Our Story—
NETS: behind the acronym

Great Movements of Feeling (installation view) at Latrobe Regional Gallery.  
A NETS Victoria touring exhibition, curated by Zara Sigglekow and toured nationally by NETS Victoria 2019-2021. Photograph: Christo Crocker. 

NETS Victoria was established in 1985 as an Australia Council for the Arts initiative to create a national network of visual arts touring organisations – National Exhibitions Touring Support Australia (NETS Australia).

Over time, the organisation began to take a more proactive role in the development of touring contemporary visual arts by expanding our exhibition and education programs, and significantly increasing audience engagement.

Since 1991, NETS Victoria has been based at National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), thanks to NGV’s significant and ongoing in-kind support. We also work closely with our industry peer organisation, Public Galleries Association of Victoria (PGAV). 

Our annual Artistic Program features leading Australian artists ranging from leading established artists through mid- and early-career artists and designers. 

In 2018, we toured 7 exhibitions to 14 destinations across Australia that featured the work of 82 artists and 15 curators, and reached audiences of over 88,000 people. In 2019, we reached record audiences of over 137,000 people nation-wide.

In 2020, the organisation adopted a new leadership structure, including the appointment of two new advisory committees with a focus on our artistic program, fundraising and development.

Our Supporters

NETS Victoria is grateful for the generous support of our valued partners.

Creative Victoria
Creative Victoria is the state government body dedicated to championing, growing and supporting Victoria’s creative industries. We give thanks for their ongoing support.

Creative Australia
Creative Australia is the Australian Government’s principal arts funding and advisory body. We are grateful for their continued support.

National Gallery of Victoria
We are grateful for the generous support of our long-term partner, the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV). The NGV provides accommodation and I.T. support for our organisation.

International Arts Services
We enjoy a partnership with International Art Services (IAS), Australia’s premier national and transcontinental fine art transport, storage, packing and handling company.

NETS Australia

Central to our organisation is participation in the NETS Australia network. 

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 is made up of seven State and Territory organisations: Artback NT, Art on the Move, Contemporary Art Tasmania, Country Arts SA, Museums & Galleries NSW, Museums and Galleries Queensland, and NETS Victoria.

Our membership of NETS Australia represents a shared ambition to ensure that regional, remote and metropolitan audiences have access to the most rigorous, innovative and inspiring contemporary visual art, craft and design and transformative audience engagement opportunities. For more information on NETS Australia or the national exhibition register, visit the NETS Australia website.