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The National Collection of Contemporary Drawing

Limerick Contemporary Art - A Chronology                               

Pre-1983 - A number of representations are made to the Art Gallery Advisory Committee of Limerick City Gallery of Art to set up a Friends of the Gallery. It is suggested that the primary but not only function of the Friends would be to raise money towards the purchase of contemporary art for the gallery, of which there are very few examples in the collection. All representations are rejected.

1983 -  Limerick Contemporary Art Society founded by Samuel Walsh, Committee consists of Luke Kiernan (ad-hoc chairman), Ursula Brick, John Logan, Fr. John Leonard, Marian Fitzgibbon (Mid-west Arts Officer) and Jo Slade. Samuel Walsh is ad-hoc secretary/treasurer. Marian Fitzgibbon resigns shortly after founding, and is replaced by Paul Lynam. The society is to purchase work by artists who exhibit locally to form a collection. Funding comes from individuals and corporate subscriptions.

1984 - 1^st AGM. Constitution is approved. Ad-hoc committee becomes committee proper. John Logan resigns and is replaced by Catriona O'Connor. Society approved for Joint Purchase by the Arts Council, Each 1 pound raised by the society is worth 2 pounds.

1985 - Hon. Membership offered to Marian Fitzgibbon, Cecil King and John Logan. Accepted.    Collection is hung, on loan, in the Regional Management Centre, National Institute for Higher Education, Limerick . 2^nd AGM. Grant received from Limerick Corporation.

1986 - 3^rd AGM. Fr, John Leonard resigns. Replaced by Mike Byrne. Decision taken to found the National Collection of Contemporary Drawing and to tour the present collection through the mid=west. It is suggested that a collection of contemporary drawing will give Limerick a collection of contemporary work not available in any other city in Ireland. Such a collection would also have an archival element. And, on an ongoing basis, could be used for research and study. A decision is taken to adopt the name Limerick Contemporary Art. It is felt that this is a more specific title and that it will stop LCA being confused with the Limerick Art Society, a group of local amateur artists. The First Collection, Limerick Contemporary Art 1983 – 1987 tours mid-west in conjunction with the Mid-West Arts Association. LCA initiates a series of lectures in Limerick City Gallery of Art called 'Artists Talking'. Drawings, when acquired by LCA are loaned to Limerick City Gallery of Art.

1987 - 4th AGM.  Fr. John Leonard resigns.  Replaced by Mike Byrne. Decision taken to found the National Collection of Contemporary Drawing and to tour the present collection through the mid-west.  It is suggested that a collection of contemporary drawing will give Limerick a collection of contemporary work not available in any other city in Ireland.  Such a collection would also have an archival element, and, on an ongoing basis, could be used for research and study.  A decision is taken to adopt the name Limerick Contemporary Art.  It is felt that this is a more specific title and that it will stop LCA being confused with Limerick Art Society, a group of local amateur artists.  The First Collection, Limerick Contemporary ARt 1983-1987 tours mid-west in conjunction with the Mid-West Arts Association.  LCA initates a series of lectures in Limerick City Gallery of Art called 'Artists Talking'.  Drawing, when acquired by LCA are loaned to Limerick City Gallery of Art. 

1988  - 5^th AGM. Catriona O'Connor resigns. Tony Rogers co-opted to committee. Hon. Membership offered to Catriona O'Connor and Fr. John Leonard. Accepted. Application for charitable status refused. Patrick J Murphy, chair of Rosc, gives the Barclay-Russell Memorial Lecture at Mary Immaculate College of Education. The First Collection presented on permanent loan to Mary Immaculate College of Education on the understanding that the College will continue to acquire contemporary work to add to the collection. Hon. Membership offered to Patrick J Murphy. Accepted. Decision made to create and publish a book of photographs of Limerick artists in their studios in conjunction with the photographer/artist Tom Shortt. A proposal and application for funding is made to the Limerick Treaty 300 Arts Committee. They express no interest.

1989 - 6th AGM. Mike Byrne resigns. Evan Morrissey co-opted. The 'self-destruct' idea is talked about for the first time. Having achieved aims and realised certain goals, LCA believes that a responsibility now falls to the Limerick City Gallery of Art to continue on the purchase of drawings for the National Collection of Contemporary Drawing through a Friends of the Gallery structure. Initial approaches to Limerick City Gallery of Art to accept the drawing collection as a gift and continue adding drawings to the collection is favourable.

1990 AGM postponed until 1991.

1991 - 7th AGM. The drawing collection is offered to and accepted by the Limerick City Gallery of Art. It comprises 23 works by 22 artists and 1 poet. The collection is worth over 8,000 pounds. LCA requests that the Arts Council agree to give on loan its drawing collection to Limerick City Gallery of Art to complement LCA's drawing collection. The Arts Council agrees. Limerick Contemporary Art suspends activities until a suggested formal group of Friends comes into being through Limerick City Gallery of Art.

compiled by Samuel Walsh, 1996.

(text taken from the publication by LCGA - National Collection of Contemporary Drawing Volume I, 1996, ISBN 0946641 714) 

catalogues available from LCGA by contacting artgallery@limerick.ie

Limerick Contemporary Art – Members 1983-1989