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The Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Jimmy Deenihan, T.D. today welcomed the announcement by AIB of its decision to enter into partnership with the State in respect of its corporate art collection. AIB has decided to donate thirty-nine of its finest works to the State. These works include such prominent Irish artists as Jack B. Yeats. Sean Keating, Paul Henry and Roderic O’Connor.

Minister Deenihan described this new partnership as “exciting and deeply important”. The AIB Collection is the pinnacle of “wise and knowledgeable connoisseurship” and as such is a valuable addition to the National Collection.

Minister Deenihan indicated that he has decided the works will be held by the Crawford Gallery in Cork.

The partnership also includes an agreement that AIB will not sell any works from the collection and will make available additional pieces for loan to publicly funded galleries, through the aegis of the Crawford. This is an exciting development as it will ensure that the AIB collection will be available throughout the country, allowing art lovers everywhere to appreciate the pieces from this collection.

Crawford chairman John R. Bowen added his congratulations, “Acquired by one of Ireland’s leading financial institutions, the AIB Art Collection, from its beginning, was inspired by a view and a vision of Irish life and culture that extended beyond the investment and financial business. It is a privilege for the Crawford to be entrusted with the custody of this wonderful bequest”

Finally, Minister Deenihan applauded the gesture of AIB. Art is an intrinsic part of human nature and is “at its most powerful when an entire nation can embrace it, appreciate it and find inspiration in its beauty and meaning"