This document provides information about various grant programs administered by Museums & Galleries of NSW (M&G NSW) for museums and galleries in NSW. It outlines funding available for volunteer museum grants including Leg Up Grants up to $500, Small Grants up to $2000, Skills Initiative Grants up to $4000 and Project Development Grants from $2500 to $7500. Eligibility requirements and examples of previously funded projects are provided for each grant type. Additional programs described include the Building Improvement Program, Audience Development Fund, and Dobell Exhibition Grant. Application tips and contacts for further information are included.

1. M&G NSW Grant Programs
2017

2. Museums & Galleries of NSW
11 May 2017 2
Nurturing sustainable museums and
galleries within NSW
Advocacy, assistance and information
services

3. Volunteer Museum Grant Program
311 May 2017
An Arts NSW devolved funding program, administered by M&G NSW on behalf of the
NSW Government

4. Volunteer Museum Grants available in 2017
11 May 2017 4
Leg Up Grants matched funding from $50 to $500
Small Grants up to $2000
Skills Initiative Grants up to $4000
Project Development Grants from $2500 to $7500

5. Who is eligible?
11 May 2017 5
Volunteer managed museums
Keeping Places
Volunteer museum networks
No more than the equivalent of 2 full time
employees
Incorporated (or auspiced by an organisation
that is)
Open to the public with regular opening hours (at
least 1 set time per month)
Not for Profit

6. What are we looking for?
11 May 2017 6
A
project
that:
Demonstrates best museum practice
Improves the skills of your museum
volunteers
Is right for your museum (meets your mission
and goals)
Benefits your community
Is innovative
Shows careful thought and planning

7. We cannot fund
11 May 2017 7
Retrospective projects
Projects that already receive any funding from
Arts NSW
Office equipment
Activities or projects that do not relate to
museum work (ie research collections of copied
material)
Organisations that do not have a museum function
(ie Historical Societies or Archives without
museums)

8. Leg Up Grants
11 May 2017 8
Amount available: $50 to $500 of matched funding (ie total
expenses $100-$1000)
Available all year round (until funds expended)
Supports skill development for volunteers in
volunteer run museums
Makes training more affordable
At least three weeks notice before the event
required
Will cover travel, accommodation and registration

9. Leg Up Grants – will fund
11 May 2017 9
Attending skills development events like conferences
and workshops

10. Leg Up Grants – will fund
11 May 2017 10
Hosting a skills development event like a workshop
MA Far North
Coast was
awarded a Leg Up
to cover the
speaker fees and
travel costs for a
Paper
Conservation
workshop

11. Leg Up Grants – will fund
11 May 2017 11
Networking with other museums
Sharing ideas with other
community museums can
be extremely helpful.
This can be as simple as
arranging a visit to
neighbouring museum for
your volunteers. A Leg
Up Grant can help you
cover the costs of hiring
a bus.

12. Leg Up Grants
11 May 2017 12
Examples of other projects previously funded
Museum guiding course
Oral History workshop
Significance workshop
Collection database training
Object handling workshop
TAFE certificate in museum practice

13. Small Grants
11 May 2017 13
Amount available: Up to $2000
Round 2 closes: 1st October 2017
Meet short and mid term collection
based requirements of community
museums and Keeping Places

14. Small Grants – will fund
11 May 2017 14
Collection Management Projects
Riversdale House Museum
purchased acid free textile boxes,
Tyvec, acid free tissue, Fomecore,
2 way Minivac, microspatula,
Pigma and Sharpie pens to enable
the collection to be cleaned,
marked, packed and stored and
displayed in a manner consistent
with best practice

15. Small Grants – will fund
11 May 2017 15
Collection Management Software
Collection management software
(databases) are often requested in
the Small Grants program. To
apply for money for a database,
you must already be keeping
object records – whether on paper,
or in Excel.

16. Small Grants – will fund
11 May 2017 16
Exhibition Development Projects
Port Macquarie Museum
purchased a new upright display
case for use in temporary
exhibitions.

17. Small Grants – will fund
11 May 2017 17
Conservation Work for significant objects
(must have a Significance Statement)
Greens Gunyah Museum in
Lockhart received funding for
conservation work to be carried out
on a significant pastoral map

18. Small Grants
11 May 2017 18
Examples of other projects previously
funded
Purchase of lighting and hanging systems
Purchase of appropriate materials for
constructing display furniture
Interpretation panels
Oral history recording equipment
Purchase of storage shelving

19. Skills Development Grants
11 May 2017 19
Amount available: up to $4000
Available any time until 15th November 2017
Provides funding for the organisation of
regional and state based skill development,
training and networking events

20. Skills Development Grants– will fund
11 May 2017 20
Workshops and training with a regional focus
These can include (but are
not limited to) conferences
developed by and for
volunteer museums.

21. Skills Development Grants
11 May 2017 21
Examples of other projects previously
funded
Significance workshops
Collections database training
Disaster preparedness training
Collection care training and workshops

22. Project Development Grants
11 May 2017 22
Amount available: up to $7500
Closing Date: 1st October 2017
Provide funding for strategic projects with mid to
long term outcomes
Can provide the opportunity for museums/Keeping
Places to work with a consultant
All applications must align with your strategic plan
(unless the funds are being requested to develop a strategic plan)

23. What are we looking for?
11 May 2017 23
Priority is
given to
projects
that:
Develop the capacity for cultural diversity
within the museum or involves Indigenous
partnerships
Result in tangible collection documentation
outcomes
Build on previous participation in NSW
museum development programs (e.g.
Standards Program, Museum Advisor
Program, internships etc)

24. Project Development Grants– will fund
11 May 2017 24
Exhibition development projects
Willoughby Museum
received a grant which
contributed to the upgrading
of some of the museum’s
permanent exhibitions. The
grant funded professionally
printed interpretive panels
as well as showcases and
audio visual equipment for
the exhibition

25. Project Development Grants– will fund
11 May 2017 25
Larger conservation projects
(must be accompanied by a Significance Assessment)
McCrossin’s Mill Museum
received a grant for
extensive conservation work
to be carried out on a
significant silk banner – this
included the construction of
a showcase to keep the
banner secure

26. Project Development Grants– will fund
11 May 2017 26
Working with
consultants on:
Significance Assessments
of collections
Strategic planning
Collection management
Marketing plans
Exhibition plans

27. Project Development Grants
11 May 2017 27
Examples of other projects previously
funded
Development of business and strategic
plans
Development of a combined museums
website
Hosting touring exhibitions
Preservation Needs Assessment
Developing a temporary exhibition

28. Building Improvement Program
2811 May 2017
Funded by Office of Environment & Heritage

29. Building Improvement Program
11 May 2017 29
Funded by the Office of Environment
and Heritage
Fund assessments and/or feasibility
studies for museum and gallery
buildings
If an assessment has been done, will
fund building conservation works

30. Who is eligible?
11 May 2017 30
Established galleries or museums (not archives
or historical societies without a museum
function), regularly open to the public
Small to medium organizations, i.e. no more
than 20 paid staff

31. Building Assessment Reports
11 May 2017 31
A consultant to assess the energy efficiency of the
building
A consultant to assess the appropriateness of the
building for use as a museum or gallery, with respect
to access, sustainability and collection care
A heritage architect to develop a schedule of works
for building repairs

32. Building Works Grants
11 May 2017 32
Required
outcomes
include:
Improved collection care
Improved visitor access to the building and the
exhibits
Improved economic and environmental
sustainability
Submissions must be linked to a building
assessment, whether from the program or
another suitable source

33. Audience Development Fund
3311 May 2017
An Arts NSW devolved funding program, administered by M&G NSW on behalf of the
NSW Government

34. Audience Development Fund
11 May 2017 34
Amount available: up to $10,000
Closing Date: 2nd August 2017
For public galleries, arts and craft organisations in
NSW
Assistance in targeting and developing new
audiences
Encourages galleries to create innovative public
programs that engage artists and the community

35. What we are looking for?
11 May 2017 35
New models for engaging audiences
Tangible outcomes in and future attendance, access
and participation
Applications that create new or extend existing
partnerships within regions
Applications that target audiences from one of the
following: people living in regional NSW, people living
in Western Sydney, Aboriginal people, culturally and
linguistically diverse people, people with disability or
young people

36. Dobell Exhibition Grant
3611 May 2017
Supported by the Sir William Dobell Art Foundation

37. Dobell Exhibition Grant
11 May 2017 37
Amount available: up to $40,000
Closing Date: 6th September 2017
For public galleries in NSW (and independent
curators/artists supported by a public gallery)
Assistance towards the development of new,
curated exhibitions of visual arts
Encourages galleries to create high quality
exhibitions that speak to a broad audience across
NSW

38. What are we looking for?
11 May 2017 38
Thought provoking and high quality exhibitions
Applications that promote visual art and ideas and
seeks to expand audiences and increase interest in
the visual arts
Well planned projects and professional facility
standards
Projects which include innovative public and
education programs
Priority is given to projects that significantly support
artists, extend public appreciation and engagement
with the visual arts and expand curatorial skills and
creativity

39. Things To Keep In Mind
3911 May 2017

40. Hints for a successful grant application
11 May 2017 40
Speak to us first! We can let you know if your
project fits with the program you are interested
Talk to other people about your project, share your
ideas
Frame your project within the guidelines
Get your pitch right – will it stand out from the
crowd?
Be clear and precise
Ask someone from outside the museum to read the
application and let you know their impressions

41. Hints for a successful grant application
11 May 2017 41
Be explicit about who is going to manage
the project
If the project involves a consultant, explain what you
expect from them
Make sure to include evidence of your credibility
(letters of support from Councils or Museum
Advisors, existing plans or policies)
Ensure your budget is accurate
REMEMBER – the Assessment Panel may know
nothing about your museum!

42. Your budget should
11 May 2017 42
Be GST exclusive
Be clear, detailed and add up correctly
Be competitive
Be for the project only
Show all forms of financial support and
contributions to the project
Include quotes for every good or service being
applied for
If a consultant is involved, they must supply a
detailed quote outlining services and fees

43. Make sure your application includes
11 May 2017 43
Examples of any text and design
Details of any object/s involved
A current Strategic Plan and Collection
Policy
Consultant’s CV
Brochures and programs
Supporting documentation like layouts,
fabric samples, maps or photos

44. If your application is not successful
11 May 2017 44
Talk to us! We can give you detailed
feedback from the Assessment Panel
Talk to other museums about their
successful applications
Try again!
Send in your application early and ask for
feedback

45. Where you can get more information
4511 May 2017
http://mgnsw.org.au/sector/funding/
grants-we-administer/
http://mgnsw.org.au/sector/funding/
other-grants/

46. Who to contact - museums
4611 May 2017
Margot Stuart
Museum Programs and Collections Coordinator
T: 02 9339 9913
Freecall: 1800 114 311
E: margots@mgnsw.org.au

47. Who to contact - galleries
4711 May 2017
Susan Wacher
Gallery Programs Coordinator
T: 02 9339 9916
Freecall: 1800 114 311
E: susanw@mgnsw.org.au