The annual joint touring exhibition of artworks from the collections of the Office of Public Works (OPW) in the Republic of Ireland and the Department of Finance and Personnel (DFP) of Northern Ireland is this year entitled ‘UNFOLD’. This exhibition is a selection of 30 artworks from the public selections, north and south, chosen by nine young curators from the Institute of Technology in Tallaght, Dublin.

Speaking before the opening this evening, Minister Harris said, “It gives me great pleasure that the wonderful ‘UNFOLD’ exhibition will be on view in Newry.  This unique and long-lived cross border cultural partnership has, for the first time,  invited curatorial input from student curators who chose the artworks according to their own tastes and the links between them. The title of the exhibition was also chosen by them to reflect their unfolding development in the project".

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.

This year’s Exhibition started in RUA RED Arts Centre, Tallaght  and will be in The Sean Hollywood Arts Centre, Newry from 4 September to 10 October, Stormont Parliament Buildings, Belfast from 15 October to 7 November and finishes in The Courthouse Gallery, Ennistymon, Co. Clare from 28 November to 8 January 2015.

The Minister concluded, "I am delighted to be here this evening at the opening of this wonderful travelling exhibition. I would like to thank the DFP team and my own OPW team members and look forward to welcoming it to further venues across the island of Ireland."

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

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For further information or if you wish to interview Minister Harris please contact Colette Davis at 046 942 6128, 087 947 5552 or colette.davis@opw.ie