The Model Sligo

The Model Sligo Museum + Arts Venue Nora Niland campaigned tirelessly on behalf of the collection throughout her tenure as County Librarian and Curator.
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The Model provides audiences in the North West with access to cutting-edge contemporary art exhibitions, projects and talks by the best national and international artists. We are home to The Niland Collection which is significant for its focus on the north-west of Ireland, through either artist or subject matter. Through public subscription, bequests, private donations, permanent loans, artist don

ation and a number of other bodies, works by many significant Irish artists have been acquired for the collection, including works of contemporary Irish artists. The Model, which was a school built in 1862, was renovated in 1999 in order to house the amazing collection accrued and so began our journey to where we are today. Our dynamic education department offers workshops, tours, classes and talks for children and adults alike and has developed ground breaking programmes for those with mental and physical disabilities and for Early Years. The Model’s weekly cinema runs in collaboration with Sligo Film Society, one of Ireland’s longest running film clubs as well as films in French and Spanish for schools. We pride ourselves on being multi-disciplinary and in addition to the above we also have our vibrant music programme which includes projects that respond to our exhibitions, while also collaborating with a number of festivals in music, arts, film, theatre and more.

We loved having students from Westport visit us last week! ✨It’s always inspiring to see young creatives exploring the g...
28/10/2025

We loved having students from Westport visit us last week! ✨
It’s always inspiring to see young creatives exploring the gallery and engaging with art. Thanks for stopping by on your trip to Sligo!

Currently on view at The Model, ‘Inheritance’ brings together voices that speak across generations, time, and memory. Am...
27/10/2025

Currently on view at The Model, ‘Inheritance’ brings together voices that speak across generations, time, and memory. Among them is Susan Hiller’s ‘Lost and Found’ (2016) – a deeply moving work that listens to the voices of the past.

In this single-channel installation, Hiller gathers speech and song in 23 languages once considered extinct or endangered – from Aramaic to Livonian. Many have since been reclaimed and brought back into use, demonstrating the resilience of cultural memory and the power of collective action. Subtitles and a pulsing line that visualises sound waves accompany the recordings, creating a sensory bridge across time and distance. In this work, Susan Hiller combines her archaeological sensibility with a deep interest in the unconscious and in the persistence of language as a vessel of identity.

| Susan Hiller (b. USA 1940, d. UK 2019) was an American-born, London-based artist renowned for her explorations of memory, language, and the unseen. An important figure in conceptual art, Hiller’s career has been recognised by many major solo and survey exhibitions at institutions across the globe, including at Documenta 13 and 14 (Kassel), Manifesta 11 (Zurich), and the British Art Show 2, 5 and 8, in the UK (1984, 2000, 2015).

A little indulgence for your next visit 💛 Discover locally made chocolates, fudge, and more – all lovingly handmade by I...
24/10/2025

A little indulgence for your next visit 💛 Discover locally made chocolates, fudge, and more – all lovingly handmade by Irish artisans. Find them at The Model Gift Shop.

Full house at Miriam de Búrca’s artist talk yesterday at The Model - we were delighted to see so many join us!A warm tha...
23/10/2025

Full house at Miriam de Búrca’s artist talk yesterday at The Model - we were delighted to see so many join us!

A warm thank you to for sharing such insightful reflections on her work and practice.

‘Inheritance’ continues until Wed. 31 Dec. 2025. More info on the exhibition on www.themodel.ie

‘Inheritance’ is currently showing at The Model – and among its powerful works is Wild Arrow #7, The Feral and the Sph...
23/10/2025

‘Inheritance’ is currently showing at The Model – and among its powerful works is Wild Arrow #7, The Feral and the Sphere (2022) by Selvagem – Cycle of Studies.

‘The Feral and the Sphere’ is one of seven ‘arrows’ made by Selvagem – Cycle of Studies that explore the interconnected nature of life – and its call feels more urgent than ever. It is a manifesto that asks us to integrate the living system of the planet into our lives; and to see that destroying it, through blindness and greed, is collective destruction triggered by a small group of humans. Selvagem posit that challenging the capitalist urge for how to be in this world is fundamental, and that to build a better future we must allow the forest to reinfiltrate our senses.

| Founded in 2018 by Anna Dantes and Ailton Krenak, Selvagem – Cycle of Studies is a non-governmental initiative rooted in the belief that life is a web of interconnections, and that we, as part of the biosphere, can foster deeper forms of knowledge through collaboration across worlds. Selvagem operates at the intersection of Indigenous living wisdom, artistic inquiry, and scientific understanding.

📌 Come experience ‘Inheritance’ at The Model before it closes on Wed. 31 Dec. 2025. Find more info on the exhibition on www.themodel.ie

Image credit: Selvagem – Cycle of Studies; ‘Wild Arrow #7, The Feral and the Sphere’, 2022, film stills.

📢 Last chance to see the Jack B. Yeats exhibition ‘The Dreaming Road’ before closing on Sat. 1 Nov. 2025.Explore the evo...
22/10/2025

📢 Last chance to see the Jack B. Yeats exhibition ‘The Dreaming Road’ before closing on Sat. 1 Nov. 2025.

Explore the evolution of one of Ireland’s most celebrated artists – from early Sligo inspirations to powerful political works and mystical late masterpieces. Every painting on view is part of Sligo’s municipal art collection – the Niland Collection.

Free admission
Suggested donation: €5
The Model, Sligo

📌 Find more info on the exhibition and the Niland Collection on www.themodel.ie

Images: Jack B. Yeats; The Dreaming Road. Installation view, 2025, The Model.

The Model is excited to invite you to a very special Informal Music Afternoon in November!📍 Sun. 2 Nov. 2025⏱️ 1 – 3pm🎟 ...
21/10/2025

The Model is excited to invite you to a very special Informal Music Afternoon in November!

📍 Sun. 2 Nov. 2025
⏱️ 1 – 3pm
🎟 €8pp, children go free. Link in bio.

The returns to the stage after their last performance in 2022, bringing a fresh lineup and new compositions. Led by bassist and composer Jenny Hallahan, the group features Cathal Roche on saxophone, Conor Bastible on keys, and Chad Murphy on drums. Based between Bundoran and Sligo, the quartet performs Jenny’s original music alongside works by contemporary composers, creating a sound that is expressive, melodic, and shaped by modern jazz influences.

Further, in our November IMA programme:
will premiere a newly composed piano concertino by Emma Purcell, with soloist Aileen Cahill. SBO will also perform a selection of works by composer Joseph Bologne. Also on the programme is a performance by the talented Leaving Cert student Leo Tarrant (violin). SBO will join him in Mozart’s wonderful violin Concerto in G-major.

Informal Music Afternoons are produced by Sligo Baroque Orchestra in partnership with The Model and are supported by The Arts Council and Sligo County Council.

Artist Talk with Miriam de Búrca at The Model🗓 Wed. 22 Oct. 2025, 11.30am📍 The Model, Sligo | 🎟 Free AdmissionJoin us fo...
16/10/2025

Artist Talk with Miriam de Búrca at The Model

🗓 Wed. 22 Oct. 2025, 11.30am
📍 The Model, Sligo | 🎟 Free Admission

Join us for an inspiring artist talk with , whose work features in our current exhibition ‘Inheritance’. This talk offers a rare opportunity to hear de Búrca discuss her practice, including her use of verre églomisé, a luminous technique through which she transforms acts of protest into powerful gestures of resilience. Admission is free and everyone is welcome.



Image Credit: Miriam de Búrca, Landback, 23.75ct gold, enamel paint, glass, 2021. Image courtesy of the artist.

Relaxed Guided Tours of ‘Inheritance’ at The ModelJoin us for a series of laid-back, coffee morning tours of ‘Inheritanc...
15/10/2025

Relaxed Guided Tours of ‘Inheritance’ at The Model

Join us for a series of laid-back, coffee morning tours of ‘Inheritance’ – a powerful exhibition exploring the legacies shaping our world today.

📍 Upcoming dates: 23 & 30 Oct. | 13 & 27 Nov. | 4 & 18 Dec. 2025
⏱️ Thursdays at 11.30am
🎟 Tickets €6, www.themodel.ie/tickets
☕ Includes complimentary tea or coffee & a friendly post-tour chat!

📌 More info on the exhibition and the tours on our website www.themodel.ie



Image Credit: Marcus Coates, Nature Calendar, 2022, More than Human, at the Design Museum. Courtesy of the Design Museum. Photo by Luke Hayes.

🏫 Free Gallery Tours for Schools & Colleges! The Model is thrilled to offer FREE guided tours every Wednesday for school...
14/10/2025

🏫 Free Gallery Tours for Schools & Colleges!
The Model is thrilled to offer FREE guided tours every Wednesday for school and college groups – giving students a fun, interactive look at our exhibitions, artworks, and stunning building.

Thanks to additional funding, guided tours are free for the rest of the school year!

👉 Prefer to explore at your own pace? Drop in for a self-led tour anytime, Tuesday to Friday.

📧 Spaces for guided tours are limited – to book email [email protected]

⚡ Late Nights at The Model returns with a double bill featuring & ! Get ready to sweat it out to high-energy rhythms, g...
11/10/2025

⚡ Late Nights at The Model returns with a double bill featuring & ! Get ready to sweat it out to high-energy rhythms, global grooves, and floor-shaking bass – this one’s for the movers!

📍 Sat. 18 Oct. 2025
⏱️ 10pm – 2am
🎟 Ticket €10, www.themodel.ie/tickets

Address

The Mall
Sligo
F91TP20

Opening Hours

Tuesday 11am - 5pm
Wednesday 11am - 5pm
Thursday 11am - 5pm
Friday 11am - 5pm
Saturday 11am - 5pm

Telephone

+353719141405

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Our Story

The Model provides audiences in the North West with access to cutting-edge contemporary art exhibitions, projects and talks by the best national and international artists. We are home to The Niland Collection which is significant for its focus on the north-west of Ireland, through either artist or subject matter. Nora Niland campaigned tirelessly on behalf of the collection throughout her tenure as County Librarian and Curator. Through public subscription, bequests, private donations, permanent loans, artist donation and a number of other bodies, works by many significant Irish artists have been acquired for the collection, including works of contemporary Irish artists. The Model, which was a school built in 1862, was renovated in 1999 in order to house the amazing collection accrued and so began our journey to where we are today. Our dynamic education department offers workshops, tours, classes and talks for children and adults alike and has developed ground breaking programmes for those with mental and physical disabilities and for Early Years. We host family days on the third Sunday of every month to engage family creativity, arts, crafts and fun, in response to our current exhibitions. The Model’s weekly cinema runs in collaboration with Sligo Film Society, one of Ireland’s longest running film clubs as well as films in French and Spanish for schools. We pride ourselves on being multi-disciplinary and in addition to the above we also have our vibrant music programme which includes projects that respond to our exhibitions, while also collaborating with a number of festivals in music, arts, film, theatre and more.