The museum, at Pipemakers Park in Maribyrnong, was unsuccessful in getting funding from Arts Victoria last November.

For the past 10 years it has received grants from the annual arts funding program.

It has asked the council to provide a one-off $10,000 this year and increase its annual funding from $10,000 to $30,000 to meet the current shortfall.

The council has agreed to consider the one-off $10,000 grant in its 2010-11 budget on the basis Arts Victoria meets it with a similar grant.

The council already provides $10,000 annually to the museum, and provided another one-off $10,000 payment last year.

Museum creative director Srebrenka Kunek

said that combined with streamlining services and

collaborating with artists, the museum had not had to compromise its program from 2010-12, with 27 events and exhibitions planned.

"The organisation depends very much on the level of programs it delivers and on engaging people in the western region.

"We are applying for funding with a multiple range of organisations.

"Given we now have a very robust arts program, I would expect Arts Victoria would be able to come on board."

Arts Victoria data shows it has awarded the museum at least one major grant each year for the past decade: $75,000 annually from 1999 to 2002, $80,000 in 2003 and 2004, $100,000 in 2005 and 2006, $110,000 in 2007, $81,380 in 2008 and $68,000 last year.

In that time, the museum also received four project grants: $2750

in 1999 for equipment, $14,000 in 2001 for an international cultural exchange, $28,000 in 2003 for facilities, and $17,500 in 2007 for equipment.