About NETS Australia

The National Exhibitions Touring Support (NETS) Australia is the national network committed to the delivery of best practice touring exhibitions of contemporary visual culture to remote and metropolitan communities throughout Australia. 

The network comprises seven state organisations: Artback NT, ART ON THE MOVE, Contemporary Art Tasmania, Country Arts SA, Museums & Galleries of NSW, Museums & Galleries Queensland, and NETS Victoria.

Annually, we tour over 50 exhibitions to audiences of more than 500,000 people across nearly 7.7 million square kilometres featuring works by over 1000 artists.

Established as an Australia Council initiative in 1988 to increase access to and enjoyment of contemporary art, our network continues to deliver on these aims and also collaborates on national projects and initiatives for the touring sector.

We provide a coordinated national approach to touring exhibition programming, audience development initiatives, public and education programming and professional development, with an emphasis on regional access.

Each organisation works in partnership with Australian public exhibiting organisations, including art galleries, contemporary art spaces, Indigenous art organisations, and craft and design councils to develop outstanding exhibitions for tour.

We offer in-kind support in tour management, including itinerary development and programming; loan agreements with lenders and host venues; packing, crating and transport management; condition reporting and conservation advice; resource development, including catalogues and education resources; insurance, OH&S and risk assessment; and sponsorship and grant applications, budgeting and acquittals.

Need advice on developing your exhibition for tour? Contact your state office for more information or purchase this valuable exhibition resource, which contains comprehensive and practical guidelines on planning and organising touring exhibitions: 

Travelling Exhibitions: A Practical Handbook for Metropolitan and Regional Galleries and Museums by Sara Kelly, published by NETS Victoria, 2002. Available from NETS Victoria

 

In 2013, NETS compiled a National Touring Survey report, collecting responses from 95 small to medium public galleries, university and community art galleries across Australia. Results show a high demand for touring exhibitions and the benefits they provide: increasing access to contemporary visual art and craft across the regions and delivery of sought after partnerships and networking opportunities.

NETS Australia are pleased to announce a new tool for gallery design and curating. The new improved software Ortelia Curator enables curators to plan and develop exhibitions virtually, long before physical artworks arrive, now with a new focus on moving image, digital image and sound based artworks.

A partnership initiative between NETS Australia and software developers Ortelia Interactive Services, this project is part of the National Touring Initiative, NETS Australia's four-year project launched in 2012 to deliver cutting-edge, contemporary digital media art to regional and remote audiences across Australia. The improvements to Ortelia Curator will be used extensively in the National Touring Initiative exhibition, People Like Us.