National Collecting Institutions Touring and Outreach Program 2026

The objectives of the National Collecting Institutions Touring and Outreach Program are to: increase overall levels of touring by National Collecting Institutions with particular emphasis on multiple venue tours; promote broad access to Australian cultural material through touring works from the collections of the National Collecting Institutions, with particular emphasis on providing access for audiences in regional areas; promote international awareness of Australia’s cultural heritage through touring Australian cultural material from National Collecting Institutions overseas; expand Australian appreciation of international cultural material through enabling National Collecting Institutions to bring works from international collections for exhibition or touring within Australia; and encourage partnerships and collaboration between the National Collecting Institutions and with other institutions (archives, galleries, libraries, and museums) across the collections sector, particularly in regional areas. Funding is delivered through two streams: projects involving either development of tours or delivery of tours, supporting costs such as research, design, production, transport, installation, and personnel. The Program delivers one funding round each year, usually opening in February/March and closing in late March/ early April. The Minister for the Arts (or their delegate) approves funding under the Program Guidelines.