Museums Australia (Victoria) | Infosheets, Templates and other Resources

On this page, you will find a variety of resources to assist you in your museum practice:

Templates – developed by MA (Vic)'s Museum Accreditation Program and Exhibition Services.
The Small Museums Cataloguing Manual (4th edition) – the industry-standard reference for community museums wishing to start or develop their collections cataloguing.
Resource documents – such as the National Standards for Australian Museums & Galleries and Significance 2.0.
Sector Research and Reports.
Infosheets – short factsheets on topics of museum practice.

Templates

See below for templates developed by MA (Vic)'s Museum Accreditation Program and Exhibition Services. Additional model documents are available to museums participating in MAP and to MA (Vic) members on a case-by-case basis. Please contact us to discuss your needs.

MAP Forward Planning Template (doc file, 262kb)
MAP Collection Policy Template (doc file, 326kb)
MAP Interpretation Policy Template (doc file, 239kb)
Exhibition Templates from Exhibitions: a practical guide for small museums & galleries

Small Museums Cataloguing Manual

We are pleased to present the Small Museums Cataloguing Manual (4th edition), the industry-standard reference for community museums wishing to start or develop their collections cataloguing. This essential practical tool is free to download below.

This user-friendly, full-colour edition has been fully revised to include guidance on using cataloguing software on computers, ‘how to’ examples of worksheets, and lists of useful resources.

The Small Museums Cataloguing Manual accords with Benchmark A2.4.2 of the National Standards for Australian Museums and Galleries. The cataloguing framework of our online cataloguing system Victorian Collections is based upon the principles presented in the Small Museums Cataloguing Manual.

Downloads

Full Publication
Cataloguing Worksheet
Standard Facilities Report

Additional Resources

Art and Architecture Thesaurus Online
Australian Pictorial Thesaurus
Supplements – Classification and Authority Lists, 1996 Edition

Resource Documents

National Standards for Australian Museums & Galleries

MA (Vic) staff are members of the National Standards Taskforce who has developed the National Standards for Australian Museums and Galleries. The document provides standards, tips, and resources in all areas of museum practice.

The National Standards for Australian Museums and Galleries (version 1.5) have been developed by the Taskforce in consultation with the museum sector and were updated in September 2016. The Taskforce members collectively responsible for the Standards include representatives from the following organisations: Arts Tasmania, ACT Museums & Galleries, History SA, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Museums & Galleries Queensland, Museums & Galleries of NSW, Museums Australia (Victoria), Western Australian Museum.

You can also download the National Standards 1.5 summary.

Significance 2.0

Significance 2.0 outlines the theory, practice, and many applications of the concept of significance in collection management. Available online and as a PDF Download.

Conservation Planning

This kit explains how to bring in a qualified Conservator as consultant to work up a plan with museum staff. A useful tool for community museums applying for project funds through Heritage Victoria’s grants program.

MA Conservation Plan

Oral History Kit

The following resource was developed in collaboration between Museums Australia (Victoria) and Museum Victoria, and is based on Museum Victoria’s Oral History Kit (2014).

Recording Your Story - Oral History Kit

Sector Research & Reports

Local Government and Cultural Collections Report

The culmination of a two-year research project, the report illuminates the important contributions to Victorian cultural life made by council collection activities, and identifies opportunities for enhancing this work.

Local Government and Cultural Collections Report (2016)

Exhibition Capacity Review

As the Regional Exhibition Touring Initiative (RETI) Program entered its 10th year, MA (Vic) engaged a consultant to review the needs of the Victorian museum and gallery sector, with a focus on exhibition capacity.

Exhibition Capacity Review Report (2009)