conni lord, museums & galleries of nsw
TRANSCRIPT
VOLUNTEER MUSEUM (VM) GRANT PROGRAM
Provides museums managed by volunteers and Keeping Places in NSW with funding for collection focussed projects
Volunteer managed museums
Keeping Places
Volunteer museum networks
No more than the equivalent of 2 full time employees
Open to the public with regular opening hours (at least 1 set time per month)
Not for Profit
WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR?
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
WE CANNOT FUND
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)
VM Leg Up Grants matched funding from $50 to $500
VM Small Grants up to $2000
VM Skills Development Grants up to $5000
VM Project Development Grants from $2500 to $7500
VM GRANTS AVAILABLE IN 2016
LEG UP GRANTS
Amount available: $50 to $500 of matched funding (ie total expenses $100-$1000)
Available all year round (until funds expended)
Supports networking activities for volunteers in volunteer run museums
Makes training more affordable
At least three weeks notice before the event requiredWill cover travel, accommodation and registration
LEG UP GRANTS
Examples of projects previously funded
Museum guiding course
Oral History workshop
Significance workshop
Collection database training
Object handling workshop
TAFE certificate in museum practice
LEG UP GRANTS – WILL FUND
Hosting a skills development event like a workshop
Yamba Museum hosted a
Significance workshop and
requested a Leg Up to
cover speaker costs like
travel.
LEG UP GRANTS – WILL FUND
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.
VM SMALL GRANTS
Amount available: Up to $2000
Round 2 closes: 2nd October 2016
Meet the mid term operational requirements of community museums and Keeping Places
VM SMALL GRANTS
Examples of projects previously funded
Purchase of showcases and hanging systems
Purchase of appropriate materials for constructing display furniture
Interpretation panels
Oral history recording equipment
Purchase of storage shelving
VM SMALL GRANTS – WILL FUND
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
VM SMALL GRANTS – WILL FUND
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.
VM SMALL GRANTS – WILL FUND
Exhibition Development Projects
Port Macquarie Museum
purchased a new upright display
case for use in temporary
exhibitions.
VM SMALL GRANTS – WILL FUND
Exhibition Development Projects
Lithgow Small Arms Museum
undertook a large project to
redevelop their museum entrance
with new displays including a large
feature watercolour painting. The
grant funded the aluminium
graphic panel for this.
VM SMALL GRANTS – WILL FUND
Exhibition Development Projects
The Tinonee Historical
Museum purchased spotlights
to illuminate their permanent
displays
VM SMALL GRANTS – WILL FUND
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
VM SMALL GRANTS – WILL FUND
Marketing and Promotion
VM Small Grants have
funded signs and brochures
VM SKILLS DEVELOPMENT GRANTS
Amount available: up to $4000
Available any time until 15th November 2016
Provides funding for the organisation of regional and state based skill development, training and networking events
VM SKILLS DEVELOPMENT GRANTS
Examples of projects previously funded
Significance workshops
Collections database training
Disaster preparedness training
Collection care training and workshops
SKILLS DEVELOPMENT GRANTS – WILL FUND
Attending skills development events like conferences and workshops
The Far North Coast
Chapter of Museums
Australia held a
workshop on paper
conservation
VM SKILLS DEVELOPMENT GRANTS– WILL FUND
Workshops and training with a regional focus
A number of museums from
the Broken Hill area held a
one-day workshop by
Preservation Australia and
conducted by
videoconferencing on the
agents of deterioration,
principles of preventative
conservation and collection
storage and display.
VM PROJECT DEVELOPMENT GRANTS
Amount available: $2500 up to $7500
Closing Date: 2ND October 2016
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 relate to and be accompanied by a strategic plan (unless the funds are being requested to develop a strategic plan)
VM PROJECT DEVELOPMENT GRANTS– WILL FUND
Working with consultants on:
Significance Assessments of collections
Strategic planning
Collection management
Marketing plans
Exhibition plans
VM PROJECT DEVELOPMENT GRANTS
Examples of projects previously funded
Development of business and strategic plansDevelopment of a combined museums website
Hosting touring exhibitions
Preservation Needs Assessment
Developing a temporary exhibition
WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR?
Priority is given to projects that:
Involve other groups and organisations (collaborations and partnerships)
Encourage engagement with the wider community
Involve diverse (and new) audiences
VM PROJECT DEVELOPMENT GRANTS– WILL FUND
Exhibition development projects
Berrima Museum received a
grant which contributed to
the development of
Prisoners in Arcady:
German Mariners in Berrima
1915-1919. The grant
funded professionally
printed interpretive panels
as well as audio visual
equipment for the exhibition
VM PROJECT DEVELOPMENT GRANTS– WILL FUND
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
BUILDING IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM
Funded by the Office of Environment and Heritage
Fund assessments and/or feasibility studies for museum and gallery buildingsIf an assessment has been done, will fund building conservation works
WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
Established galleries or museums (not archives or historical societies without a museum function), regularly open to the public
Small to medium organisations, i.e. no more than 20 paid staff
BUILDING ASSESSMENT REPORTS
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
BUILDING WORKS GRANTS
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
WE CANNOT FUND
Retrospective projects or projects that have already begun
Air conditioning systems
In-house salaries and volunteer labour costs
New or additional building structures or extensions of any kind
HINTS FOR A SUCCESSFUL GRANT APPLICATION
Speak to us first! We can let you know if your project fits with the program you are interested in
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
HINTS FOR A SUCCESSFUL GRANT APPLICATION
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!
YOUR BUDGET SHOULD
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
MAKE SURE YOUR APPLICATION INCLUDES
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
IF YOUR APPLICATION IS NOT SUCCESSFUL
Talk to us! We can give you detailed feedback from the Assessment Panel
Talk to other museums about their successful applications
Try again!
WHERE YOU CAN GET MORE INFORMATION
http://mgnsw.org.au/sector/funding/
grants-we-administer/
http://mgnsw.org.au/sector/funding
/other-grants/
WHO TO CONTACT
Conni Lord,
Museum Programs and Collections Coordinator (Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri)
T: 02 9339 9913
Freecall: 1800 114 311