Victorian Local History Grants 2019-20 Applications Now Open

The Victorian Government recognises that local and community history is an important part of Victoria’s memory, and their annual Local History Grants Program encourages and fosters community activities that preserve, record and share the local, social and community history of Victoria and Victorians.

Held annually since 2001, the Victorian Local History Grants Program for 2019 has just opened for applications.

The small grants of up to $15,000 are made to community groups for the preservation and sharing of Victorian history through such projects as oral history, digitising, cataloguing, epublications, archival materials to store your collection, the development of exhibitions, online programs and more. So if you’re in Victoria, and your group could do with some cash to help out with your collections or a project, please read on.

WHO CAN APPLY?
To apply for a grant through the Local History Grants Program your organisation will need to meet the following criteria. The organisation applying must be:
– Based in Victoria
– Not-for-profit
In addition your organisation will also need to be:
– Registered with the Office of Consumer Affairs Victoria as either an Incorporated body or Association, Co-operative, OR be auspiced by a group with this status and
– Have an Australian Business Number (ABN) OR be auspiced by a group with an ABN (e.g. Council, Library etc.)
This includes: Statutory authorities, Local councils, Universities, Libraries and State Schools.

WHO CANNOT APPLY?
Funding will not be provided to:
– Individuals
– Organisations that have an incomplete or overdue project funded in a previous round of the Local History Grants Program. This includes projects that have not formally submitted a Project Completion Report
– Commercial organisations or bodies established for profit making purposes
– State government authorities
– Organisations that do not meet the Eligibility Criteria outlined above, or
– Organisations that have failed to abide by the terms and conditions of previously awarded Local History Grants.

WHAT SORT OF PROJECTS WILL BE CONSIDERED?
Projects that are considered for funding demonstrate strong community involvement and outcomes. These can include, for example:
–  The recording of oral histories
–  The preparation of local history e-publications
– Conservation of objects and records (if a conservator is engaged, they must be a Professional Member of the Australian Institute for the Conservation of Cultural Materials (AICCM) aiccm.org.au/need-a-conservator)
– Cataloguing of objects and records
–  The development and production of exhibitions
–  Online projects that provide local history information or resources including exhibitions and websites
–  Training in local history or collection management skill
–  The design and production of interpretation panels and signage for heritage sites and walk
–  The digitisation and online publishing of collection items and local history information (Note that this does not include the digitisation of public records)
–  Digital storytelling including film and DVD projects
–  Apps for mobile devices
– Consultancy fees for the provision of specialist skills not found within the organisation
–  The purchase of archival quality materials
–  The purchase of high standard storage and display cases
–  Newspaper digitisation projects
–  Microfilm digitisation projects
–  Equipment and assets to display or preserve collection
And be sure to click on the application guidelines below to see what WON’T be considered for a grant.