‘National Treasures’ will see 12 beloved paintings from the National Gallery’s collection go to 12 partner museums and galleries across the UK, and the Ulster Museum is reuniting two Caravaggio paintings which have rarely been seen together since the 17th century. The Supper at Emmaus will be loaned to Ulster Museum by National Gallery London whilst the Jesuit Community in Dublin, with the support of the National Gallery of Ireland, will loan The Taking of Christ.
Kathryn Thomson, Chief Executive at National Museums NI, said, “It’s important that we work in partnership with local, national and international organisations to deliver on strategic aims with greater impact. Meaningful collaboration, such as this sponsorship with EY and partnering with our fellow national galleries, can support us in reaching new audiences to ensure that as many people as possible can get a sense of the rich cultural experiences on offer at the Ulster Museum, and the benefits museums can bring to their communities.
“We look forward to welcoming people from all over the island of Ireland and beyond to see ‘National Treasures: Caravaggio in Belfast’ when it opens on May 10, and are grateful to EY for its support.”
As part of their sponsorship and in conjunction with the Caravaggio exhibition, EY and Ulster Museum have launched the Creative Classroom Award, a new art prize, giving primary school classrooms the opportunity to get creative, which could see their work displayed at the museum as the prize. Teachers can submit artworks on the theme of still life, inspired by the Caravaggio paintings, on behalf of their pupils, with entries open until May 15. The winning artworks will be displayed in the Discover Art centre at the Ulster Museum, and winning classes will get an all-expenses paid trip to the Caravaggio exhibition in June.
The partnership demonstrates EY’s commitment to supporting the arts and mirrors its steadfast support for initiatives that foster creativity and innovation across our communities.
EY Northern Ireland, Managing Partner Rob Heron, said, “We are very proud to partner with the Ulster Museum on this once-in-a-lifetime exhibition. At EY, our support for the arts is a part of our commitment to building a better working world, creating long-term value for all and fostering a culture of creativity and innovation within our communities. Through this partnership we hope that as many people as possible from Northern Ireland and beyond will get to enjoy these truly spectacular paintings, and with the Creative Classroom competition we want to encourage and support the next generation of talented artists.”
Being able to introduce a new schools initiative as part of this unique exhibition programme and sponsorship will have a positive, lasting impact on the museum’s education offering, as Louise Rice, Education Manager at National Museums NI highlights. She said, “The importance of making time for creative activity in the classroom cannot be understated. We hope to encourage teachers and their pupils to engage in drawing, making and painting together through the Creative Classroom Award, which is fundamentally about encouraging young children to explore their creativity and engage with art in meaningful ways. This exciting partnership with EY will help support the next generation of creatives, and we look forward to seeing the imaginative submissions from schools across Northern Ireland.”
Twelve museums and galleries across the UK will take part in the National Gallery in London’s ‘National Treasures’ programme, which will open on May 10 – the 200th birthday of the National Gallery. The Ulster Museum is the only Northern Ireland based partner involved.
L-R: Pauline Poots, EY Consulting Partner; Kathryn Thomson, Chief Executive of National Museums NI; Rob Heron, EY NI Managing Partner; Tim Cush, EY Tech Consulting Partner; and Brona Moffett, Head of Experience and Enterprise Development at National Museums NI.
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