The Community Heritage Grants program supports community organisations to care for Australian moveable, cultural heritage collections.

The Community Heritage Grant is open to a wide range of non-profit, incorporated organisations and some government agencies who hold nationally significant collections. There is a strong focus on supporting small groups with volunteer staff, who would benefit from working with professional cultural heritage experts

In each annual round eligible organisations can apply for grants of up to $20,000 for prescribed activities. Applicants are encouraged to follow the recommended sequence and only apply for one stage/project in each round.

Depending on previous CHG grants, your organisation will complete one of three forms: New Applicants, Repeat Recipients or Training Projects. All applicants should contact the CHG Program to confirm that the organisation and project are eligible, prior to receiving a link to the appropriate SmartyGrants form.

Closing dates:

• New Applications - 7 May 2026 - see form preview here
• Repeat Recipients - 2 June 2026 - see form preview here
• Training Projects - 2 June 2026 - see form preview here

Eligible Organisations

The Community Heritage Grants program is open to not-for-profit, incorporated organisations and federal, state/territory and local government agencies and university groups, that own or manage a moveable heritage collection of nationally significant material and which is accessible to the general public (either by appointment, via online platforms, or on temporary or permanent exhibition).

An organisation that wishes to apply for funding but which manages, rather than owns, the collection, must provide written permission from the legal owner of the collection with their application. Applicants who have agreements or partnerships with other organisations to store, care for or exhibit the collection, must also provide details and a letter of support.

Examples of not-for-profit, incorporated organisations which are encouraged to apply are:

• Archives 
• Art galleries 
• Community groups that have collection items (including but not limited to sporting clubs, craft and visual arts guilds, design groups, performing arts and literary groups, disability groups, health organisations, ex-service organisations, progress and professional associations, agricultural societies, and environmental groups) 
• Historical societies 
• Indigenous groups 
• Libraries 
• Local government / council 
• Multicultural groups 
• Museums 
• Religious groups 
• Cultural heritage professional associations (for training projects)

• Email: chg@nla.gov.au