Unique portrait competition comissioned by The Model for young people of Sligo
THE Model in Sligo has commissioned two of Ireland’s most distinguished artists to paint the portraits of 10 young Sligo citizens.
The finished paintings will become part of Sligo’s municipal Niland Collection, where they will represent these children and their communities into the future.
Entitled ‘The Sunset Belongs To You’ this is a major children’s portrait project, this initiative is the brainchild of The Model, home of The Niland Collection
The Model is now inviting Sligo people to nominate a child sitter to represent their community by having their portrait painted for their shared municipal art collection.
This is an exciting, if not remarkable initiative for which The Model deserves great credit.
Two of Ireland’s most accomplished portrait painters, Mick O’Dea and Geraldine O’Neill, have been commissioned to create the portraits in consultation with the children, their families and The Model’s Director, Emer McGarry.
Director of The Model, Emer McGarry said: “Our vision is that these portraits will reflect the breadth and diversity of all of Sligo’s communities in 2023.
“We want to include and represent children from all kinds of backgrounds and abilities.”
The portraits will become part of The Niland Collection, where they will have a meaningful presence alongside portraits of public figures, activists, artists and other changemakers – demonstrating the importance, equality, and potential of children to engage in active citizenship.
‘The Sunset Belongs to You’ will challenge the ingrained traditional structures of portraiture and will question who is reflected in a public art collection, and who is overlooked. For an application pack please email Nadia Tamerji nadiatamerji@themodel.ie. Expressions of interest are open until Monday, May 30, 2022.