Applications for the Australian Government’s Community Heritage Grants are now open.

‘The Community Heritage Grants (CHG) program provides grants of up to $15,000 to community organisations such as libraries, archives, museums, genealogical and historical societies, multicultural and Indigenous groups. The grants are provided to assist with the preservation of locally owned, but nationally significant collections of materials that are publicly accessible including artefacts, letters, diaries, maps, photographs, and audio visual material.’

A maximum of $15,000 (GST inclusive) in funding is available per organisation. Applications close on 1 May 2013.

Victorian organisations which have previously received grants include:

La Mama theatre – for archival storage materials and equipment, cataloguing and collection management equipment, and conservation of photographs

Tatura & District Historical Society – for digitisation of audio and video tapes; audio/visual display preparation; and data projection equipment

Victorian Jazz Archive  – for archival materials purchase for the Australian poster and photographic collection and conservation training workshop

Wangaratta Historical Society – for conservation treatment of the Marianne Gibson quilt

Buda Historic Home & Garden – for digital reformatting, restoration and preservation of audio tape archives