The network was established in 2020 to deliver a pilot project that culminated in the inaugural exhibition Hair: Untold Stories. Hair opened at the Horniman Museum and Gardens in December 2021 and subsequently toured to Tullie House in Carlisle and Weston Park Museum, Sheffield.

In May 2023 MAGNET received funding from Arts Council England and Art Fund to continue the work established by the Hair: Untold Stories exhibition and its subsequent tour. Building on the pilot, the aim is for partners is to co-curate collections-based exhibitions with high-quality content, designed to tour nationally.

The three new exhibitions are set to open between May and September 2025 and will tour to between two and four venues. Each will include a venue-specific public programme led by artists and local communities to generate a welcoming and inclusive space in which a wide range of contributors are encouraged to create content.

MAGNET is a creative solution to tackling the budget constraints and stretched staff capacity that museums increasingly face, ensuring that sustainability is embedded across the sector. Simultaneously, MAGNET aims to improve the quality of temporary exhibitions and allow regional collections to be seen by wider audiences.

It will also see a partnership with the Touring Exhibitions Group (TEG), delivering training and sharing resources to develop the skills and knowledge of the network.

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