Saturday 17 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 family drawing session, a drop-in Library and Archive display and more. Artists Cara Rose Dunne, Ciara O'Connor and Michael Wann will also be drawing live in the Gallery throughout the day. 

• 10am-4pm | Drawing on the Lawn 
• 10am-4pm | Quiet Space for Drawing
• 10am-4pm | Drop in Drawing
• 11am-12.30pm | Life Drawing Session with artist Fintan Mahon (with ISL interpretation) 
• 12pm-3pm | Library and Archive Open Display 
• 12pm-4pm | Collection-inspired Face Painting
• 1pm-2pm | Public Tour of An Artist’s Presence (with ISL interpretation)
• 2pm-3.30pm | Family Drawing Session with artist and illustrator Tarsila Krüse
• 2.30pm-3.30pm | Public Tour Art for Everyone (with ISL interpretation)

Drawing kits will be available to borrow at all times from the Information Desks. All events are free. All materials provided. 10% Drawing Day discount in the Gallery Shop all day!

Mainie Jellett and Evie Hone. The Art of Friendship

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! We'll be adding links to their activities over the coming weeks. 

An Chead Tine, Kilkenny \ Ardgillan Castle \ Artnet DLR (DLR Artists Network) \ Backwater Artists Group \ Ballina 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 \ Custom House, Dublin \ Down County Museum \ Draíocht \ Experience Glasnevin \ Fermanagh County Museum \ Galway City Museum \ Garter Lane Arts Centre \ Gerard Byrne Studio \ Glór \ Highlanes Gallery \ Hugh Lane Gallery \ Hunt Museum \ IMMA \ International Literature Festival Dublin \ Johnstown Castle, Estate, Museum and Gardens \ Kerry County Museum \ Lismore Castle Arts \ Mermaid County Wicklow Arts Centre \ Muckross Traditional Farms \ National Gallery of Ireland \ National Library of Ireland: Seamus Heaney Listen Now Again Exhibition \ National Museums NI Ulster Museum \ National Museum of Ireland, Archaeology \ National Museum - Country Life \ National Print Museum \ Naughton Gallery at Queens \ Nenagh Arts Centre \ Newry and Mourne Museum \ Northern Ireland War Memorial \ Presentation Centre Enniscorthy \ Richmond Barracks, Dublin \ RUA RED \ Russborough \ Schoolhouse For Art \ Seamus Ennis Arts Centre \ Solstice Arts Centre \ Southpaw Art Studio \ The Braid: Mid Antrim Museum \ The Chester Beatty \ The Glucksman \ The MAC (Metropolitan Arts Centre) \ The Makers House, Wexford \ The Pearse Museum \ Tin Jug Studio, Offaly \ Tower Museum, Derry \ Uilinn West Cork Arts Centre \ United Arts Club \ White Doodle Art, Wicklow