Ormeau Baths Gallery
Encyclopedia
The Ormeau Baths Gallery (OBG) in Belfast
, Northern Ireland
, is one of Ireland's
premier contemporary art
spaces. It curated exhibitions by prominent international artists including; Yoko Ono
, Gilbert & George, Victor Sloan
, Bill Viola
, Hans Peter Kuhn, Stan Douglas
, David Byrne
, Willie Doherty
and Alastair MacLennan.
There are four main galleries with a total exhibition space of 10000 square feet (929 m²). It is located on the site of a Victorian Bath House. In 1995, its conversion to an art galley once again restored the venue to the public realm. Hugh Mulholland
, previously the founder and Director of Context Gallery in Derry
, was the Director of the Ormeau Baths Gallery from 1997 until the gallery's closure. The gallery programme included a mix of solo and group shows; national and international in all art disciplines.
and Belfast City Council
, but in a surprise move, the Arts Council suddenly announced at the end of February 2006 that it was not going to renew its funding, and that the gallery would close and all its staff be made redundant four days later.
A silent protest vigil
of Irish artist and gallery supporters was held outside the locked gallery at 1pm on 1 March 2006. Over 100 people braved the snow showers to protest at the sudden closure.
The Arts Council responded to a number of questions posed by gallery staff, but failed to substantiate allegations they had made prior to the closure.
A public meeting was held on Saturday 4 March 2006 at 2pm at Belfast Exposed
photo gallery to allow interested parties to get more information on the circumstances relating to the closure.
reopened the gallery to the public on 9 June 2006, showing the Collectors' Collections of international art held in private and public collections across the island of Ireland.
.
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, is one of Ireland's
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
premier contemporary art
Contemporary art
Contemporary art can be defined variously as art produced at this present point in time or art produced since World War II. The definition of the word contemporary would support the first view, but museums of contemporary art commonly define their collections as consisting of art produced...
spaces. It curated exhibitions by prominent international artists including; Yoko Ono
Yoko Ono
is a Japanese artist, musician, author and peace activist, known for her work in avant-garde art, music and filmmaking as well as her marriage to John Lennon...
, Gilbert & George, Victor Sloan
Victor Sloan
Victor Sloan MBE is an Irish photographer and artist.Victor Sloan studied at the Royal School, Dungannon, Co. Tyrone and Belfast and Leeds Colleges of Art, England. He lives and works in Portadown, County Armagh in Northern Ireland...
, Bill Viola
Bill Viola
Bill Viola is a contemporary video artist. He is considered a leading figure in the generation of artists whose artistic expression depends upon electronic, sound, and image technology in New Media...
, Hans Peter Kuhn, Stan Douglas
Stan Douglas
Stan Douglas is an artist based in Vancouver, British Columbia. He has exhibited internationally, including Documenta IX, 1992, Documenta X, 1997, Documenta XI, 2002 and the Venice Biennale in 1990, 2001 and 2005...
, David Byrne
David Byrne (musician)
David Byrne is a musician and artist, best known as a founding member and principal songwriter of the American new wave band Talking Heads, which was active between 1975 and 1991. Since then, Byrne has released his own solo recordings and worked with various media including film, photography,...
, Willie Doherty
Willie Doherty
Willie Doherty is an artist, who has mainly worked in photography and video. He has twice been a Turner Prize nominee.-Life and work:...
and Alastair MacLennan.
There are four main galleries with a total exhibition space of 10000 square feet (929 m²). It is located on the site of a Victorian Bath House. In 1995, its conversion to an art galley once again restored the venue to the public realm. Hugh Mulholland
Hugh Mulholland
Hugh Mulholland was born in Lurgan, Co. Armagh in Northern Ireland. He currently runs the art gallery The Third Space in Belfast, which opened in September 2006.He was the director of the Ormeau Baths Gallery, Belfast from 1997 to February 2006...
, previously the founder and Director of Context Gallery in Derry
Derry
Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
, was the Director of the Ormeau Baths Gallery from 1997 until the gallery's closure. The gallery programme included a mix of solo and group shows; national and international in all art disciplines.
Gallery closure
The gallery used to receive its major funding from the Arts Council of Northern IrelandArts Council of Northern Ireland
The Arts Council of Northern Ireland is the lead development agency for the arts in Northern Ireland....
and Belfast City Council
Belfast City Council
Belfast City Council is the local authority with responsibility for the city of Belfast, the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland. The Council serves an estimated population of , the largest of any district council in Northern Ireland, while also being the fourth smallest by area...
, but in a surprise move, the Arts Council suddenly announced at the end of February 2006 that it was not going to renew its funding, and that the gallery would close and all its staff be made redundant four days later.
A silent protest vigil
Vigil
A vigil is a period of purposeful sleeplessness, an occasion for devotional watching, or an observance...
of Irish artist and gallery supporters was held outside the locked gallery at 1pm on 1 March 2006. Over 100 people braved the snow showers to protest at the sudden closure.
The Arts Council responded to a number of questions posed by gallery staff, but failed to substantiate allegations they had made prior to the closure.
A public meeting was held on Saturday 4 March 2006 at 2pm at Belfast Exposed
Belfast Exposed
Belfast Exposed was Northern Ireland's first dedicated photographic gallery. Established in Belfast in 1983, it houses a 20×7 m gallery for the exhibition of contemporary photography, digital archive browsing facilities, a spacious black-and-white photographic darkroom and a digital editing suite...
photo gallery to allow interested parties to get more information on the circumstances relating to the closure.
Gallery reopening
The Arts Council of Northern IrelandArts Council of Northern Ireland
The Arts Council of Northern Ireland is the lead development agency for the arts in Northern Ireland....
reopened the gallery to the public on 9 June 2006, showing the Collectors' Collections of international art held in private and public collections across the island of Ireland.
New Board
The gallery was relaunched in April 2007 under the leadership of a new independent board, led by Professor Kerstin Mey of the University of UlsterUniversity of Ulster
The University of Ulster is a multi-campus, co-educational university located in Northern Ireland. It is the largest single university in Ireland, discounting the federal National University of Ireland...
.