Following its meeting on 9 October 2009, the Cultural Ministers Council has verbally advised the Collections Council of Australia (CCA) that it will:

• cease funding the CCA
• provide funding to the CCA for a ‘transitional’ period (the details of which are subject to further discussion)
• establish a working group that would consider any future approach to matters relating to the collections sector

Established by the Cultural Ministers Council in 2004, the CCA has worked to bring the collections sector – archives, galleries, libraries and museums – together and to provide advice to Ministers on the long term sustainability of, and issues facing, the sector. Last month, the CCA released plans to develop and promote a new model for sustainable scientific and cultural collections in Australia.

The CCA’s operations over four and half years with its four person staff have been supported by the Cultural Ministers Council and the Australian Government with grants totalling $2.1 million.

Further information:

Click HERE to read the CCA’s Media Release about the Cultural Ministers Council’s decision. The Media Release incorporates:

• The Cultural Ministers Council’s terms of reference for the CCA
• The CCA’s proposal for a new Model for sustainable collections

Click HERE to read about the Collections Council’s achievements, 2005-2009.