Request For Quote for Developing The National Standards for Exhibitions Touring
NETS AUSTRALIA
The National Exhibitions Touring Support (NETS) network was established as an Australia Council for the Arts initiative in 1988 to increase access to and enjoyment of contemporary art. The NETS Australia membership comprises seven state/territory organisations Artback NT, Art on the Move (WA), Contemporary Art Tasmania, Country Arts SA, Museums & Galleries of NSW, Museums & Galleries Queensland, and NETS Victoria.
As part of this renewed focus on collaboration and shared services, NETS has re-established a strategic partnership with the National Gallery of Australia (NGA) to ensure the Australian Capital Territory is represented within the network, and to facilitate valuable information sharing and learnings between NETS and NGA, and across the sector.
While each NETS agency has been established under different processes with varying remits, our commonality is our commitment to working in partnership with Australian public exhibiting organisations, including art galleries, contemporary art spaces, Indigenous art organisations, museums and craft and design councils to develop and present outstanding exhibitions for tour.
A NEW CHAPTER
The network has recently entered a Delivery Partnership agreement with Creative Australia with a focus on:
- Establishing a National Standards for Exhibition Touring
- Consolidation of the network including a new website, shared marketing and promotional activity
- Targeted sector development activity (connected to the National Standards and regionally specific needs)
- Research and development.
The National Standards will be a significant contribution to the sector and this is where we want to start.
THE NATIONAL STANDARDS
The National Standards for Exhibition Touring (the Standards) will form the basis of the NETS Australia work over the next four years. This initiative is critical for the sector and for the network to build confidence, credibility and assert ourselves as a national leader in the protocols, practices and outcomes for exhibition touring across Australia. We seek a consultant to:
- In consultation and collaboration with the network, develop a best-practice set of National Standards that is accessible, inclusive, dynamic and contemporary.
- Test the National Standards with the sector via survey and focus groups
- Consider and obtain existing resources that should be connected by or referred to in the National Standards, including permissions and consent from the authors and holders of copyright on the relevant resources
- Project manage the design framework and implementation of the National Standards.
We envisage the Standards to be an online resource that includes:
- Before, during and after touring information (see basic structure in Appendix A)
- Downloadable templates and checklists for practical and frequent use
- Opportunities to provide feedback on sections if users have more up-to-date information or suggestions (similar to the NAVA Code of Conduct)
- A mix of practical, legal and values-based information and resources
- An alignment to national and international standards
- A baseline for fees and minimum requirements, up to best-practice
- Information about public programming, community consultation, case studies
- An opportunity to print sections, if useful while also accessible on screen, tablet and mobile devices.
WHAT DOES SUCCESS LOOK LIKE?
In August 2024, the network spent the day thinking about the National Standards (the Standards) and what they can be. We established that if we get this right, we will see:
- Increased participation in national touring
- Increased diversity in organisations that engage in touring
- Greater reflection of contemporary Australian sociality in the works and artists touring
- Increased capacity through the training delivered by NETS Australia, as a result of the National Standards
- NETS Australia’s profile is increased, and this is evidenced by sector and government recognition – local, state and federal
- The NETS Australia network is valued
- The templates and resources provided by the Standards are widely used and circulated
- The Standards are used by the sector as a tool for advocacy and funding
- The Standards are used as a model for other touring sectors
- NETS Australia organisations are more efficient, staff time is saved in relation to sharing links and resources with the sector, providing advice and brokering relationships
- Increased funding and income for artists based on the Standards and the NAVA Code of Practice
- The Standards is the go-to for anyone interested in knowing more about touring in Australia.
WHO ARE THE STANDARDS FOR?
We are developing the Standards to assist and support:
- Regional and public galleries and exhibition venues
- Organisations that may not be linked to national networks
- Artists (who are looking to tour)
- Curators – independent and salaried
- Gallery staff
- Funding bodies
- Local Government
- National and State-run institutions
- Volunteer run galleries and museums
- Education (students studying)
- National and international networks.
FEES + TIMEFRAMES
The expectation is that this work will commence in May 2025 following a Request for Quote (RFQ) process in March/April 2025. The work should be completed by 30 June 2026.
We know this work will take time and are looking to the Consultant/Contractor to outline the proposed timings for each stage. We expect the following elements to be included in this work:
- Engagement with the NETS Australia Working Group – briefing, debriefing and check-ins throughout. We expect a presentation in June 2025 and at least one other time in the project
- Research, development and desktop analysis – literature review of existing resources relating to the Standards as well as Identifiable gaps, map of structure/framework, benchmarking and project plan
- Consultation and engagement with the sector and key stakeholders – we would prefer this to take place once there is a preferred structure and suggested approach. The consultant/contractor may also decide to do a preliminary survey which can be supported by the NETS Australia organisations
- Writing Phase – drafting (at least three drafts) and final draft presentation
- Project Management.
The budget allocated for this work is:
- $50,000 ex GST for the development of the Standards
- Up to $10,000 for the consultation and engagement phase, either to be managed by the Consultant or by the Lead Organisation, Museums & Galleries of NSW.
TO EXPRESS INTEREST
We are proposing a two-stage process:
- One-page EOI – expressing your interest in the opportunity and outlining your suitability and experience. Please include a CV and bio.
Submit by Monday 3 March 2025 via email address below. - Invite-only, up to three consultants/contractors – including proposed methodology, timeframes, fee breakdown and two (2) referees. We anticipate this to be a detailed quote for services (up to 8 pages) and will offer $2,000 + superannuation for this work to be undertaken.
Download – NETS Australia National Standards for Touring Consultant Brief
Submit by Monday 21 April 2025 via email address below.
Contact:
Brett Adlington, CEO Museums & Galleries of NSW
email: BrettA@mgnsw.org.au phone: 02 5663 2334
Please reach out via email if you have questions.
Applicants are welcome to reach out to other NETS agencies to discuss this RFQ:
ART ON THE MOVE (Ricky Arnold director@artonthemove.art) Artback NT (Roni Judge art@artbacknt.com.au) Contemporary Art Tasmania (Michael Edwards michael@castgallery.org) Country Arts SA (Lauren Mustillo Lauren.Mustillo@countryarts.org.au) Museums & Galleries Queensland (Rebekah Butler rebekah.butler@magsq.com.au) NETS Victoria (Claire Watson claire.watson@netsvictoria.org)
Draft structure for the Standards (open to discussion)
This is simply a starting point and we know that there will be much more to include. This example is the guide the briefing process.
A. VALUES
B. DEFINITIONS (Glossary)
C. BEFORE THE TOUR
a. Selecting the exhibition
b. Curating the exhibition
c. Preparing the exhibition
d. Money and budgets
e. Managing expectations and realistic timeframes
f. Pre-tour engagement – artists, venue, community and industry
D. THE TOUR
a. Installation and support
b. Public programming – education, resources and kits, workshops
c. During tour engagement
E. AFTER THE TOUR
a. Post-tour engagement
b. Evaluation and feedback
c. What comes next?
F. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES + INFORMATION
NETS Australia is assisted by the Visual Arts, Craft and Design Strategy, an initiative of the Australian, State and Territory Governments.
