19 November 2014

On Friday 28 November, the Office of Public Works (OPW) will officially open 'Unfold' – 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 2014 exhibition is a selection of 30 artworks from the public collections, north and south, chosen by nine young curators from the Institute of Technology in Tallaght and facilitated by the Tallaght based arts centre RUA RED. The student curators, all attending the BA in Creative Digital Media, course chose the artworks according to their own tastes and they themselves provide the links between them. The exhibition evolved and unfolded from their discussions and debates about the selections from each public collection.

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 is the first time since 1997, that the OPW has invited curatorial input from the public.

This year's Exhibition started in RUA RED Arts Centre, Tallaght in July 2014 and moved to The Sean Hollywood Arts Centre, Newry in September before going on display in Stormont Parliament Buildings, Belfast in October. This exciting travelling exhibition will now go on display at The Courthouse Gallery, Ennistymon on 28th November and run until 8th January 2015.

An exhibition catalogue is available from the OPW Art Management Office email: artmanagement@opw.ie or telephone 01 647 6078/6812.

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For further information please contact Colette Davis, OPW Press Officer at 01 647 6128 or 087 947 5552 or opwpressoffice@opw.ie

Hi-resolution images available on request