08-11-2014 Minister Brian Hayes welcomes the opening of ‘Encounters’ - A Joint Exhibition of Government Art Works in Cork City

Mr. Brian Hayes, TD, Minister of State with special responsibility for the Office of Public Works (OPW) yesterday officially opened ‘Encounters’ – the annual joint touring exhibition of artworks from the collections of the OPW in the Republic of Ireland and the Department of Finance and Personnel (DFP) of Northern Ireland. The exhibition’s theme sees a pairing of artworks from each collection, with each ‘encounter’ creating a dialogue between the works.

The OPW has been working in co-operation with the DFP in relation to art exhibitions since 1997 and the joint exhibitions have toured extensively throughout Ireland – to arts centres, libraries, civic offices, colleges and heritage properties – and to several venues abroad. The artworks included in these exhibitions have mainly been purchased for public buildings located throughout the island.

At the opening event Minister Hayes said, “Each year it gives me great pleasure to see the annual joint exhibition tour the country, north and south. This year I’m delighted that we chose to exhibit in public libraries so that we can share our wonderful art collections with a wide audience. Cork is well represented in this year’s exhibition, with three alumni from the Crawford College of Art featured. I would like to thank all those who have organised ‘Encounters’: the Departmental staff, the artists, galleries and all the venues and particularly Mayor O’Connor and the people of Cork for their warm welcome.”

This year’s Exhibition will be in Cork County Library Headquarters until 2 December and will then travel to the Red Door Gallery, Newcastle West, Co. Limerick (7 December to 18 January 2014).

An exhibition catalogue is available from the OPW Art Management Office e-mail: artmanagement@opw.ie 

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For further information please contact the OPW Press Office at 046 942 6128 or pressoffice@opw.ie