Annual RUA exhibition sets new watermark in visual arts

18/09/2008

The 127th Annual Royal Ulster Academy Exhibition opened today in the historic Titanic Drawing Offices of Harland and Wolff Shipyard, Belfast. From 19 September – 19 October, the doors to this majestic building will be open to the public allowing them access for the first time to a very special part of Northern Ireland’s industrial heritage. Within these vast vaulted spaces, the RUA will exhibit works of leading and emerging local and international artists, and offer the public a rare opportunity to interact with the space through workshops, talks and tours.

RUA President Rita Duffy said “The Titanic Drawing Offices have been transformed into a major gallery for the 127th RUA Exhibition. This is our effort to foster a respect for the visual, and generate a really vibrant exhibition that engages and develops the important relationships needed to create enthusiastic patrons and participants in ambitious artistic projects”.

With support from Arts & Business, the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, and KPMG the RUA have developed an education strand running in tandem with the exhibition. This includes talks by artists such as Paul Seawright and Susan MacWilliam, as well as workshops for children, family days and screenings in association with the Northern Ireland Film Archive.

Encouraging the public to attend the exhibition, Noirin McKinney, Director of Arts Development at the  Arts Council of Northern Ireland said “ By supporting the Royal Ulster Academy, we celebrate our local artists, not only those who have achieved international acclaim, significance and prestige, but also those who have been selected for the first time. The exhibition and outreach programme create more opportunities for people to get involved and enjoy the arts and I would encourage everyone to visit the exhibition and take part in the talks and workshops on offer in this unique, beautiful and historic setting”.

 

Picture: Stanislav Nikolov, Boat Village Vietnam