Into the Light: The Arts Council - 60 Years of Supporting the Arts was a major series of exhibitions celebrating 60 years of support for artists and the visual arts by the Arts Council. The event was a partnership between the Arts Council and four prominent Irish art galleries.
A book has also been produced as part of Into the Light. This includes over one hundred of the works selected for exhibition as full-colour illustrations, in addition to essays and a timeline exploring the visual arts and arts policy in Ireland over the past 60 years.
The exhibitions included over 150 works from the Arts Council collection. Many of the works were recalled from loan locations across the country and were on display at the four locations listed below.
Crawford Art Gallery, Cork
Into the Light at Crawford Art Gallery was curated by Dawn Williams. The exhibition focused on lens-based and installation work acquired by the Arts Council during the 2000s. The artist, Mark Clare, was commissioned to produce new work in response to the exhibition.
Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane
Into the Light at the Hugh Lane was curated by Michael Dempsey. The exhibition explored approaches to abstraction in modern and contemporary art. It considers the physical space of the gallery as an extension of the abstract picture plane, and the way in which the architecture and ethos of art institutions influence the viewer’s experience of the work. The artist, Karl Burke, was commissioned to produce new work in dialogue with the curator.
Limerick City Gallery of Art
Into the Light at Limerick City Gallery of Art was selected by Baz Burke, Anne Horrigan, John Logan, Paul Tarpey and Helen Carey. The exhibition included painting and sculpture acquired by the Arts Council during the 1960s and 1970s. The artist, Emmet Kierans, was commissioned to produce new work in response to the exhibition.
The Model, Sligo
Into the Light at The Model was curated by Emer McGarry. The exhibition presented works from the Arts Council Collection and the Niland Collection which explore themes including landscape, domesticity and craft. The artist, Sean Lynch, was commissioned to produce new work in response to the exhibition.