VISUAL Centre for Contemporary Art & The George Bernard Shaw Theatre is the most significant exhibition space for contemporary visual art in County Carlow.
It covers an area of 3130 m². There are four main galleries, a theatre, a restaurant, a bar, a bookstore, and workshop rooms.
The center is located in the heart of Carlow Town, next to Carlow College and opposite Carlow Cathedral.
The center whose construction cost EUR 18 million was opened in September 2009.
What`s more, it significantly contributed to the cultural, social, and economic development of the town of Carlow. His rivals in the scale of presenting contemporary interdisciplinary art are Centres in New York, Berlin, and Tokyo.
The building was designed by Terry Pawson – a well-known British architect with extensive experience in designing buildings for art and in the cultural sector. In front of the building stands a huge metal sculpture of Medusa Tree by Pawson.
George Bernard Shaw Theatre was named after an Irish playwright who has a strong connection with Carlow. The theater can seat 355 people.
Numerous exhibitions of local, national, and international artists take place here.
For more information visit the official website: visualcarlow.ie
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Below are photos taken during Carlow Art Festival 2018 in the VISUAL Centre for Contemporary Art.
Below are photos from Playground Project in VISUAL Carlow in 2017.
AIB Éigse Open Submission is an annual exhibition that occupies a central place in the visual arts program of the Carlow Arts Festival. That exhibition is also one of the precursors to the creation of the VISUAL Centre for Contemporary Art because previously unknown artists could appear there, presenting their works alongside those already recognized artists, famous not only in Ireland but around the world. The main prize of € 5,000 is awarded among the works presented as “the most outstanding works in every medium”.
Below are photos taken during Carlow Art Festival 2016 in the VISUAL Carlow
Below is a short video from Link & Studio Gallery from AIB Éigse Open Submission 2015 and photos.
