Touring Exhibition Demystified - Get your work into museums and galleries

About the event

This session equips artists with the knowledge and practical strategies to position themselves and their work for touring exhibitions. Artists will learn how to develop compelling, museum-ready collections and present them in ways that capture the attention of curators, cultural programmers, and decision-makers across both public and private venues. From understanding how institutions select exhibitions to navigating funding, logistics, and community engagement, this session provides a comprehensive roadmap for artists ready to tour their work across museums, galleries, heritage sites, shopping centres, universities, and more. The focus is on building a sustainable touring practice, cultivating long-term institutional partnerships, and expanding audience reach through impactful, thematic exhibitions.

What Kind of Artist Are You?

Before stepping into the world of touring exhibitions, it is vital to reflect on your identity as an artist.

What Is a Touring Exhibition, and Why Do Museums Bring Them In?

Understanding How Museums Work

·         What curators look for in a touring exhibition

·         How museums choose and plan their exhibitions (2–3 years in advance)

·         The role of mission, audience, relevance, and community strategy in programming decisions

Creating Museum-Ready Collections

·         The importance of thematic depth, relevance, and clear narratives

·         Developing collections that contribute to public discourse or social impact

·         Building flexibility into your work for various venues

Proposing Your Work to Museums

·         What a compelling exhibition proposal looks like

·         What assets to prepare: artist CV, sample works, installation plans, interpretive texts, exhibition development strategy

·         How to identify and approach relevant institutions

Funding and Institutional Budgeting

·         How museums fund exhibitions (Arts Council, trusts, sponsorship, internal budgets)

·         How to write or co-write exhibition funding bids with the museum

Contracts & Logistics of Hired Exhibitions

·         Exhibition contracts: key clauses for artists (duration, display, rights, responsibilities)

·         Payment schedules and how fees are calculated (loan fees, workshop delivery, talks, etc.)

·         What happens if work is damaged (insurance policies, repair responsibility)

Installation and Planning

·         Who hangs the show: museum staff, artist input, layout negotiations

·         Shipping, storage, crating and handling best practices

Museum-Based Programming

·         Artist talks, educational workshops, school visits

·         Collaborating with the education and community teams on engagement programs

·         Designing inclusive interpretation materials

Marketing and Publicity

·         Shared PR, marketing, and social media responsibilities

·         Museum newsletters, press releases, media coverage

·         Artist interviews, blog features, and launch events

Case Studies

·         Artists who have successfully toured exhibitions across UK institutions

·         Examples of co-created touring projects funded by Arts Council and national museums

Outcomes

·         Design collections that attract institutional interest

·         Understand how museums plan and fund exhibitions

·         Prepare and submit professional proposals to curators and programmers

·         Manage logistics, legal, financial, and promotional aspects of exhibitions

·         Gain inspiration from real examples of artists working at the museum level