Artist might do this before exhibiting structure (9)
I believe the answer is:
framework
'structure' is the definition.
(I know that structure can be written as framework)
'artist might do this before' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'artist' could be 'ra' (Royal Academician, member of Royal Academy of Arts) and 'ra' is present in the answer.
'before' could be 'e' (I've seen this in other clues) and 'e' is found within the answer.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
'exhibiting' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for framework that I've seen before include "Structure, skeleton" , "Underlying structure" .)