Exhibitions popular at McWilliam Gallery

TWO new exhibitions which recently opened at the F.E. McWilliams Gallery and Studio, Banbridge are proving very popular with the public.

The ‘Nano Reid and Gerard Dillon’ and ‘Jason Ellis’ exhibitions, which together feature a colourful and interesting collection of paintings and stone sculptures, have attracted over 600 visitors to the gallery since they opened to the public on Saturday 30 January 2010.

Fifty-five members of the Friends of the National Gallery of Ireland were among the first groups to visit the exhibitions. These dedicated art enthusiasts, who are familiar with the best museums in Europe and beyond, declared the exhibitions, gallery, sculpture garden and studio to be of international standard and promised to come back to Banbridge soon.

Curator Dr Riann Coulter said, “We were thrilled to have the Friends of the National Gallery visit the F.E. McWilliam Gallery and Studio. Many of the members have been involved in the visual arts for many years and it is an important mark of recognition for the gallery to have such a prominent group visit. it is particularly pleasing for the staff here and for Banbridge District Council to receive positive feedback regarding all aspects of the gallery and the unique visitor experience it offers.”

Large groups from the Irish Association of Art Historians, the Friends of the Art Fund, the Decorative and Fine Arts Society and the NHS Retirement Fellowship have booked tours for the coming weeks and staff at the gallery are particularly looking forward to a visit from the Friends of the Highlanes Gallery, Drogheda.

This gallery, which works in partnership with the F.E. McWilliams Gallery and Studio on a cross-border arts projects, previously exhibited the ‘Nano Reid and Gerard Dillon’ exhibition before it came to Banbridge.

In addition to local school groups, groups of pupils from Armagh, Newry, Lisburn and Belfast have already enjoyed educational tours of the exhibitions led by the dedicated team of gallery guides. Many more school groups have booked to visit the gallery before the Reid and Dillon exhibition closes on Sunday 2 May 2010.

The exhibition is suitable for all age groups and a special primary school programme is running in conjunction with the exhibition to encourage teachers to bring their classes to the gallery and help inspire creativity and art engagement in younger children.

Free guided group tours are available to all members of the public on request. To book a group tour, contact the F.E. McWilliams Gallery and Studio on 406 23322.

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