Grafton Architects appointed Principal Design Consultants for Crawford Art Gallery redevelopment

Award winning Grafton Architects have been announced as principal design consultants of the €29m Crawford Art Gallery redevelopment project. The overall plan provides for the investment of some €29m in the redevelopment, including design, of the 200-year-old Gallery building over the next four years.

Taoiseach, Micheál Martin T.D. and Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin T.D, announced today (23 July 2021) that the contract for the design for the redevelopment at the historic Crawford Art Gallery has been awarded to Grafton Architects

Crawford Art Gallery is located in an important historic building, parts of which date back to the early eighteenth century. The building needs significant enhancement to meet the evolving demands of a dynamic National Cultural Institution.

Through Project Ireland 2040, the Government is investing €460 million in Ireland's National Cultural Institutions to revamp and modernise their facilities both in terms of visitor experience and storage of the national collections. The Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin T.D approved last September the business plan for the Crawford Gallery which will involve the investment of some €29m in the total re-development of the building.

As part of this overall plan, Grafton Architects have now been selected as the principal design consultants following a two-stage procurement process. They will be responsible for providing all construction-related technical advice and design services to the Crawford Art Gallery and the OPW in respect of the Project.

In announcing the appointment the Taoiseach Micheál Martin said:

“I am delighted to join you here today at the official announcement of Grafton Architects as the principal design consultants for the Crawford Art Gallery Redevelopment Project. This is a big public investment by the State in Cork City - which supports Cork’s regeneration into being a forward thinking European Cultural City. It is an extraordinary opportunity to reimagine the Crawford Art Gallery’s potential and create a vibrant new space for art and the public to meet in the heart of the city.

Grafton Architects are an internationally renowned architecture firm with projects spanning from Milford to Milan, and from Lima to London, and I have no doubt that they will bring their experience and skills to bear in interpreting and developing the unique characteristics of the Crawford Art Gallery.”

Minister Catherine Martin thanked the Chair, Director and team in the Crawford for their commitment to the redevelopment project and the gallery's activity, adding:

"This has been a very challenging time for artists and I was very pleased to put in place last year an Art Acquisition fund which resulted in the purchase of 422 artworks by 70 artists working in Ireland for the national collection. This scheme has been a huge success and provided vital support to our artists while at the same time enhancing the national collection. It is inspirational to see some of the works purchased under the scheme on display here today.”

Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, Mr. Patrick O’Donovan, T.D., also welcomed the appointment of Grafton Architects and commented: "With the transfer of ownership of the Crawford Art Gallery to the OPW concluded at the beginning of the month, I very much look forward to our continued close collaboration and to seeing this ambitious project through to completion.”