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 entitled ‘CONSTRUCT’. This exhibition is a selection of 29 artworks from the public collections, north and south, chosen by eleven young curators from the Ulster University in Belfast, Co. Antrim.

Speaking before the opening this evening, Minister Harris said, "It gives me great pleasure that the wonderful ‘CONTRUCT’ exhibition hosted by the Ards and North Down Borough Council will be on view in the Ards Art Centre, Newtownards.  This unique and long-lived cross border cultural partnership has invited curatorial input from student curators who selected the artworks according to their own tastes and the links between them".

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 exciting travelling exhibition will now go on display at the Ards Art Centre, Newtownards from today 3rd September and will run until the end of September 2015. It will move on to Omagh Library, Co. Tyrone on 1st  October, followed by the Luan Gallery, Athlone, Co. Westmeath on 3November and will conclude at the Bray Institute of Further Education in Co. Wicklow on 18th December 2015.

The Minister concluded, "I am delighted to be here this evening at the opening of this travelling exhibition.  I would like to thank the DFP team, my own OPW team members, the Ards Art Centre here in Newtownards and of course the curators themselves for all their hard work.   I know many of you will avail of this opportunity to view this exciting exhibition".

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Note to Editors:

Media Queries: OPW Press Office, email: opwpressoffice@opw.ie 

An exhibition catalogue is available from the OPW Art Management Office.

Email: artmanagement@opw.ie  or telephone 00 353 1 647 6812 to request a copy.