Saturday 18 May
Every year, the Gallery—together with dozens of museums, galleries, libraries and cultural organisations all over the island of Ireland—encourages people to get drawing on National Drawing Day.
This year we invite you into the Gallery to take part in free drawing events, or visit one of our partner organisations around the island of Ireland. Follow the hashtag #NationalDrawingDay on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for all the updates.
In the Gallery
Pop into the Gallery for fun and inspirational free events including a life-drawing session with artist Fintan Mahon, a workshop created by the Gallery’s active and dynamic Youth Panel, sketching tours, a family workshop with artist Mags Harnett, a drop-in Library and Archive display and more.
Scroll down for more details - further events to be announced.
Turning Heads: Rubens, Rembrandt and Vermeer
There will be free admission to our exhibition at certain times during the day: 9.15am - 10.45am and 4pm - 5.30pm. Advance booking is essential. Book your tickets here.
Across the island of Ireland
We are very excited to have dozens of partners on board again this year! Click on the links below to explore our partners' plans for National Drawing Day 2024.
An Chead Tine, Kilkenny \ Ardgillan Castle \ Artnet DLR (DLR Artists Network) \ Backwater Artists Group \ Birr Theatre and Arts Centre \ Butler Gallery \ Cavan County Museum \ Centre for Contemporary Art Derry-Londonderry \ Clare County Museum \ Crawford Art Gallery \ Creative Places Tipperary Town \ Creative Spark \ Draíocht \ Dublinia \ Farmleigh House and Estate \ F.E. McWilliam Gallery and Studio \ Fota House, Arboretum and Garden \ Garter Lane Arts Centre \ Gerard Byrne Studio \ Glebe House and Gallery \ Glór \ The Glucksman, Cork \ Highlanes Gallery \ Hugh Lane Gallery \ Hunt Museum \ IMMA \ International Literature Festival Dublin \ Johnstown Castle, Estate, Museum and Gardens \ Lismore Castle Arts \ National Gallery of Ireland \ National Library of Ireland \ National Museums NI Ulster Museum \ National Museum of Ireland, Archaeology \ National Museum - Decorative Art and Military History \ National Print Museum \ Nenagh Arts Centre \ Newry and Mourne Museum \ Northern Ireland War Memorial \ Presentation Centre Enniscorthy \ Rathfarnham Castle \ Riverbank Arts Centre \ RUA RED \ Schoolhouse For Art \ Seamus Ennis Arts Centre \ Solstice Arts Centre \ Southpaw Art Studio \ Temple Bar Gallery + Studios \ The Dock \ The Luan Gallery \ The Pearse Museum \ Uilinn West Cork Arts Centre \ United Arts Club \ Wexford Arts Centre
Drawing Day events:
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National Drawing Day: Atrium Creative Space
Drop by our Atrium Creative Space and get drawing!
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National Drawing Day: Quiet Space for Drawing
Drop by our Education Studio for some quiet drawing time
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National Drawing Day: Life Drawing Session
A free life-drawing session, beginners welcome
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National Drawing Day: Sketching 101 Tour with ISL
Explore and sketch the collection and architecture on this free t
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Public Tour: Architecture
A free guided tour looking at the Gallery's buildings and archite
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Public Tour: Audio Described Tour
An audio described exploration of the national collection and tem
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National Drawing Day: Family Drawing Session
Free, led by Mags Harnett
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National Drawing Day: Sketching Family Tour with ISL
Explore and sketch the collection and architecture on this free t
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National Drawing Day: Artists Drawing Live
Invited artists will be drawing live in spaces throughout the Gal
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National Drawing Day Library Pop-in Display
Drop by our Reading Room to visit this special display
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National Drawing Day: Youth Lab on the Lawn
Join the Gallery Youth Panel for a portrait-themed Youth Lab on t
Drawing activities to try at home:
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Drawing Inspiration
Explore some drawings in the collection
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Colouring in the Collection
Download and colour in some works from the national collection
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National Gallery at Home: Shades on!
Video: Make a collage inspired by Sir John Lavery's painting Her
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National Gallery at Home: Mainie's Mares
Video: Draw cubist-style horses inspired by Mainie Jellett!