It’s that time of year again! M&G NSW are now accepting applications for three grants from the Volunteer Initiated Museum (VIM) Grant Program. These grants provide assistance to volunteer initiated community museums and Aboriginal Keeping Places in NSW.

Funded by the NSW Government through Arts NSW and administrated by Museums & Galleries of NSW, the program is designed to provide access to funding, in addition to providing experience in the grant application process.

Apply now for one of the following grants:

VIM Small Grants

Up to $2,000 for short-term, collection based requirements of community museums and keeping places. There are no set categories for funding, and applications for a broad range of projects will be considered.

Closing Date Round 1: 17 April 2015
Closing Date Round 2: 9 October 2015

Amount: Up to $2000

Case study:
Tinonee Historical Museum
VIM Small Grant 2013
Tinonee Historical Society purchased a large, custom-made, lockable glass showcase with internal lighting to securely and permanently display  a significance collection of war time and Red Cross memorabilia.

For more information and to apply for a Small Grant please visit: www.mgnsw.org.au

VIM Leg Up Grants

Matched funding of $50 – $500 for museums and keeping places to attend or host development activities in NSW. The grants can cover the cost of attending a workshop, conference or course, bringing a presenter to your museum, or the travel costs of a group of volunteers visiting other museums to share ideas and network.

Closing: Applications accepted at any time until funds are expended
(Applications must be received at least four weeks before the development activity).

Amount: Up to $500 of matched funding

Case study:
Education programming workshop
Yamba Museum – The Story House
VIM Leg Up Grant 2013

The Story House in Yamba received a Leg Up Grant to help meet the costs of bringing education specialist Janis Henley to the region to conduct a workshop on building the nSW history curriculum into education programming in community museums.

For more information and to apply for a Leg Up Grant please visit: www.mgnsw.org.au

VIM Skills Initiative Grants

Funding of up to $4,000 for volunteer museums, museum networks and keeping places to host skill development training and networking events. There are no set categories for funding, and applications for a broad range of projects will be considered.

Case study:
Museums Significance workshop
Museums Australia Mid North Coast
VIM Skills Initiative Grant 2012

Museum consultant Kylie Winkworth ran a workshop on Siginificance for museums in the Mid North Coast region. The in-depth session covered issues including how to use Significance to manage collections.

Closing: Available until funds are expended (no applications accepted after the 25th of September) (Applications must be received at least six weeks before the development activity)

Amount: Up to $4,000

For more information and to apply for a Skills Initiative Grant please visit: www.mgnsw.org.au