Supporting the conservation and display of significant national and historical maritime material.

The Maritime Museums of Australia Project Support Scheme (MMAPSS) offers grants of up to $15,000 to museums and other not-for-profit organisations to help identify, develop, conserve, maintain or display objects of national and historical maritime significance, and also offers grants of up to $3,000 to support staff and volunteers from eligible organisations to spend time learning specific skills and making valuable connections through the Maritime Museums Administrators' Course.

How to apply

Visit the Australian National Maritime Museum's website for information on how to apply.

When to apply

There is one funding round each year. For information on application dates, visit the Australian National Maritime Museum's website.

Funding available

Grants of up to $15,000 are available to museums and other organisations to help identify, conserve, maintain and display objects of national and historical maritime significance. A total of $125,000 in funding is available each year under MMAPSS.

    About the program

    Program background

    MMAPSS is jointly funded by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts, and the Australian National Maritime Museum (ANMM). The ANMM administers MMAPSS.

    MMAPSS grants fall into one of the following categories:

    • Collection management (registration, documentation and storage)
    • Conservation (preservation, vessel restoration, conservation work/treatments and professional assessments)
    • Presentation (research, development of exhibitions, establishing interpretative displays and workshops)
    • Development of relevant education or public programs which make collections more accessible to audiences
    • Placements with the Maritime Museum Administrators' Course for paid or unpaid workers of not-for-profit organisations caring for Australia's maritime collections to help develop museological skills and knowledge to increase standards of practice in caring for and managing maritime collections.

    The Australian Government's National Cultural Policy—Revive: A Place for Every Story, A Story for Every Place—recognises the importance of providing support across the spectrum of our institutions which sustain our culture and heritage, including for small-to-medium community cultural heritage organisations, which play a significant role in reflecting the breadth of our stories.

    To learn more about what the Australian Government is doing to support Strong Cultural Infrastructure, including in relation to galleries, venues, theatres, libraries, museums, archives and digital collections, download Revive: A Place for Every Story, a Story for Every Place.

    Program guidelines

    Program Guidelines are available on the ANMM's website. All applicants are encouraged to read the guidelines.

    Contact

    If you have any questions about MMAPSS, or would like to discuss your proposed project further, please contact the ANMM's MMAPSS Coordinator.

    Phone: +61 2 9298 3743
    Email: mmaps@sea.museum

    For information on current and past MMAPSS recipients, visit the Australian National Maritime Museum's website: www.sea.museum/about/grants-and-awards/funding-for-maritime-heritage/past-recipients.