Art News

New acquisitions for National collections

New acquisitions  for National collections
Related Issue

Share

Kathy Tynan in her studio.

The Government’s announcement last October of allocations of €400,000 to the Crawford Gallery in Cork and €600,000 to the Irish Museum of Modern Art for the acquisition of artworks is significant and welcome given the enormous toll the pandemic has taken on artists. While the Crawford Gallery’s acquisitions are yet to be announced, director Mary McCarthy revealed that they have acquired contemporary artworks, mainly from the last five years, including significant works by younger artists based in the Munster region who they feel are deserving of support and recognition. McCarthy sees these funds as providing an opportunity to reignite an ambition around collections and to insert significant works into the collection.

the acquisition of my work by the Arts Council not only gives me recognition and a certain validation, but has provided me with necessary income

This was followed in December by the announcement from the Arts Council of the acquisition of eighty-two new artworks by seventy artists, marking the largest number of artworks added to its collection since its establishment in 1962. The range of acquisitions is impressive and includes performance, print, video, installation, sculpture, painting and photography and it brings the total number of artworks in the Council’s collection to over 1,200. These new artworks will be accessible to public audiences throughout the country as part of their ongoing programme of exhibitions, loans and initiatives.

Artists whose work has been purchased include: John Beattie, Neil Carroll, Avril Corroon, Salvatore of Lucan, Samuel Lawrence Cunnane, Ella de Búrca, Kathy Tynan, Paul Hallahan, Atoosa Pour Hosseini, Michele Horrigan and Vivienne Dick.

Artist Kathy Tynan describes how important this support is: ‘For the past year, the reduction in artists’ incomes through gallery closures and exhibition dates being pushed forward have greatly impacted on our ability to exhibit and sell our work – and survive in our chosen profession. For me, the acquisition of my work by the Arts Council not only gives me recognition and a certain validation, but has provided me with necessary income. It couldn’t have come at a better time.’

Margarita Cappock

More Art News

Photography and nature
Art News

Photography and nature

Photography’s power to influence our perception of the natural world and its fragility has been gaining impact with the rise in awareness of climate change.


Continue Reading
Revitalising Irish towns
Art News

Revitalising Irish towns

Touring Ireland over the past six months, ‘The Reason of Towns’ celebrates the design qualities of Irish towns and aims to motivate people to choose them as a place to live.


Continue Reading
RDS Visual Art Awards
Art News

RDS Visual Art Awards

The winner of the 2024 RDS Taylor Art Award, given to the most promising emerging visual artist of the year in Ireland and worth €10,000, is Sorcha Browning.


Continue Reading
Shopping cart0
There are no products in the cart!
Continue shopping
0