Foreword
 

Wexford County Council is proud to have the opportunity to publish its first ever art collection catalogue. This collection is without doubt truly magnificent and features wonderful artwork created by a very interesting cross section of artists, many of whom hail from our very own Model County.

County Wexford has a great artistic tradition and at Wexford County Council we are committed to both its preservation and development. Our county has earned itself an enviable reputation for being both innovative and forward thinking in its proactive and committed approach to the development of the arts and our ever-growing Art Collection is just one of the many ways in which this commitment is brought to fruition.

Since the establishment of the Arts Department in 1994, the Council appointed a selection panel to purchase new works for its collection. This collection compliments our policy of recognising the importance of the individual creative artist in our society and also provides increased awareness of and access to the visual arts. The publication celebrates the value we place on art and artists in addition to profiling the wealth of artistic talent within the county and beyond.

Wexford County Council has always enjoyed providing an opportunity for both the staff and the public who use the County Hall to enjoy works of art. A publication of this calibre not only increases greater awareness of the collection but also promotes our sense of pride and ownership of the arts within the county. Wexford is a lively and burgeoning cultural town and art continues to play an increasingly influential role in its everyday life. Future plans to continue to bring the collection to a wider audience include organising tours with related talks and lectures within the County Hall and touring the collection to other venues such a libraries and suitable community spaces. In addition we will continually assess how best we can review our purchasing policy in order to realise our ongoing commitment to augmenting and enhancing this collection.

Wexford County Council values this publication both as documented chronicle of great art works and as a valuable historical document. We are proud of our achievement and we hope that this publication will give pleasure to those who use it.

Councillor Lorcan Allen, Cathaoirleach, Wexford County Council
Mr. Eddie Breen, County Manager, Wexford County Council