17/10/2014

Cross-Border Art Exhibition Opens At Stormont

A new, cross-border collection of public artworks has gone on display at Stormont, following collaboration between Northern Ireland's Finance Minister Simon Hamilton and the Republic of Ireland’s Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Simon Harris.

The exhibition is the 16th to occur and this year features a selection of 30 artworks from the collections of both the Department of Finance and Personnel (DFP) and the Office of Public Works (OPW)

Minister Hamilton said: "It is fitting that this Government art collection is made accessible to the public. Exhibitions such as this provide an important opportunity for anyone who wishes to view these artworks to do so at close hand.

"DFP has been working in co-operation with the OPW since 1997 and the joint exhibitions have toured extensively throughout Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, to arts centres, libraries, civic offices, colleges and heritage properties, and to several venues abroad.

"This collaboration is an excellent example of both Governments working together to establish and promote a north/south cultural project and the fact that we are now in the 16th year bears testament to that spirit."

Minister Harris added: "I am delighted to be at the opening of UNFOLD here in Parliament Buildings in Belfast with Minister Hamilton. This year's joint DFP/OPW exhibition of Government Artworks started in RUA RED Arts Centre in Tallaght in Dublin before moving to Newry. I had the pleasure of meeting some of the young curators in Newry and their enthusiasm for the project and how it literally unfolded as their involvement developed was truly inspirational. I have no doubt that the exhibition will prove as popular here as it did in previous venues."

(IT/MH)

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