Major Touring Irish Art Exhibition • Dunamaise Arts Centre Portlaoise is proud to present the finale of the 30 Years | Artists | Places exhibition, after an extensive national tour.

Following an 18-month national tour to venues in Clare, Mayo, Waterford, Cork, Tipperary, Limerick, Cavan, Louth, Dublin and Donegal – the exhibition, curated by Muireann Ní Chonaill, Laois Arts Officer- is a must see at Dunamaise and features an extraordinary line up of Irish artists.

This exhibition is a collection of artworks owned by Local Authorities across Ireland and marks 30 years since the first local authority arts officer was appointed in Ireland. The works speak of places, people and home which reflect upon local authority arts development as just that, of a place and of a people, of rural and urban Ireland, of home in a changing island where we are bold with new ideas but rooted in our past. Renowned artists such as Tony O’Malley, Alice Maher, Robert Ballagh, John Kindness, Norah McGuiness, Seán McSweeney, Sean Lynch and John Shinnors alongside emerging artists Cora Cummins, Cleary Connolly, Seán Cotter, Lisa Fingleton, Jenny Brady, Vanessa Lopez and David Stephenson and many others feature in the exhibition.

On 29 June at 3pm at Dunamaise Arts Centre, a panel discussion to mark the exhibition, entitled Collecting: Who for What, will be chaired by Cliodhna Ní Anluain with contributions by Cristín Leach, Jacquie Moore, Kevin Kavanagh and Seán Cotter. A musical response to the exhibition by Andreas Balke will also take place. Admission is free and all are welcome.

On the same day at 5pm, Liz Meaney, Arts Director (Performing & Local Arts, Arts Council of Ireland) is Guest Speaker at the reception to mark the conclusion of the exhibition.

This is a must see, not just for the extraordinary line up of Irish artists, but for the stories of how they each came to be purchased, commissioned or acquired by local authorities – therein lies the real narrative – the quiet, genuine and imaginative support for Irish artists demonstrated by local government for the past 30 years.

A beautiful souvenir catalogue, with details of each of the artworks accompanies the exhibition and is available for €5.