Arts Council unveils details of new artworks available through its lending scheme

The Arts Council Collection currently holds over 700 works by artists from Northern Ireland, with purchases dating from 2003-present day. The portfolio features a diverse range of works, including painting, sculpture, craft, print, photography and video.

The newly acquired artworks include pieces by recent graduates, exploring a range of themes, giving insight into emerging practices that are developing. Many of them show artists’ responses to issues affecting today’s world and society, explored through different mediums, and resolved with innovative use of materials and process. This year’s purchases also include works by established practitioners not previously represented in the Collection, who continue to develop new areas of inquiry within their work.

Joanna Johnston, Visual Arts and Collections Officer, Arts Council of Northern Ireland said, 

“The Arts Council’s art collection is a leading contemporary collection for Northern Ireland, acquiring art works that represent some of the best visual art of our time.

Many of its represented artists are celebrated nationally and internationally for their achievements, including the Turner Prize-winning Array Collective, Golden Fleece Award winner Jennifer Trouton, leading QEST scholar silversmith Cara Murphy and Colin Davidson, who was selected in 2016 to paint the official portrait of HM Queen Elizabeth II. This last year’s purchases builds on a considerable legacy of talent that has evolved from this region, and includes video installation artist Niamh O’Malley who represented Ireland at the 2022 Venice Biennale, and Deutsche Börse Photography Prize nominee Clare Gallagher.

“By offering the Collection for public display, we are helping to showcase the work of our artists and to introduce the public to Northern Ireland’s wealth of creative talent. The Arts Council’s expert staff are on hand to help in the selection and curation of works for a range of public venues.”

The Art Lending Scheme provides an opportunity to borrow from one of the leading contemporary art collections for Northern Ireland, providing the visiting public with a rich insight into the artistic practice of many of our leading visual artists, connecting to valuable education and outreach work in our communities and cultural events across the region.

The Arts Council’s Art Lending Scheme is free and organisations based both within and outside Northern Ireland can apply to borrow works. 

View the New Acquisitions brochure

For more information on the Arts Council’s Art Lending Scheme please email Visual Arts and Collections Officer, Joanna Johnston at collection@artscouncil-ni.org

You can view recent acquisitions on social media following the hashtag #ACNICollection