Arts and culture

Getting involved in arts and culture is a way for you to learn and express yourself creatively, also allowing you to take part in and shape the culture around you.

Free art exhibition in Cookstown

This free art exhibition at the Burnavon Arts and Cultural Centre in Cookstown, showcases 54 unseen art pieces chosen from the Northern Ireland Civil Service Art Collection and the Office of Public Works, Dublin. This year the exhibition focuses on the theme of still life and the artworks chosen show a variety of work in each collection.

This is the first venue of the touring exhibition, the purpose of which is to bring the art collections of both organisations to as many people as possible on an annual basis.

The exhibition will run from 12 September to 27 October 2019.

Northern Ireland Civil Service Art Collection

The Northern Ireland Civil Service Art Collection came into being in 1963 when the then Prime Minister, Captain Terence O’Neill, proposed works of art to brighten up government offices.

The purpose of the collection is to decorate government offices and public access areas of Northern Ireland government buildings. Today, the collection has over 1,500 works, valued in 2016 at around £2.1 million. At any one time over 1,000 pieces are on loan, mostly in the Civil Service office estate. 

Since 1997, the Department of Finance has worked in co-operation with the Office of Public Works in the Republic of Ireland in exhibiting art works from public buildings managed by both Departments. These exhibitions have comprised artworks taken from the two collections based on particular themes each year, such as paper works and emerging art. The exhibitions provide an opportunity for the wider public to view art works, which normally decorate public buildings. Over the years, they have toured extensively throughout Ireland.

Getting involved

Be it painting, making music, dance, literature or any of the wide range of activities available in Northern Ireland – taking part in the arts can be relaxing, exciting and rewarding.

There are a number of ways to get involved in arts and culture. There will be an arts officer in your local council or you can contact The Arts Council of Northern Ireland.

Find out more about the performing arts and people with disabilities.

Events 

Discover what music, art, sport and food events are on:

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