Saturday 20 May

Every year, the Gallery—together with dozens of museums, galleries, libraries and cultural organisations all over the island of Ireland—encourages people to get drawing on National Drawing Day.

This year we invite you into the Gallery to take part in free drawing events, or visit one of our partner organisations around the island of Ireland. Follow the hashtag #NationalDrawingDay on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for all the updates.

In the Gallery

Pop into the Gallery for fun and inspirational free events including a life-drawing session with artist Fintan Mahon, a collaborative workshop with International Festival of Literature Dublin, a sensory space for people with autism and sensory issues, a scavenger hunt devised by our Transition Year work experience group, and much more besides. The Gallery shop will also be offering a 10% discount on the day.

Scroll down this page, or click on the button below, for the full schedule of Gallery events!

Visit Lavinia Fontana: Trailblazer, Rule Breaker for free

We're offering free entry into our current exhibition Lavinia Fontana: Trailblazer, Rule Breaker for a selection of time slots in the morning and afternoon on National Drawing Day, 20 May. 

• Book your free ticket now. 
• Free-entry time slots available 9.15am–11.30am and 2.30pm–4.15pm on 20 May.
• Book your free timed-tickets in advance online as there is a limited capacity in the exhibition space.
• You must enter the exhibition at your chosen time slot, but are free to spend as much time as you like in the exhibition. We suggest you allow one hour to view the entire exhibition.

Across the island of Ireland

We are very excited to have dozens of partners on board again this year! Click on the links below to explore our partners' plans for National Drawing Day 2023.

14 Henrietta Street \ An Chead Tine, Kilkenny / Ardgillan Castle \ Artnet DLR (DLR Artists Network) \ Backwater Artists Group \ Ballina Arts Centre \ Butler Gallery \ Cavan County Museum \  Centre for Contemporary Art Derry-Londonderry \ Crawford Art Gallery \ Creative Spark \ Dublin City Gallery the Hugh Lane \ Dublin City Public Libraries \ Dublinia \ Excel Arts Centre, Tipperary Town \ F.E. McWilliam Gallery and Studio \ Fermanagh County Museum \ Fota House, Arboretum and Garden \ Garter Lane Arts Centre \ Gerard Byrne Studio \ Glasnevin Cemetery Museum \ Hunt Museum \ IMMA \ International Literature Festival Dublin \ Junior Cycle Graphics Exhibition \ Kerry County Museum \ Lismore Castle Arts \ Mermaid County Wicklow Arts Centre \ Monaghan County Museum \ National Library of Ireland \ National Museum of Ireland, Decorative Arts and History, Collins Barracks \ National Museums NI Ulster Museum \ National Print Museum \ Naughton Gallery at Queens \ Northern Ireland War Memorial \ Presentation Centre Enniscorthy \ Rathfarnham Castle \ Richmond Barracks \ RUA RED \ Schoolhouse For Art \ Seamus Ennis Arts Centre \ Solstice Arts Centre \ Southpaw Art Studio \ The Braid: Museum & Arts Centre \ The Chester Beatty \ The Dock \ The Glucksman \ The Luan Gallery \ The Pearse Museum \ Tin Jug Studio \ Uilinn West Cork Arts Centre \ United Arts Club \ Wexford Arts Centre \ White Doodle Art

National Drawing Day is supported by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.