Huge milestone for art gallery in city centre

The Crawford Art Gallery is set to begin a capital refurbishment programme worth €28 million having transferred to the Office of Public Works (OPW).

The completion of the transfer from the Cork Education and Training Board (ETB) to the OPW has been described as “a major milestone” for the gallery.

The gallery will now embark on a €28 million refurbishment and renewal of the buildings at Emmett Place in the city centre.

The refurbishment will address issues of conservation, accessibility, and connectivity between floors, while opening more spaces to the public and creating renewed storage areas for the national collection.

This state investment in Crawford Art Gallery was made through the Government’s Project Ireland 2040.

Chairperson of Crawford Art Gallery Rose McHugh welcomed the completion of the transfer while acknowledging the “extraordinary work” of the Cork ETB.

“Crawford Art Gallery acknowledges the great relationship it has had with Cork ETB and we also acknowledge that the city and State owes them a depth of gratitude for holding the building in trust and supporting the gallery throughout the years,” she said.

Suzanne Mullins of ETB, who oversaw the transfer of the Crawford Gallery building to the OPW, added: “Cork ETB is very proud of its association with the Crawford Art Gallery and while it is always sad to lose a piece of family, it is the right step for the growth of the Crawford as it embarks on a new chapter of its development as a national cultural institution.”