Construction is transforming Cork City. Apartment buildings are rising, public realm projects are progressing and at Crawford Art Gallery, the largest cultural construction project currently on site in Cork is well underway.

Transforming Crawford Art Gallery is the largest single development to date on our historic site. Alongside essential work to protect these much-loved buildings for generations, the redevelopment will enhance everything people love about Crawford while creating a gallery of international standard in the heart of Cork City.

We moved fully out of the building on 12 January 2026, which was a huge milestone for everyone involved. While it was an emotional time for the team, after months of carefully moving the collection from the gallery, we were thrilled for the moment we could hand over the site to PJ Hegarty & Sons, and the OPW.

The good news is we are 8 months in to construction, and work is progressing smoothly. Much preparation was done by all parties but nothing prepares one for opening up a historic building and the surprises it will bring.

Fortunately, to date the reveals have been welcome: from old library tickets and summons letters found under floors, to parking tickets, many cigarette packs, match boxes, and additional historic fireplaces found hidden under panelling. These are all being carefully protected and documented. Among the most fascinating discoveries are the markings left by generations of craftsmen on the building's timber structures. These are also being carefully documented as the work progresses – evidence of careful hands contributing to the building’s story over time. In fact, ‘documenting’ is a large portion of our task at the moment. There are archaeologists on site at all times, ensuring that work is carried out respectfully and that anything that is uncovered is recorded.

Work is well underway on the building's front façade. Windows, brickwork, slates, and railings are all being restored, the clock is undergoing conservation, and the new build will shortly start to emerge and be visible over the next few months.

The extension is going to be very significant for Crawford, bringing new public spaces, purpose-built collection storage, a new Learn & Explore Centre, additional galleries, a new café, improved accessibility and remarkable new views across the city. We can’t wait to experience those elevated views and celebrate Cork from a height.

The question we get asked most often is, "When are you reopening?" Progress has been smooth so far and if that continues, we anticipate handover of the building back to us in mid-2028. We will need a number of months to reinstall the artworks and get all services operating. We will provide a further update on that in mid 2027 but we anticipate a late-2028 opening.

While the building is closed, our team is planning events and continuing our programmes. Learn & Explore have continued many of their offsite community programmes, including Crawford Supported Studios and their work with Cork Migrant Centre, at alternative venues and online. They recently held some excellent events for Cork Midsummer Festival, Cork Harbour Festival, Cruinniú na nÓg, and National Heritage Week.  ‘Beyond the Frame’, an outreach programme for participants in the Cork Prison, is currently holding an exhibition called Altered Images, open to the public on Spike Island.

Our conservator has been working in a temporary conservation lab set up off-site. During the decant, Dr Chillè triaged our artworks, classifying them based on the urgency of their conservation needs, and is now carrying out that work. Crawford was also recently awarded for a Heritage Stewardship Grant from the Heritage Council, which will fund much-needed, specialised conservation equipment to enable scientific analysis and support preventative conservation into the future.

Our team has been doing a phenomenal amount of research into the provenance of works and digitising archives, while also coordinating our Touring and Sharing programme. Touring and Sharing has been a huge success, and it's been wonderful to see so many pieces from the collection reach new audiences and be placed in new contexts. It has been very rewarding for us to work with our colleagues nationally and to spark new partnerships and collaborations.  

To date we have partnered on three major exhibitions held at Uillinn: West Cork Arts Centre, the F.E. McWilliam Gallery in Banbridge, and the Highlanes Gallery in Drogheda. For anyone who is looking to visit with our collection, we still have works on loan to the Irish Museum of Modern Art, National Museum of Ireland, Michael Collins House, Doneraile Court and many more.

All the details for upcoming events and loans can be found on our website, or you can sign up for our newsletter to be the first to hear announcements and redevelopment updates.

Our focus is now firmly on returning to the building. Over the coming months we will continue planning every aspect of reopening, from the reinstallation of the collection to visitor services, a complete rebrand, digital platforms and future staffing. We have also acquired several important new works through generous donations and look forward to sharing them with visitors when the gallery reopens.

We are thankful for the support shown to us by the Government of Ireland, the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport, the OPW, and for the excellent work by Grafton Architects Integrated Design Team and PJ Hegarty & Sons. We are also grateful for the support we have received from people who miss the gallery, as well as those who are anticipating our reopening!

We have commenced recruiting lots of new roles with many new opportunities for people to join Crawford Art Gallery ahead of our reopening at this exciting chapter in our history. For more information click here: https://crawfordartgallery.ie/vacancies/

We will continue to update you all throughout the redevelopment. In the meantime, we hope you enjoy this glimpse behind the scrim and feel reassured that everyone involved is working carefully, collaboratively and with great ambition to deliver the national cultural institution that Crawford—and Cork—deserve.

More soon,

Mary McCarthy – Director of Crawford Art Gallery

Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan, along with Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran, today welcomed the commencement of the construction project for the redevelopment of Crawford Art Gallery in Cork.

Designed by Grafton Architects, the redevelopment of Crawford Art Gallery is a major project under the National Development Plan and is a once in a multi-generation investment by the State to redevelop and restore a landmark, heritage building in Cork City Centre.

The objective of the project is to deliver an expanded and revitalised Crawford Gallery that will be a significant artistic and cultural amenity for Ireland in Cork City and brings to conclusion a project that has been planned for many years. 

The redevelopment will contribute to Cork’s City Centre regeneration, strengthening and enhancing the city’s cultural reputation locally, nationally and internationally.

Speaking in the Crawford Art Gallery, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said:

“Today marks a significant step in the redevelopment of the Crawford Art Gallery which is many years in the making. 

It is vitally important that we invest in our country’s cultural infrastructure.  This investment demonstrates that Government is committed to enhancing the cultural lives of our citizens through our National Cultural Institutions.

The redevelopment of the Crawford Art Gallery is set to deliver a landmark building in Cork that will enhance the city centre and cultural life in Cork, Munster and nationally.” 

Beginning life as a Custom House in 1724, the Crawford has operated as a School of Art, a municipal art gallery and a National Cultural Institution.  It has always grown and adapted, and the redevelopment marks another important moment in the history of the building.

The contractor, PJ Hegarty and Sons, is expected to start on site in early 2026 with the project due to be completed in mid-2028.  The Gallery fit-out, commissioning and re-occupation will then follow prior to the opening.

Welcoming the commencement of the project, Minister Patrick O’Donovan said:

“The National Cultural Institution (NCI) Investment Programme remains a key investment programme for my Department. I am delighted that as the only National Cultural Institution located entirely outside of Dublin, implementation of the Crawford Art Gallery redevelopment can now begin.

My Department, along with the OPW and the Crawford Art Gallery have been working towards this day for many years, so it was with great satisfaction that I recently approved the awarding of the contracts.  Following the tricentenary of the building in 2024, it is timely that this historic site once again reinvents itself.”

Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW, Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran said:

“I am delighted to be here today to witness this significant milestone in the redevelopment of the Crawford Art Gallery. The commencement of the refurbishment works on this historic building will provide a fit for purpose set of galleries and complementary facilities.

The much-needed redevelopment will provide a universally accessible and environmentally sustainable space that will serve to enhance the Crawford Art Gallery Cork experience and the wider local environment.  This is an exciting project that will bring culture and urban life closer together. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport and the Crawford Art Gallery for their continued collaboration in progressing this significant cultural project.”

Rose McHugh - Chair, Crawford Art Gallery

"This is a very significant moment in the history of Crawford Art Gallery. The ambitious and well considered redevelopment will ensure that the Gallery remains at the heart of the cultural life of Cork and Ireland for generations to come.

We extend our gratitude to An Taoiseach, to Minister O'Donovan and his officials at the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport, to the Office of Public Works and to the entire project team for their steadfast support throughout every stage of Transforming Crawford Art Gallery.”

Mary Mc Carthy - Director, Crawford Art Gallery 

“This is an exciting moment for everyone who loves Crawford Art Gallery. The actual start on site of this redevelopment marks the beginning of a new and exciting chapter - one that will deliver renewed and expanded spaces for visitors, artists, and future generations to enjoy and be inspired by. We are ambitious for Cork, the region, and the impact that culture can contribute to city centre and regional vibrancy.

We are grateful to the Minister and the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport for their leadership, to the OPW and to the project team for their collaboration and support. Their expertise will shape a gallery that will stand as a vibrant cultural landmark for the people of Cork and for all who come to experience its magic in the years ahead.”