Since the late 1990s, the Office of Public Works (OPW) and the Department of Finance, Northern Ireland (DoF) have worked in partnership organising an annual touring art exhibition. The purpose of this cross-border initiative is to create public awareness and access to artworks in both public-owned collections. The exhibitions have toured numerous venues across the island bringing both collections to new audiences. The exhibitions are based on different themes every year. The theme for the current exhibition is All Creatures Great and Small and the work of thirty-one artists is included.
The focus of the exhibition is the natural world - insects, birds, animals and sea creatures and their interaction with humanity. Artworks in a variety of artistic media in the form of paintings, photographs, prints and sculpture are displayed. Each artist brings their own individual approach to the depiction of living creatures and this diversity makes for a thoughtful and interesting exhibition.
