It’s a good day for Cork’s art lovers.

Minister Catherine Martin has announced the acquisition of over 100 works of contemporary art to the National Collection.

This was supported by an allocation of €1.5m from the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to the Irish Museum of Modern Art and the Crawford Art Gallery.

The new works include painting, sculpture, photography, installation, works on paper, digital media works, and textiles, by both Irish and international artists.

Bernadette Kiely, Cork or Venice (who cares, who can tell), 2022

The acquisitions, which encompass pressing issues including climate change, diversity, and global migration, will ensure that seminal artists previously missing from the National Collection are now represented.

“It is critical that our National Collection speaks to Irish audiences about the issues that matter now.” Minister Martin said.

“This significant investment in acquisitions at IMMA and the Crawford delivers on that need and strengthens the holdings of both institutions. It is heartening to see generations of artists finally find their home in the Collection and to see the complexity and diversity of our nation reflected in these exciting works.”

Director of the Crawford Art Gallery, Mary McCarthy, said the Crawford is deeply appreciative of the Minister and her Department’s support:

“The works acquired breathe new energy into our collection and will ensure that new conversations through the artworks can continue to be made across the centuries,” McCarthy said.

“It provides much-needed support for artists and galleries as well as providing the public with an opportunity to see these works in context with the wider National Collection.”