Dobell Exhibition Grant (Australia)

The program aims to support high quality exhibitions that speak to a broad audience across NSW. To assist in expanding appreciation for the visual arts, the proposed exhibition should be supported by innovative public and education programs that creatively engage both artists and the community.

The Dobell Exhibition Grant aims to promote and encourage the development of audiences for visual art, provide support for associated educational and community programs and recognise the artist’s involvement as critical to this process.

Proposals to the program that significantly support artists, extend public appreciation and engagement with the visual arts and expand curatorial skills and creativity are highly encouraged and prioritised.

Funding Information

• Amount available: one grant of $40,000 (exc. GST)
• The proposed project must commence after 1 January 2025. Projects must conclude by 31 December 2026. Proposed touring projects may extend beyond this date.

Eligible Activities

• One grant is available to support eligible activities which may include:
  • artist and/or external curator fees (including commissioning fees)
  • education and public program development and delivery costs
  • photography, design and printing
  • writers fees
  • framing, packing and crating of works for display and tour
  • purchase of technology or equipment for display and tour
  • research costs including travel, per diems and accommodation (representing no more than 10% of the grant)
  • marketing and promotion of the exhibition and associated programs

Eligibility Criteria

• The Dobell Exhibition Grant program is open to publicly funded regional and public galleries and cultural centres in NSW. This refers to a facility that is a not-for-profit, permanent institution in the service of a community and its cultural development, and whose primary purpose is to acquire, conserve, research, communicate or exhibit works of art, craft or design. The gallery does not need to be a Local Government facility and can be any not for profit exhibiting space that fulfills the following criteria:
  • The gallery is to be accessible to the public at regular and/or specified times, meet professional facility standards and be owned, administered or operated by a body not constituted for financial or commercial gain;
  • its programs and activities are to be managed by at least one professional staff member with relevant tertiary qualifications and experience;
• Applicants who have outstanding acquittals from other Museums & Galleries of NSW grants are not eligible to apply.

Selection Criteria

• Applications will be assessed against the following selection criteria:
  • Artistic merit and quality 
    • The work is thought provoking and of high quality;
    • The exhibition has a strong curatorial framework and rationale;
    • The calibre of the artists and curator/s involved.
  • Audience engagement 
    • The exhibition has the potential to capture the imagination and interest of the public and seeks to expand diverse audiences for the visual arts, increasing curator/artist capacity and depth of engagement with audiences;
    • The exhibition will provide an opportunity for developing ambitious and innovative public programs and exhibition presentation, relative to the gallery’s current capacity and scope.
  • Viability               
    • The project is well planned with strategies in place to achieve a desired outcome;
    • The organising gallery meets professional facility standards and has the capacity to deliver the aims of the project to a high standard;
    • The project budget is viable, realistic and accurate.

For more information, visit Museums & Galleries of NSW.