National Museum of Australia welcomes federal budget funding

7 October 2020

Revenue to support Museum mission to take Australian story to the nation

The National Museum of Australia in Canberra has welcomed funding announced in last night’s federal budget which will allow the institution to continue its work in taking the Australian story to the nation.

National Museum Director Dr Mathew Trinca said that the additional funding is extremely important in allowing the Museum to maintain its programs and other activities in the service of the public across the country this year.

'The additional funding is very welcome and will allow the National Museum to keep doing what it does best — sharing the deep and varied history of Australia and its people with the nation and the world,' said Dr Trinca.

'We recognise this is an incredibly difficult time for all Australians and we in the cultural sector are proud to be doing our small part in reaching out to, and connecting with, all Australians though our digital programs and travelling exhibitions — to both explore and celebrate our national culture and to help make sense of this challenging period in our history,' he said.

As part of a $22.9 million federal government budget initiative to assist collecting institutions during the COVID-19 period, the Museum received $3.9 million this financial year.

As part of a separate $31.2 million budget initiative over four years to support national cultural institutions, the Museum will receive an additional $2.5 million for storage-related works. This funding will be provided in two phases, with $500,000 next financial year (2021–22) and $2 million in 2022–23.