Cultural Heritage Grants

The Heritage Funding Program

The Hobart City Council operates a funding program to assist owners of heritage-listed properties.

Funding is available for small to medium scale projects, as a one-third contribution of the total project cost, with an upper limit of $5,000.

The application form is available HERE

Assessment sheets (with weighted criteria) is available HERE

Background

The Hobart City Council maintains a Heritage Account, established under the provisions of the National Trust Preservation Fund (Winding-up) Act 1999.  The Act states that funds in the Heritage Account are to be applied for the provision of financial or other assistance in relation to a place entered in either the National Trust Register or the Tasmanian Heritage Register.

The Council has established a Special Committee to administer the Heritage Account, and has endorsed the Committee’s Terms of Reference.  The Council has also adopted certain principles in relation to fund expenditure.  The Special Committee is responsible for developing further policies in relation to fund expenditure.

Policies already established include:

  • The Council precludes financial assistance in relation to places owned by the Council or by the Australian or State Government.
  • The Council encourages financial assistance in cases where there is likely to be a community rather than private benefit.

Funding Priorities

Priority will be given to actual physical works, though heritage studies, conservation plans, educational projects etc. will also be considered if these are related to heritage-listed places and are likely to assist future conservation works.  Priority will also be given to work where there is a public or community benefit.

Priority will be given to projects which are well-documented and supported by appropriate professional advice and detailed costings.

  1. Physical conservation works to places entered in National Trust Register or Tasmanian Heritage Register.
    Examples include urgent stabilisation works, or works which address damp problems, structural failure, subsidence, timber decay, roof deflection.
  2. Conservation plans, where necessary to guide conservation work, and where a commitment to physical work is also included in the project.
    A conservation plan should set out what is significant about a place, and should identify the steps required in order to retain that significance.  The Burra Charter (Australia ICOMOS) explains these processes.
  3. Heritage studies, but only if the outcome results in additional nominations for either the National Trust Register or Tasmanian Heritage Register.
    This program is unable to fund general heritage or historical studies, but consideration may be given to studies which result in additional nomination of places.  The level of funding available will preclude comprehensive large-scale studies.
  4. Educational projects, related to places entered in the National Trust Register or Tasmanian Heritage Register.
    Funding is available for projects which assist in the promotion and appreciation of heritage-listed places.  Examples would include site interpretation, brochures and educational material. 

The majority of funding will be provided for work which is yet to be carried out (i.e. future projects), but a small award may also be made in respect of recently completed projects.  Commercial properties will generally receive a lower priority for funding.

Funding limits

There is no set funding limit for individual projects, although the maximum grant in previous years was $5,000.  The total amount available each year is approximately $60,000, and grants will be limited to small-medium scale projects.  Funding will be limited to 33% of total project cost (i.e. applicants must indicate at least a two-thirds contribution).

Eligibility

Any individual, non-government organisation or company is eligible to apply.

Administration

  1. Expressions of interest remain valid for twelve months.
  2. Allocation of funds is at the sole discretion of the Hobart City Council.
  3. Projects will be monitored by Hobart City Council staff to ensure a satisfactory outcome in accordance with the terms of the funding.  Progress reports may be required.
  4. Equity will be ensured through a consistent process involving consideration of each expression of interest with regard to:
    •  conformity to above criteria and guidelines;
    •  potential benefit to Hobart’s cultural heritage;
    •  the extent of applicant (or other) contribution;
    •  clarity of proposed project outcome;
    •  demonstration of applicant’s ability to complete the project;
    •  degree of urgency with regard to conservation works.
  5. The terms and conditions of any financial assistance will depend upon the specific project and will be the subject of discussion once the application has been approved in principle.

Expressions of interest should be lodged on the application form.

Address all correspondence to:

Hobart City Council
GPO Box 503
HOBART    Tasmania    7001

Further enquiries:

Brendan Lennard
Senior Cultural Heritage Officer
Hobart City Council
Phone 6238 2883
Fax 6224 4344
E-mail - lennardb@hobartcity.com.au

The completed expression of interest form may be lodged at any time.  The closing date for this funding round is MONDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2009.

The program will be finalised within 8 to 10 weeks of the closing date, and all applicants will be advised in writing.