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All you want for Christmas! |
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Press Release November 2008 Festive family activities, special exhibitions, new children's audio tour to permanent collection, and gift ideas…all under one roof at the National Gallery of Ireland. Families and children can get into the festive spirit this December at the National Gallery of Ireland with seasonal activities, exhibitions and gift shopping ideas, all under one roof. A special treat for young children ages 6-10 years is the new Children's Audio Guide to the Gallery's permanent collection, available free from the Information Desks from Friday 19th December. The children's audio tour includes commentaries on some of the Gallery's favourite children's paintings such as Richard Moynan's 'Military Manoeuvres', Thomas Gainsborough's 'Cottage Girl', Jan Steen's 'The Village School', and Picasso's 'Still-Life with a Mandolin'. The audio guide encourages children to look at paintings more closely and includes a multiple choice quiz. It also allows children to move through the galleries at their own pace selecting paintings on view which correspond to the keypad numbers on the audio wand. The Gallery's annual treat for all ages during the festive season is the Christmas Family Art Holiday, which takes place daily from Sunday 28th to Tuesday 30th December (3.00pm-4.30pm). The programme consists of art workshops, guided tours of the collection, and music performances by 'Musical Trio'. All are welcome. Admission is free. During the first week of January, there will be Supervised Family Time taking place daily in the Atrium at 3.00pm on 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 January. The weekly Saturday Family Programme resumes on 3rd January, at 3.00pm with an art workshop, 'Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star'. Admission is free to all of these children's activities. Also, Family Packs and Adult Drawing Kits are available (free of charge) from the Information Desk in the Millennium Wing. Two outstanding temporary exhibitions will be on show throughout the Christmas period and well into the New Year. They are: 'Northern Stars and Southern Lights: The Golden Age of Finnish Art 1870-1920', (until 1 February 2009, admission €7/€4 concessions), and 'Hugh Douglas Hamilton: A Life in Pictures', (until 15 February 2009, admission free). As per tradition each January, the Gallery will exhibit the Turner watercolours (1-31 January 2009), complemented this year by the exquisite miniature portrait collection bequeathed by Maire McNeill in 1985. For those who love traditional Christmas music, there will be a special concert in the Gallery's Shaw Room on Thursday 18th December at 3.00pm performed by the National Chamber Choir led by artistic director, Paul Hillier, with a programme of favourites such as God Rest You Merry Gentlemen, Mummer's Carol and The First Noel. For ticket bookings, telephone 01-7005665 (advance booking is recommended). For a relaxing break from the festive activities, drop into the Gallery’s Café or have lunch in the Winter Garden Restaurant in the Millennium Wing. Or browse through the new-look National Gallery Shop in the Millennium Wing, with its selection of stocking fillers, books on art and design, art materials, children’s gifts and greetings cards. Other gift ideas include the beautifully illustrated 2009 Diary ‘Interiors in Art’ (€19.99) which was shortlisted for the 2008 Irish Print Awards, and the ‘National Gallery of Ireland Calendar 2009’ featuring twelve French 19th century masterpieces from the Gallery’s collection. For something a little different for the Christmas stocking, give a gift of a Personal Guided Tour of the Collection (€50, from the Gallery Shop) or give a gift of Membership of the Friends of the National Gallery of Ireland offering members day trips, weekly tours and talks, concerts, and an annual cultural trip abroad, as well as private exhibition previews, and a 10% discount in the Gallery Shop. Subscription starts at €65 & €50 concessions, email friends@ngi.ie or pick up a brochure from the Information Desks. How to Find Us: Gallery Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday 9.30am-5.30pm; Thursday 5.30pm-8.30pm. Sunday 12.00pm-5.30pm. Closed for Christmas 24-26 December. Normal hours resume 27 December. For more details, visit www.nationalgallery.ie. or Telephone 01-661 5133. Contact:
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