The Exhibitions Group is seeking to commission research that will provide an up-to-date overview of the practice of temporary and touring exhibitions across the UK and from the UK internationally, examining economic, production, and partnership models.

Exhibitions in museums, galleries, artists spaces and other cultural venues form a vital part of the cultural ecosystem, enabling access to collections and ideas across diverse audiences. However, the landscape has been significantly affected by external events, including the Covid-19 pandemic, reduced public funding and Brexit, creating new challenges and opportunities. There is also a growing imperative for the sector to adopt more environmentally sustainable practices and promote inclusivity.

The Exhibitions Group is commissioning this research to better understand how exhibition practices are evolving, how diverse the workforce is, and how partnerships and business models can support financial sustainability, environmental goals, and audience engagement.

Data-driven, the research will measure the impact of exhibitions held in public museums and galleries on local economies, benchmark diversity levels in exhibition roles, assess the impact of Covid-19 and Brexit, identify innovative and financially sustainable practices, and outline training, support, and environmental sustainability needs. The research will inform both external sector-wide guidance and internal recommendations to help The Exhibitions Group best support the sector.