Dobell Exhibition Grant

Overview

The Dobell Exhibition Grant program provides financial assistance towards the development of new, curated exhibitions of visual arts at regional galleries and cultural centres in New South Wales.

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.

The Dobell Exhibition Grant program is supported by the Sir William Dobell Art Foundation and managed by Museums & Galleries of NSW.

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.

Funding Information

The proposed project must commence after 1 February 2027. Projects must conclude by 31 December 2028. Proposed touring projects may extend beyond this date.

Eligible applicants may only submit one application per round.

One grant of $40,000 is available to support a new exhibition – 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.

Funds must not be used towards existing staff fees. The program does not support the development of art prizes or awards or permanent displays/exhibitions.

If you are unsure of your eligibility, please do not hesitate to contact Vanessa James, Exhibitions & Programs Coordinator, vanessaj@mgnsw.org.au or Susan Wacher, Exhibitions & Programs Manager, susanw@mgnsw.org.au

Selection Criteria and Assessment

Applications will be assessed against the following selection criteria:

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

Applications will be assessed against the selection criteria listed above by an assessment panel drawn from M&G NSW’s peer register, Trustees of the Sir William Dobell Art Foundation and M&G NSW staff.

M&G NSW will notify applicants of their outcome by email. Funds will not be available until the relevant grant agreements, including a valid invoice, have been completed and returned by the successful applicant.

Conditions Grant

The recipient must use the funding solely for the purpose for which it was approved. If any part of the funding is used for purposes other than those originally named, the recipient must inform M&G NSW immediately. M&G NSW reserves the right to terminate and request the return of funds should the recipient not adhere to these terms. A variation agreement may be required if new purposes are intended for use of received funds.

All marketing material and publicity associated with the project must acknowledge the financial assistance of M&G NSW and the Sir William Dobell Art Foundation by using the appropriate logos and the following credit line on all publications:

The Dobell Exhibition Grant program is supported by the Sir William Dobell Art Foundation and managed by Museums & Galleries of NSW.

All acknowledgement details, including required usage of logos and credit lines will be provided to the successful applicant in a grant agreement contract.

The successful applicant will be required to submit an acquittal report to M&G NSW within one month of the project’s completion. The acquittal form will be provided to the successful applicant or can be emailed upon request. The acquittal report includes an overview of the project and the resulting benefits to the organisation, artists, curators and community. Photographs, media clippings and brochures must be included in the acquittal documentation where available. M&G NSW or the Sir William Dobell Art Foundation may use all or parts of this report in marketing material for the program.

Application Process

Applicants should contact M&G NSW to discuss their project prior to submitting an application. M&G NSW staff are on hand to provide advice on developing projects, writing grant applications, and budgeting.

Applications must be submitted using both the Word Application Form and the Excel Budget Form issued by M&G NSW available for download or sent to applicants upon request.

Applicants must submit the following support material:

• Biographies for curators and artists involved in the project (max 1 page each, please submit as one file).
• Up to 20 images of artwork (minimum of 5) in one PDF file and/or up to 5 minutes video (submitted as a link to a video hosting site e.g. Vimeo or as a small video file)
• Examples of the curator’s written work and/or media articles, exhibition reviews or examples of publicity achieved from your organisation’s previous projects (no more than 5 A4 pages in total, submitted as one file)
• A list of all loan requests and status of loans for the proposed exhibition must be submitted (if applicable). Applicants should keep M&G NSW as up to date as possible regarding changes in loan request status after the closing date.
• If First Nations artists or groups are involved, please provide letters of support and ensure protocols are fully adhered to – you can refer to protocols outlined here:
• https://www.create.nsw.gov.au/arts-in-nsw/aboriginal-arts-and-culture-protocols/
• and here: https://creative.gov.au/investment-and-development/protocols-and-resources/protocols-for-using-firstnations-cultural-and-intellectual-property-in-the-arts/

In addition, applicants may submit:

• Letters of support from relevant organisations and individuals (maximum of 3).
• Addresses for relevant websites which assessors may review for further information.

All applications and support material must be submitted online by the closing date via the M&G NSW Dobell Exhibition Grants page : http://mgnsw.org.au/sector/funding/grants-we-administer/gallery-grants/dobell-exhibition-grant/

For more information or to discuss a project please contact Vanessa James, Exhibitions & Programs Coordinator vanessaj@mgnsw.org.au p. 02 5663 2335 or Susan Wacher, Exhibitions & Programs Manager susanw@mgnsw.org.au p. 02 5663 2340