Tentoonstelling Ierse boekillustraties toert door EU tijdens Iers voorzitterschap (en)

Exciting exhibition being curated by Laureate na nÓg, Niamh Sharkey

Pictiúr, an exciting new exhibition of the work of some of Ireland’s leading children’s book illustrators and which has been curated by Laureate na nÓg, Niamh Sharkey, will visit four venues in Europe during Ireland’s Presidency of the EU, before returning to Ireland to tour.

Laureate na nÓg, Niamh Sharkey: ‘We are delighted to have the opportunity to tour the work of some of our finest illustrators, both internationally and within Ireland.

During March, Pictiúr will visit the Festival for Young Readers at the Palais Auersperg in Vienna, Austria, before moving on to the Bologna Book Fair, Europe’s most prestigious children’s book event. Then, in April, it will visit the European Parliament building in Brussels before moving to the Leuven Institute for Ireland in Europe, Ireland’s cultural centre in Belgium. Pictiúr’s European tour is being funded by Culture Ireland as part of its Culture Connects International Culture Programme to celebrate Ireland’s Presidency of the EU.

In the Autumn, Pictiúr will begin its Irish Tour with visits to Draíocht Arts Centre in Blanchardstown and the Babaró Children’s Festival in Galway and before returning to Dublin to begin exhibiting at IMMA, Kilmainham, at the end of the year.

‘We are delighted to have the opportunity to tour the work of some of our finest illustrators, both internationally and within Ireland,’ said Laureate na nÓg, Niamh Sharkey ‘Showcasing these artists will allow us to demonstrate the range, scope and skill of Irish illustrators and will help to grow our reputation both at home and abroad.’

Pictiúr features the work of 21 children’s book illustrators. Illustrators include P.J. Lynch, Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick, Olivia Golden, Alan Clarke, Steven Simpson and Andrew Whitson. The exhibition will comprise 42 art pieces and will include illustrations from books written in English and Irish.

Pictiúr Itinerary

AUSTRIA 14th-20th March 2013, Festival of Young Readers, Palais Auersperg, Vienna, Austria

The exhibition will be on show for the duration of the festival in central Vienna. This annual festival attracts more than 8,000 visitors (schools and families) each year.

ITALY 25th to 28th March 2013, Bologna Children’s Book Fair, Bologna Italy.

The Bologna fair, which celebrates 50 years in 2013, is the most significant international trade fair for children’s books and it attracts over 1200 exhibitors coming from 66 countries and 5000 international professional trade representatives. As such, it offers a unique platform for Irish illustration.

BRUSSELS 9th April - 12th April 2013, European Parliament Building

BELGIUM 28th April - 21st May 2013, The Leuven Institute for Ireland in Europe

The exhibition will be on show for three weeks in the Leuven Institute.