Model Arts and Niland Gallery

Model Arts and Niland Gallery, also called The Model, home of the Niland Collection, is a contemporary arts centre and gallery space in Sligo, Ireland. The Model houses several exhibition spaces focusing on contemporary art and education activities, a collection of 20th century Irish art called The Niland Collection, a cinema/venue for concerts, and an artist-in-residence programme. The Niland part of the name refers to the former Sligo County librarian Nora Niland.

Location

Located on the Mall in Sligo town, north of the Garavogue river, the Model Arts and Niland Gallery is one of Sligo's most distinctive buildings, designed by architect James Owen for the then Board of Works. Its detailed stonework exhibits high quality workmanship and its location, set back from the mall on an elevated site gives it a civic presence. It is a detached multiple-bay, two-storey rubble and ashlar stone building in the Italianate Palazzo style. A photo of the Model school as it looked circa 1944 is held at the Lawrence collection of the National Library of Ireland.^[1]

History

The original building was a purpose built school, constructed in 1862. These schools were known as "model" schools as they were to function as the template for primary schools throughout the country. Originally intended to be multi denominational, the school became predominantly Protestant with the religious control of schools being the norm under the new Free State. The Model provided primary education up to the age of 12. In the 1970s the building was abandoned with the building of a new primary school across the road.

In the early 1990s it was acquired by Sligo County Council with the intention of providing a museum.^[2]

First Refurbishment and Extension

The building was refurbished and extended in 2001.The project was designed by McCullough Mulvin Architects. This extension was shortlisted for several architectural awards.^[3]

Second Extension

Originally part of a project started in 2001 involving the building of a new Sligo Museum and a new County Library and Headquarters, the Model Arts centre was extended again in 2009. Neither of the other projects went ahead. Designed by Sheridan Woods Architects this extension to The Model increased the building by a third in size. The extension provided artist studios, a purpose-built performance space and a new entrance from the north. The extension also created a complete gallery circuit for the visitor, a new reception area, bookstore and cafe. Construction commenced in April 2009 and the Model reopened on May 1, 2010,

Funding

A grant of 2.4 million euro was provided by the BMW Regional Assembly under an ERDF grant scheme for designated Gateways and Hub Towns. The Model:Niland project was the largest beneficiary in the BMW Region under the grant scheme.^[4] A further grant of 1.75 million euro was received from Access 2 funding under the Arts Council.^[5] Sligo Borough Council provided 600,000 euro in 2009.^[6] The 2.9 million euro grant, minus 600,000 already spent on groundworks for Sligo museum was switched to the Model Arts project in late 2008. A further 118,554 was granted in 2010 under the cultural development fund of the Arts Council.^[7] Sligo County Council spent 2.15 million on the Model Arts Centre project up to 2010.^[8] In addition an audit noted that 340,000 euro worth of assets were transferred from Sligo County Council to the Model Arts centre in 2010. In all 6.4 million euro was borrowed by Sligo County Council in relation to this project and the related Sligo Museum project up to December 2010.

The Niland Collection

The Niland Collection is named after former Sligo County librarian Nora Niland who began the collection in the 1950s. It contains over 300 works, including pieces by Paul Henry, Louis le Brocquy, Estella Solomons, George Russell and Jack Butler Yeats. The Niland Collections boasts one of the most significant collections of Yeats work in Ireland, many of which record experiences and memories of his time living in Sligo and its environs.^[9] The Niland Collection is available to browse online via the Model website.

Directors and Board Members

Una McCarthy, current director Limericky Gallery of Art. 2004 Sarah Glennie, current Director of The Irish Museum of Modern Art, was the Artistic Director of The Model between 2005 and 2008. Séamus Kealy, currently Director of Salzburger Kunstverein, was the Director and Curator of The Model from 2008 to 2013. Megan Johnston was director from July 2014 to September 2015.

The current board of directors includes Bernie Butler (Chair), Monica Flood, Mark Garry, Bartley Gavin, Cllr. Hubert Keaney, Cllr. Tom McSharry, Cllr. Rosaleen O'Grady, Andy Parsons, Alison Pilkington, Kieran Quinn, Damien Tansey, Donal Tinney.^[10]

Music, Film, Education

The Model has a vibrant music programme which includes an eclectic mix of contemporary and classical music. The Model develops music projects that respond to the exhibition programme, while also producing The Sligo New Music Festival and supporting The Sligo Festival of Baroque Music.^[11]

The Model’s international film programme is presented in partnership with the Irish Film Institute (IFI) and is produced with regional partners, including The Sligo Film Society and Cinema North West.^[12]

The Model offers educational opportunities for children and adults, including the Young Model programme.^[13]

Former guests include Boris Groys, Guido van der Verve, Carsten Fock, Isabel Nolan, Kristan Horton, Zin Taylor and Philippe van der Cauteren. The Model also has eight artist studios rented by locally based artists.

Previous notable exhibitions at The Model have included solo shows by William Kentridge, Patrick Hall, Sean McSweeney, Patti Smith, Gerard Byrne and Andy Warhol.

Notable Events

On May 20, 2015 the English royal, Prince Charles made a speech at the Model Arts centre during a visit to promote reconciliation to the scene of Lord Mountbattens death by an IRA bomb in 1979 at Mullaghmore, Co.Sligo.^[14]

Controversies

In 2009 a row erupted over the renaming of the centre. It was announced in June by director Seamus Kealy that the Model Arts and Niland Gallery was to be renamed as ‘The Model, home of The Niland Collection’. Former President of the Yeats Summer School, Michael Keohane called the renaming a "public disgrace".^[15] The renaming was also called "absurd by Bruce Arnold in an article in the Irish Independent in August 2009.^[16]

In 2010, under director Seamus Kealy, controversial chef Conrad Gallagher opened Conrads Kitchen, a fine dining restaurant in the Model Arts centre.^[17] Former chair of the Model's board, Bernadette O’Shea invited Conrad Gallagher to fill the role. “There was no doubt in my mind that Conrad was the man for this exciting venture. This new relationship with The Model, the country’s leading contemporary cultural centre with an enviable international reputation, will pay off in spades for everyone,” she said at the time.^[18] By June 2011 the restaurant had moved to Sligo town centre, citing "zero footfall". In July 2011 Irish Revenue commissioners orederd Gallagher to wind up his operations in Dublin and Sligo, neither had submitted accounts since incorporation the previous year and Gallagher was not listed as a director in either business.^[19]

External links

• Official website of The Model
• The Model on Facebook
• The Model on Twitter

References

Coordinates: 54°16′25″N 8°27′46″W / 54.2737°N 8.4628°W / 54.2737; -8.4628