National Cultural Heritage Account

The National Cultural Heritage Account helps to retain and protect Australia's cultural heritage for future generations and provide public access to important objects that tell a story about our cultural identity.

Australian cultural organisations that can care for and provide permanent public access to Australian protected objects have a priority for funding.

Given the special significance of Class A objects of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage to Indigenous communities, grants in respect of those objects may be made to groups which do not have a permanent public collection.

Funding is approved on a case-by-case basis and usually covers only a proportion of the fair market value of the object. One or more valuations by valuers registered under the Cultural Gifts Program may assist in demonstrating fair market value.

The following Australian protected objects are priorities for funding:

• Class A objects in Australia and overseas
• Class B objects that have been denied an export permit
• Class B objects that have been granted an export permit on condition that they be available at fair market value for purchase by an eligible cultural organisation
• Class B objects that are overseas.