The Institute was established at the University of Canberra in 2008 for the study, interpretation, conservation and appreciation of cultural heritage in all its guises.

The objective of the Institute is to integrate teaching and research in collaboration with national and international cultural heritage institutions, agencies, other universities as well as professional bodies and community organisations.

Through its programs, conferences, lectures, and publications, the Institute will seek to create strong teaching program and a forum for intellectual exchange and skilled practice that crosses the fields of cultural heritage and museum practice. We aim to enrich the education of our students and deepen our collective appreciation and understanding of cultural treasures whether they be tangible or intangible, objects or landscapes, moveable or built, authentic or fake, alive or dead, lost or found.

The teaching program comprises the Bachelor of Cultural Heritage and the Bachelor of Cultural Heritage Conservation. The Institute also provides a program of short courses for professionals and community organisations.

The Institute is named in honour of the late Donald Horne for his prominence in shaping Australian ideas as an author, intellectual and public figure and in lasting recognition of his role as the Chancellor of the University of Canberra.

Role of the Donald Horne Institute

The Donald Horne Institute for Cultural Heritage is concerned with teaching, research and collaboration across the fields of museums and heritage studies.

Founded in July 2008 and located at the University of Canberra, the Institute uniquely presents programs in heritage and conservation in partnerships with Australias national cultural treasure houses and in collaboration with government agencies, community organisations and professonal bodies.

The great national and state collections represent Australias most treasured things that embody our collective sense of national identity and consciousness. The long-term vision of the Institute is to assist in establishing Canberra as a capital city of the highest global reputation for its cultural heritage collections and expertise.

The scope of cultural heritage and museum studies is broad, from family heirlooms and personal treasures to community museums and significant local places, to large public collections, historic houses, churches, natural places, urban places, ghost towns, cultural landscapes, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage as well as state, national and world heritage places.

The study of cultural heritage in this context encompasses history, science, archaeology, anthropology, philosophy, religion, music, literature, film, art in all its forms, monuments and memorials, architecture and buildings, agriculture and exploration, heroes and ordinary folk, myth, legend, fashion, sport, war, tourism, domestic life, transport, the history of invention and technology, administration, law, politics, media and the intangible cultural practices of everyday life.

The Donald Horne Institute is established with the assistance of funding from the ACT Government.