Collections

Australia's collecting institutions play a vital role in Australia's cultural life. They are safekeeping, touring and celebrating Australia’s rich cultural heritage, sharing resources, and mentoring their smaller and regional partners.

The Department has programs and initiatives that support and develop quality collections across Australia at a national and regional level:

• Australian Government International Exhibitions Insurance Program
• National Collecting Institutions Touring and Outreach Program
• Community Heritage Grants Program
• Maritime Museums of Australia Project Support Scheme (MMAPSS)

The Department also develops policies to support Australia's cultural collections:

• Consultation on Extension of Legal Deposit of Library Material

The Department also supports the return of Indigenous cultural property held in Australian museum collections.

• Indigenous Repatriation Program

The Collections Council of Australia was initiated and supported by the Cultural Ministers Council from 2004 to 2010. The Department is now the custodian and copyright holder of several resources developed by the Collections Council of Australia.

• Collections Council of Australia