COMMUNITY HERITAGE GRANTS (CHG)

Presentation by Mary-Louise Weight, CHG Coordinator

What are Community Heritage Grants?

• Cash grants of up to $15,000• To assist in the preservation and access to heritage collections of

national significance held by community groups

Who can apply

• Not-for-profit, incorporated organisations that own/manage a collection of national significant material which is accessible to the general public

• Examples of not-for profit organisations:Archives Indigenous groups

Art galleries Migrant community groupsGenealogical societies Professional associationsCommunity groups MuseumsHistorical societies Religious groups

Projects ineligible for CHG fundingThe following projects are ineligible for CHG funding:• In-house salaries and volunteer labour costs• Publishing projects• Exhibition research, interpretation and signage, and design• Collecting projects• Oral histories – recording or transcribing• Memorials and plaques• Building works, capital works, repairs/improvements to existing

buildings• Family history research• Digitisation and microfilming of newspapers or magazines• Activities that are in progress or have been completed

What type of projects receive funding?

1. Collection Preservation Projects

2. Training Projects

Collection Preservation Projects

1. Significance Assessment2. Preservation Needs Assessment3. Conservation Activities & Collection

Management– Conservation and preservation activities– Software– Digitisation

Significance Assessment

Port Macquarie Historical SocietyVolunteer Anne Oud and consultant

Roslyn Russell preparing for the significance assessment

SignificanceSignificance refers to the values and meaning that items and collections have for

people and communities.

Primary significance criteria• Historic• Artistic or aesthetic• Scientific or research potential• Social or spiritual

Why use significance?• Access and community engagement• Advocacy• Making good collection management decisions

For a detailed explanation of significance, refer to Significance 2.0 - A Guide to Assessing the Significance of Collections (2009) - 2nd rev. ed. (online version) http://arts.gov.au/resources-publications/industry-reports/significance-20

National Significance of Your Collection

• A significance statement is about the importance of your collection, or items in it

• Only tell us about the collection you are applying for funding, e.g., do not describe the whole collection here, if you are applying for the photograph collection

Tips to answer the National Significance question

• 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 in the collection

• Relate your answer to the significance criteria

• Attach supporting documents

• Refer to the 2013 Assessment Report on the CHG website www.nla.gov.au/chg

Preservation Needs Assessment (PNA)

A Preservation Needs Assessment will:• Assess the physical condition of the collection• Assess housing and storage facilities• Make recommendations – which can be basis

for further funding applications

Conservation Activities & Collection Management

• Prioritised recommendations from PNA• Most at risk and most significant items– Rehousing collections– Conservation treatments– Reformatting – including digitisation– Cataloguing or collection management software

Rehousing collections

Digitisation & Software

Digitisation• Preservation of original materials• Digital copies management plan• OutsourcingSoftware • Cataloguing or collection management• Researched/trialled options

Digitisation

Page turning of a rare manuscript during digitisation at the National Library of Australia

Training Projects

Examples of eligible training programs:• Collection care and handling• Cataloguing• Disaster Preparedness• Collection Management• Assessing significance• Partnerships with other groups

Collection care and handling

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 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

What do you get?

• Funding grant of up to $15,000• Intensive preservation workshop in Canberra (for first time

grant recipients only)

TIPS!

• Clearly explain how you will use your grant money

• Attach quotes for all expenditure items• Do your research• Submit your application online and on time

– late submissions will not be accepted• Contact the CHG office (02) 6262 1447 for

advice

How to Apply

Applications should be submitted online through our online grants management system. Follow the links from our homepage at www.nla.gov.au/chg2014 grant round is now open and will close at 5pm Friday 2 May.

Finally…

CHG is very competitive – if you are unsuccessful don’t take it personally!

– Call and ask for feedback– Investigate other options– Try again next year