Press release 6/4/2017
Imagining Ireland in 2116: Exhibition of All-Island Schools Art Competition launched at National Gallery of Ireland
6 April – 28 May 2017
Admission free.
In 2016 as part of the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme, the Department of Education and Skills in collaboration with the National Gallery of Ireland ran an All-Island Schools Art Competition; Imagining Ireland in 2116.
The Education Centre Network, Department of Education Northern Ireland and the Ireland 2016 team were also key partners in this initiative. Hundreds of children from all over the island, both North and South, created imaginative, exciting art works in response to this theme and from these just thirty-eight were short-listed by the Education Centre Network.
A panel of three judges: Sinéad Rice, Education Manager, National Gallery of Ireland; Dr Éimear O’ Connor HRHA - Art Historian & Curator, and Deirdre Robb, Arts Council Northern Ireland, then selected four prize-winners in the following categories; Pre-School, Primary, Junior Post-Primary and Senior Post-Primary Categories and Overall winner.
All shortlisted and prizewinning entrants are now on display in the Millennium Wing Studio at the National Gallery of Ireland, from 6 April to 28 May 2017. Admission is free.
The exhibition is curated specifically with children in mind and is comprised entirely of children’s artworks from ages 3 to 17. Flying pigs, pink princess palaces and servant robots feature alongside new forms of transportation, sustainable living, alternative housing, and of course, ways of coping with the weather!
Sinéad Rice, Education Manager, National Gallery of Ireland, and curator of the exhibition, says:
“Not only are these children talented and creative, they are absolutely aware of the world they live in and they know what kind of world they want it to be. The overall sense is positive, inclusive and pro-active, and with these children shaping the Ireland of 2116, the future of Ireland is bright.”
Prizewinning Artists: Overall Winner: Laura Hurley, Co. Cork; Winner (Pre-school): Abbie Ryan, Co. Limerick; Winner (Primary School): Elijah Rosney, Co. Dublin; Winner (Junior Post Primary): Lillian McFarland Co. Tyrone; Winner (Senior Post Primary): Vivien Ryan, Co. Wexford.
Shortlisted Artists: Brian Freehill, Alan Bielecki-Stepien & Shay McClelland Co. Sligo; Santino Macari, Co. Leitrim; Emer Hanrahan, Co. Clare; Kristina Saroka, Co. Louth; Lauren O’Malley, Co. Galway; Jack O’Leary, Co. Kerry; Jeri Lamond, Co. Tyrone; Luke McEvoy, Co. Roscommon; Elana Bontes, Co. Kildare; Roisín Maher, Co. Tipperary; Ellen Waterson, Co. Tyrone; Adrianna Papis, Co. Dublin; Megan Fitzgerald, Co. Dublin; Gabriele Cepokaityte, Co. Monaghan, Megan O’Daly, Co. Wicklow; Sarah Ashe, Co. Cork; Niamh Kerr, Co. Sligo; Daniel Hibbitts, Co. Laois; Áine Farrell, Co. Carlow; Reuben Harvey, Co. Kilkenny; Emily Bourke, Co. Tipperary; Julia Fratean, Co. Dublin; Allen Ibanez, Co. Kerry; Caoimhe Donaldson, Co. Galway; Emily O’Neill Delaney, Co. Laois; Juste Neimantaite, Co. Monaghan; Cassie Kerlin, Co. Derry; Emily Castles, Co. Armagh; Eva Auten, Co. Down; Catherine McNamee & Aimee Fitzpatrick, Co. Tyrone; Jasmine Magowan-Balfour, Co. Armagh,;James Dumigan, Co. Armagh, and Danial Mateus, Co. Tyrone.
The exhibition is curated by Sinéad Rice, Education Manager (NGI), and Caoilte O’Mahony, Education Officer, Teachers Schools & Young People (NGI). Art Competition Co-Ordinator: Kevin McCarthy, Department of Education and Skills.
With thanks to the Department of Education and Skills, the Education Centre Network and the Department of Education Northern Ireland.
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