Ormeau Baths Gallery facts for kids
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The Ormeau Baths in Belfast, Northern Ireland, was once a very important place for showing contemporary art (which means new and modern art). Today, it's a busy hub for technology and digital companies. It used to be one of the best art spaces in Ireland, where you could see amazing artworks by famous international artists. Some of these artists included Yoko Ono, Gilbert & George, David Byrne, and Willie Doherty.
The gallery had four main rooms for exhibitions, covering a huge area of about 1,000 square meters (10,000 square feet). It was built on the site of an old Victorian bath house. In 1995, it was turned into an art gallery, making it a public space again for everyone to enjoy. Hugh Mulholland was the director of the Ormeau Baths Gallery from 1997 until it closed in 2006. The gallery showed many different types of art, from solo artist shows to group exhibitions, featuring both local and international artists.
Why the Art Gallery Closed
The Ormeau Baths Gallery received its main money from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and Belfast City Council. However, in February 2006, the Arts Council suddenly announced that it would stop giving money to the gallery. This meant the gallery would close and all its staff would lose their jobs just four days later.
Many Irish artists and gallery supporters were upset. They held a quiet protest outside the closed gallery on March 1, 2006. More than 100 people stood in the snow to show their anger about the sudden closure. The Arts Council tried to answer questions from the gallery staff, but they did not clearly explain why they had decided to close it so quickly. A public meeting was held on March 4, 2006, at the Belfast Exposed photo gallery. This meeting allowed people to learn more about why the gallery had closed.
Reopening and Final Goodbye
The gallery was temporarily reopened to the public by the Arts Council on June 9, 2006. It showed an exhibition called Collectors' Collections, which featured international art from private and public collections across Ireland. The gallery closed again on October 28, 2011.
However, it was relaunched in April 2007 with a new independent board, led by Professor Kerstin Mey from the University of Ulster. This new team worked hard to keep the gallery going.
The final closure of the gallery was announced in October 2011. The board explained that the gallery was very expensive to run. Exhibition costs were also rising, and they were getting less money from sponsors and events. They thanked the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and Belfast City Council for their financial help over the years.
Relaunch in 2017 After its time as an art gallery, the building found a new purpose. In 2017, the Ormeau Baths was relaunched as a modern workspace for digital and technology businesses in Belfast. It continues to be a busy and important building in the city.
