Exhibition Services

Roving Curator – Exhibitions

Submission deadline

21 May 2014

Contents

1About the Roving Curator– Exhibitions Program

1.1Aims and Objectives……………………………………………………………………………..3

1.2How the Program Works………………………………………………………………………3

1.3Areas of Support………………………………………………………………………………….4

1.4Selection Criteria………………………………………………………………………………….4

1.5Who Can Apply…………………………………………………………………………………….5

1.6Participation Fee…………………………………………………………………………………..5

2How to Apply………………………………………………………………………………………………………5

3.Application Form………………………………………………………………………………………………7

Cover Image: Hat and Keeper, Orbost and District Historical Society

  1. About the Roving Curator– Exhibitions Program

The Roving Curator–Exhibitions Program is a new initiative developed by Museums Australia (Victoria) to support and improve museum sector exhibition activity in Victoria. The program is administered by Museums Australia (Victoria) with funds received from Arts Victoria.

The Roving Curator– Exhibitions Program aims to develop the awareness and value of Victoria’s museums and galleries by encouraging organisations to develop exhibitions that will promote the stories of rich and diverse collections and communities across Victoria to a broad audience.

1.1Aims and Objectives

The Roving Curator–Exhibitions Program aims to:

  • Enhance access, awareness and community engagement of the rich cultural history in Victoria.
  • Support museums and public galleries, archives and libraries to develop exhibitions through the provision of hands-on assistance.
  • Support projects that incorporate historical or cultural heritage including art, science, social and natural history.
  • Provide an environment for building sustainable capacities and for presentation of quality programming in regional Victoria.
  • Provide regional communities with opportunities to engage and participate in a diverse range of cultural experiences.
  • Provide and encourage opportunities for regional networking and collaboration between museums, historical societies and local government.
  • How the Program Works
  • The program provides a museum with an exhibitions professional (Roving Curator) to work with a small museum on a range of exhibition related projects.
  • Museums that apply for this program make a request for time rather than for funding.
  • Five museums per annum will be selected to receive this hands-on assistance.
  • Museums applying for this assistance must be Museums Australia members. For information on how to join please go to:
  • The Exhibition Services Sub-Committee will select one exemplary exhibition per annum for display at a metropolitan venue.

1.3Areas of Support

The program offers small museums assistance in exhibition development and delivery:

  • Development of strategic plans and policies (such as exhibitions policies, marketing strategy, fundraising strategies)
  • Developing themes and ideas for exhibitions and displays
  • Developing interpretation plans
  • Support in sourcing funding opportunities and preparation of grant proposals
  • Facilitating exhibition development from idea to delivery
  • Planning displays
  • Project Management
  • Touring exhibitions (preparation of touring manuals, sourcing venues etc.)
  • Design and production
  • Evaluation techniques
  • Marketing and communications strategies
  • Label writing
  • Budgeting

1.4Selection Criteria

Applications will be assessed by the Exhibition Services Sub-Committee. The Sub-Committee will evaluate your application based on:

Quality: clarity of project rationale with aims, content clearly defined and in accordance to current museum best practice.

Capacity: you need to demonstrate that your organisation will be able to manage and deliver the project to a defined deadline. You also need to demonstrate that your project team will commit to the project.

Benefits: you will need to demonstrate how the project will benefit your collection, your museum mission statement and your community.

You should take the time to consider these aspects of your project before applying for the Roving Curator –Exhibitions Program. You must contact Georgia Rouette, Manager, Exhibitions Services, Roving Curator Program, on03 83417342 or before you submit your application.

1.5Who can apply

  • Only Museums Australia members can apply for the Roving Curator – Exhibitions Program. For information on how to join please go to
  • You must be collection based and publicly accessible. That is, your museum must have advertised regular, consistent, opening hours.
  • Your organisation must be or in the process of becoming legally constituted, such as incorporated associations, companieslimited by guarantee, Local Governments and other statutory bodies.

1.6Program Fee

Organisation Size:

All Volunteers:$60

1 + EFT paid staff:$120

Prices are inclusive of GST.

  1. How to apply

Deadline

The closing date for the Roving Curator – Exhibitions Program is 21 May 2014.

Presentation

  • All applications must use the application form and TYPED.
    Hand written applications will not be accepted.
  • Use plain white A4 paper for originals and photocopies.
  • Present material on one side of the page only.
  • Do not staple, bind, or place application in a folder.
  • Faxed applications will not be accepted.
  • Email your application as well as post a hardcopy version.
  • Please keep a copy of your application for your records.

Application Checklist
Application form
Project timeline (if relevant)
List of people working on the project
CVs of people working on the project
Policy documents i.e. Business Plan, Significance Assessment, Interpretation Plan, Exhibition Policy, Collection Policy etc.(if available)
Museum or gallery brochure (if available)
Annual Report for last financial year
Budget (if relevant)
Signed declaration

Please ensure that you email your application and also send a hardcopy with attachments.

In the subject heading write “2014 Roving Curator– Exhibitions Program” followed by the name of your organisation.

Post to:

Georgia Rouette

Manager, Exhibition Services

Museums Australia (Victoria)

PO Box 385

CARLTON SOUTH VIC 3053

Email:

In person

Museums Australia (Victoria)

Lower Ground Level

Melbourne Museum

11 Nicholson Street

CARLTON GARDENS VIC 3053

  1. Application Form

Before completing this application form please ensure you have read the guidelines and spoken to the Manager, Exhibition Services.

MEMBERSHIP STATUS

To be eligible for entry into the program you must be:

1.A Museums Australia member.

2. Familiar with the National Standards for Australian Museums and Galleries.

Are you a member of Museums Australia?
Please visit our website to join
/ Yes No
Membership No.:
Are you familiar with the National Standards for Australian Museums and Galleries / Yes No

CONTACT DETAILS

Full name of group or organisation:
Address:
Postcode:
Postal address (if different):
Telephone: / (W) / (M)
Fax::
Email:
Website
ABN:
GST Registered: / Yes No
Contact person (for project):
Position held:
Telephone: / (W) / (M)
Email:
Organisation’s Legal Status

ABOUT YOUR ORGANISATION

Opening hours
Annual visitor numbers and/or research enquiries
Memberships / professional affiliations / MA RHSV PGAV
Other (please specify)
Type of Museum / Volunteer-Managed or 1 paid staff
2 to 5 staff
6 to 15 staff
16 to 25 staff
26 to 40 staff
41 to 100 staff
over 100 staff
Current MAP status / Accredited Enrolled Not in MAP
Have submitted Expression of Interest to MAP
Has your organisation received any of the following services/assistance from Museums Australia (Victoria)
/ Victorian Collections
Victorian Museum Award (add year)
Exhibition Grant (RETI) (add year)
Small Museum Grant (or BBRM) (add year)
Attend MA (Vic) state conference (add year)
Attend Ma (Vic) seminars and workshops
Purchased books published by MA (Vic)
Has your organisation received NETS Victoria support / Yes No
Are you in touch with your local government Art and Culture Officer / Yes No
Does your organisation have non-exhibition needs that MA (Vic) may assist you? Please tick as many as apply
Improve preservation of significant and / or fragile collections
Improve access to our collections and / or services
Improve access to our building
Upgrading Archival Storage facility
Assistance to record oral histories
Assistance writing Collection Level Descriptions
Fundraising and grant writing advice
Assistance in digitisation of collection items
Assistance in significance assessments
Developing a Collections Policy
Training. Please indicate which non-exhibition training areas you require
Other: please elaborate

PROJECT DETAILS

1 / Project Start Date:
Project End Date:
What are you applying for: (tick up to 3)? These are defined by the National Standards for Australian Museums and Galleries available at:

Managing the Museum
Development of strategic plans and policies (i.e. exhibition policies, marketing strategy, fundraising strategy etc.)
Interpretation Plan
Involving People
Developing themes and ideas for exhibitions and displays
Support in sourcing funding opportunities and preparation of grant proposals
Facilitating exhibition development from idea to delivery
Planning displays
Project Management
Touring exhibitions (preparation of touring manuals, sourcing venues etc.
Design and production
Evaluation techniques
Marketing and communications
Label writing
Tourism initiatives
Budget development
2. / Why is this project needed? (What aspect of exhibition development do you want to address and what will be the outcomes?)– 200 words
3 / Who will benefit? (i.e. developing staff skills, attracting new and returning audiences to your exhibition and your museum, etc.) – 150 words
4 / How will you know if these outcomes have been achieved? (How will you measure the success of the project) – 100 words
5 / The Roving Curator– Exhibitions Program aims to select one museum to present an exhibition in a metropolitan venue.
Would your museum like to be considered for this?
Yes No

Declaration by Applicant

As two authorised representatives of [organisation name],we:

  • Have read the guidelines and certify to the best of our knowledge that the information provided in this application is true.
  • Agree that Museums Australia (Victoria) may request further information from us about our organisation, services and needs in seeking to support projects in the future that offer the best value to the community and the distributed national collection.

Signed ______

Name (please print) ______

Position held______

Telephone ______

Date ______

Signed ______

Name (please print) ______

Position held______

Telephone ______

Date ______

MA (VIC) Roving Curator– ExhibitionsAPPLICATION FORMPAGE 1