What this class covers
ANZSIC class 8910, Museum Operation, classifies businesses and organisations in Australia primarily engaged in preserving and exhibiting objects, artefacts, and visual arts for public access. This includes operations focused on aesthetic, historical, cultural, or educational value, rather than commercial retail activity. Entities in this class manage collections held in trust for the community and often operate with cultural, educational, or preservation mandates.
Typical examples include public art museums, natural history museums, war memorial museums, and operated historical sites like heritage-listed houses. This classification is used by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) for collecting economic data, by government agencies for program eligibility, and by businesses for industry benchmarking. It helps in analysing the contribution of cultural institutions to the economy and community.
Primary activities in plain English
Businesses in this class are primarily involved in:
- Operating public art galleries or museums where the main activity is exhibition, not retail sales.
- Managing natural history or science museums with educational displays and collections.
- Running social history, transport, or maritime museums open to the public.
- Operating war memorial museums dedicated to preserving military history.
- Maintaining and opening historical places, sites, or heritage houses for tours and education.
- Other museum operations not elsewhere classified, including specialised or local history museums.
Exclusions and nearby codes
This class specifically excludes certain activities that are covered under other ANZSIC codes. Providing library services, including archival services, is included in Class 6010 Libraries and Archives. Operating retail art galleries, where the primary business is selling art directly to consumers, falls under Class 4279 Other Store-Based Retailing n.e.c..
If your operation blends activities, the primary source of revenue or main purpose determines the correct classification. For example, a historical house that primarily hosts private events might be classified elsewhere, while one focused on guided heritage tours would likely remain in 8910.
Practical guidance
When registering an ABN, you may be asked for your main business activity. Using ANZSIC 8910 helps align with statistical and reporting frameworks. This code is also used for tax return labels under the Business Industry Code (BIC) system, which can affect certain deductions or reporting requirements for cultural institutions.
For workers' compensation insurance, this classification typically falls under a low-risk category for clerical and guide roles, but premiums can vary if conservation, manual labour, or public safety roles are involved. Grant funding from federal or state arts and heritage programs often requires applicants to use this classification to prove eligibility as a cultural organisation.
If operating as a non-profit or charity, ensure you also understand the additional reporting requirements with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC), as the ANZSIC code supports your activity description but does not determine tax status.