west region of Victoria
  • with a demonstrated commitment to improvement, public access and involving the community

As most museums and galleries will have small infrastructure needs, these grants are allocated according to a strategy and priorities that help ensure that public funds are used to greatest benefit. Preference is given to small organisations with 5 or less full time paid staff, to museums participating in the MAP program and to organisations addressing priorities and goals in a preventive Conservation Plan, Preservation Assessment, Significance Assessment or comparable guiding document.

Due to limited funds and high demand, formal applications for Assistance Grants are only offered on a by invitation basis in target regions.

Museums and galleries in target regions and in metropolitan Melbourne may submit a formal Expression of Interest for a Museum Assistance Grant in advance of the next funding year.

Applications for MA (Vic) Assistance Grant are only to be submitted by invitation, using the MA (Vic) Assistance Grants Application Form.

Target regions
Museum Assistance Grant funds are allocated on a 50/50 basis between metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria.

The target regions for future years are: 

  • 2011  North-West Victoria and East Gippsland
  • 2012  North-East Victoria
  • 2013  South-East Victoria

For more information, please contact:
Barbara Wels, Manager, Assistance Grants
Telephone (03) 8341 7512   Regional freecall 1800 680 082