Small grants deliver improvements for volunteer-led museums across NSW
Small volunteer-led museums and galleries across the state will share in close to $20,000 from the NSW Government to deliver a range of improvements, from purchasing much-needed equipment, enhancing operations, and delivering an improved visitor experience.
Lee Brown Volunteer History Teacher Toolkit Port Macquarie Museum Past Port Project
Chief Executive of Create NSW Annette Pitman said the 2023 Volunteer Museum Small Grants aim to enable volunteer-driven community museums and Aboriginal Keeping Places in NSW to deliver projects that strengthen the vital link between communities and local collections and histories.
“This round will provide 13 regional museums with support for projects that will help historians and volunteers in their important work of preserving and sharing NSW’s rich cultural legacy.”Annette Pitman, Chief Executive Create NSW
“These projects will equip regional museums from Broken Hill to Gilgandra and Bermagui with new assets, fixtures, signage, and other improvements, to boost access and engagement for local communities and visitors.”
Museums & Galleries of NSW CEO Brett Adlington said, “Small museums are the lifeblood of regional communities, keenly attuned to telling their respective stories. With this modest funding, our small and volunteer-led museums will be able to amplify their work in ensuring these local stories continue to be told.”
Previous grants have funded the purchase of cataloguing software, exhibition mannequins and display cases, oral history recording equipment and archival storage items.
Past recipient, Port Macquarie Museum, received funds in 2022 to design an educational resource, Past Port History Teachers Toolkit, which has been used to engage local students.
Debbie Sommers, Curator at Port Macquarie Museum, said the Museums and Galleries grant programs provide valuable support for innovation and improvements, particularly at independent community-based museums.
“Our museum, audiences, and community have benefited greatly from the funds provided, supporting new programs and exhibitions, important collection management resources, and skills development and training.”Debbie Sommers, Curator, Port Macquarie Museum
Applications for the second round of the 2023 Volunteer Museum Small Grants will close 10 September 2023.
Visit http://www.mgnsw.org.au for more information and guidelines, and a full list of 2023 Round 1 recipients.