Irish Museum of Modern Art facts for kids
| Músaem Nua-Ealaíne na hÉireann | |
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North facade of the main building, viewed from the formal garden
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| Established | 25 May 1991 |
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| Location | 8 Military Road, Kilmainham, Dublin, Ireland |
| Type | Museum of modern art |
| Architect | William Robinson |
| Public transit access | Heuston railway station James's Luas stop (Red Line) |
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The Irish Museum of Modern Art, often called IMMA, is Ireland's main place for showing and collecting modern and contemporary art. You can find it in Kilmainham, a part of Dublin, Ireland.
Contents
How IMMA Started
A kind art collector named Gordon Lambert had an idea. He met with Taoiseach Charles Haughey, who was like Ireland's prime minister. Lambert offered to give his art collection to the country if they built a special gallery for it.
The Government of Ireland officially created the Irish Museum of Modern Art in 1990. It opened its doors on May 25, 1991, with Charles Haughey there for the big day.
Leaders of IMMA
The first Director of IMMA was Declan McGonagle. He led the museum for ten years. After him, Enrique Juncosa took over, followed by Sarah Glennie. Since 2018, Annie Fletcher has been the Director, guiding the museum's vision.
The Museum Building
IMMA is located in a very old and beautiful building. It's called the Royal Hospital Kilmainham and was built way back in the 1600s.
History of the Building
The Royal Hospital was started in 1684 by James Butler. He was the Duke of Ormonde and worked for King Charles II. The building was made to be a home for soldiers who had retired. It was used for this purpose for almost 250 years.
Design of the Royal Hospital
The Royal Hospital is a great place to show modern art. It was designed by Sir William Robinson. He based his design on a famous building in Paris called Les Invalides. The building is shaped around a large courtyard. Inside, there are long hallways that lead to many smaller rooms.
The old stables of the hospital have been fixed up. They are now used as studios where artists can work. IMMA even has a special program where artists can live and create art there for a while.
IMMA's Art Collection
IMMA is home to Ireland's National Collection of modern and contemporary art. This collection has more than 3,500 artworks. These pieces are by both Irish and international artists.
What Kind of Art is There?
The museum mostly collects art made after 1940. You can see works by many famous artists, including Lucian Freud, Marina Abramović, Louise Bourgeois, Joseph Cornell, Robert Rauschenberg, Sol LeWitt, Louis le Brocquy, Matt Mullican, Roy Lichtenstein, and Lawrence Weiner. You can search through the entire collection on IMMA's website.
Helping the Collection Grow
In 2016, a special fund was started called the Hennessy Art Fund for IMMA Collection. This fund helps the museum buy new art. Before this, it was hard for IMMA to buy new works by artists who were just starting out or in the middle of their careers.
The Hennessy Art Fund is a partnership that helps IMMA buy art by Irish artists. This way, new and exciting works can become part of the National Collection. Thanks to this fund, IMMA has been able to add works by artists like Kevin Atherton, David Beattie, Rhona Byrne, Dennis McNulty, Ciarán Murphy, Maireád McClean, Mark Garry, and Yuri Pattison.
How IMMA is Funded
IMMA is set up as a company that doesn't have shareholders. It gets money from the Irish government through the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport. It also earns money from sponsorships, special events, and its own activities.
See also
In Spanish: Museo Irlandés de Arte Moderno para niños
