May through October will see an exhibition of a selection of works from the collections of both the Arts Council/An Chomhairle Ealaíon and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland. Ranging in time from 1939 to 2003 and including work by Leo Duff, Muriel Brandt, John Luke, Willie Doherty, Kathy Prendergast, David Timmons and Gerald Dillon the display will open to the public on Friday 6 May at the Lewis Glucksman Gallery in Cork. The exhibition is a collaborative partnership between both Arts Councils and will include paintings, drawings, sculptures, prints, photographs, video and mixed media works. The Arts Council of Northern Ireland and the Arts Council/An Chomhairle Ealaíon established their collections in the 1940s and the 1960s respectively - with the aim of providing practical support for contemporary artists on the island of Ireland. The exhibition, titled Four Now and curated by Sarah Glennie, has been organised in partnership with the British Council who are presenting this exhibition as part of their all-island arts programme and of the programme for Cork as European Capital of Culture. The initiative is also both Arts Councils' specific contribution to the Cork 2005, European Capital of Culture programme. Speaking about the chosen selection, Olive Braiden, Chair of the Arts Council says: "Four Now aims to inform contemporary visual arts practice on the island of Ireland. We are particularly excited at the central role of artists in making the selections, and see the exhibition as providing an important moment of reflection on Irish art". Rosemary Kelly, Chairman of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland says: "The two art collections have grown over half a century of Arts Council support for local artists, often at early stages of their careers. This exhibition will give a rare opportunity to view these works by many now celebrated artists, and to gain a fascinating insight in to the influence that their work continues to exert on the present generation of Irish and Northern Irish artists". For further information, CLICK HERE