Brussels: Opening of exhibition of Irish artworks on Wednesday

An exhibition of Irish artworks in the European Parliament art collection will open at 12.30pm on Wednesday 23 January in Brussels to celebrate the start of Ireland's Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

This art collection, initiated by Simone Veil, President of the first directly-elected European Parliament in 1979, has grown over the past 30 years to about 550 works from all 27 EU member states.

It includes 21 paintings and 3 sculptures by Irish artists, acquired from 1982 to 1993.  All these works -  by artists such as Sean McSweeney, James Hanley, Tim Goulding and Sean Fingleton - will be exhibited as of 23 January in the European Parliament in Brussels.

The works of art are normally displayed at Parliament's three places of work in Brussels, Strasbourg and Luxembourg. They have also been displayed in an online gallery since December 2011.

Click below to learn more about the collection: