In June 1998, the Museum began a more extensive showing of its Collection than had been previously possible, devoting almost half of the total gallery space to it and highlighting the Museum’s commitment to this area of its work.

A Collection in the Making comprises individual works and groups of works by Irish and international artists. Covering all aspects of the Collection as it has developed to date, the exhibition seeks to present a wide cross-section of works and also to make the process behind the growth and development of the Collection more visible.

New displays involves a change over of approximately two-thirds of the works on show. It will provide an opportunity to see such acquisitions to the Collection as Peacock by Kiki Smith, paintings by emerging artists Mark Joyce and David Quinn, and more familiar works such as Strange Fruit by Lee Jaffe and video work by Caroline McCarthy. Additional work by Outsider artists on long-term loan to the Museum will also be incorporated into this phase of A Collection in the Making.

A fully-illustrated reference catalogue of the Collection to date is available in the Museum’s Bookshop, price £12.00. Slide packs and full-colour Work in Focus leaflets are also available for selected works in the Collection. A booklet for children (6-12 years) parents and teachers, Yours & Mine – Thoughts on Collecting and Collections, provides an excellent starting point for thinking and looking at Collections. Price £3.50 including p&p.