Chair's Message

I am delighted to share the annual report for what has been an incredibly vibrant and successful year in the history of IMMA.

Joining the IMMA Board in January 2023 was a profound honour for me, alongside three remarkable individuals: Mike Fitzpatrick. Jess Majekodunmi and Sinead O’Sullivan. Their diverse experiences and skills have enriched our Board, complementing the existing members, Mary Apied, Gerard Byrne, John Cunningham, Dermod Dwyer, Margot Lyons and Eva Kenny. During the year we bid farewell to Board Member Emma Goltz, whose contemporary art expertise and contributions over the past decade in her roles on the Collections & Acquisitions and Finance, Audit & Risk committees have been invaluable.

Visitors to IMMA rebounded in 2023 with numbers 13% higher than 2019. We are sure that the exciting indoor and outdoor programme has attracted more people to engage with IMMA’s diverse activities. This improvement is against a background of fewer visitors to Ireland from overseas. The plans for the year ahead look to build on this success and continue to welcome the public to our beautiful home.

IMMA also commenced a new collaboration in 2023 with Irish law firm, Matheson LLP, to create the Matheson Creativity Hub. This re-design and re-purposing of the Project Spaces at IMMA is a collaboration with Matheson LLP in memory of their former Chairperson and IMMA’s former and much missed Board Member, Tim Scanlon, who sadly passed in 2020. This project is part of a wider long-term project to reimagine IMMA’s reception and public spaces channelling the very best of architecture and design thinking, with the ambition to make these spaces diverse, inclusive and convivial. This new Hub will be used by IMMA’s Engagement & Learning Team, community groups, creative partners, and artists.

IMMA also said farewell to an old friend, Kevin Lonergan, of our parent Department who retired this year. Kevin was an enthusiastic lover of the arts and supporter of IMMA. In his place we welcomed Deirdre Mahony who has made an immediate impact with her positive encouragement. The Department has generously supported the acquisition of contemporary art to the IMMA Collection in recent years and renewed that commitment with a Grant of €850,000 in 2023.

In August 2023, David Harvey stepped down as Chair after almost eight years of dedicated service. Under his leadership, IMMA successfully navigated through significant changes and challenges. As his successor, I am committed to building upon these achievements, with the intention that IMMA be known as the most welcoming and dynamic cultural institution in Ireland.

“The next five years will be driven by a vision for IMMA as it consolidates and elevates its position as a leading contemporary arts institution in Ireland.”

Reflecting on the past year, contributing to the development of the IMMA Strategy 2024-28 has been a highlight of my tenure so far. The next five years will be driven by a vision for IMMA as it consolidates and elevates its position as a leading contemporary arts institution in Ireland and internationally, investing in the future of arts research, practice and learning and activating the whole campus in Dublin 8 to deliver cultural, social and leisure experiences to all of those living in and visiting Ireland. The Board is fully committed to closely collaborating with the executive as they bring this vision to reality.

Working alongside Director, Annie Fletcher, and her team has been genuinely pleasurable and rewarding this past year. The dedication, drive, and creativity of the entire IMMA team serve as a constant source of inspiration for me and the Board. IMMA’s range of exhibitions, outdoor events, and engagements is ever evolving, and there is a palpable sense of excitement and pride with each new announcement.

It was wonderful to see IMMA’s growth trajectory continue in 2023 with an expanded programme and exciting exhibitions. The site saw a 10% increase in visitor numbers to 630,000 this year, the highest annual visitor numbers since IMMA opened in 1991. We greatly enhanced the IMMA collection with the acquisition of significant works by Irish and international artists, collaborating with partners in the Crawford Gallery, Cork to strategically invest in artworks for the publicly owned National collection.

Our exhibition program culminated with the launch of “Self-Determination: A Global Perspective” in November. This thought-provoking exhibition delved into the emergence of new nation-states post-World War I, including Ireland, exploring how art and artists contribute to national identity, nation-building, and statecraft. With significant artworks from the national collections of Finland, Latvia, Estonia, Poland, Ukraine, and Turkey, the exhibition provided a rich exploration of this pivotal period in history.

Another proud moment was the international competition and Design Showcase for the Matheson Creativity Hub. This was the first phase of a significant project to reimagine and refurbish IMMA’s public spaces, made possible with the generous support of Matheson LLP in memory of their former Chair and IMMA Board member, Tim Scanlon.  The Matheson Creativity Hub will honour Tim Scanlon’s legacy and his commitment to community engagement and inclusivity in the arts. The unique space will open next year and will be dedicated to educational groups, school tours, artist performances, and stimulating discussions for all age groups.

We are grateful for the ongoing support from our Department, which funded several exciting capital projects in 2023, including the redesign of the IMMA Café and reception area, both of which enhance the IMMA visitor experience significantly. During the year we warmly welcomed Donal Reddington, the new Principal at the Cultural Institutions Unit, and bid fond farewell to former Secretary General Katherine Licken who retired, with Feargal Ó Coigligh taking over, a familiar face, returning to the Arts & Culture portfolio.

We are grateful for our close partnership with our diligent colleagues in the OPW ensuring the entire site, including the beautiful formal gardens, is a place of welcome to all visitors. Under their stewardship, restoration works in the North Wing continued apace in 2023, with the Great Hall set to open for its first public event in July 2024, hosting the National Day of Commemorations. The works are set to produce a visually stunning result, reflecting the premier status of the buildings, and reiterating the position of IMMA as the jewel in the crown of state buildings.

Finally, I extend my deepest gratitude to the IMMA Board from whom I received unwavering support as I stepped into my role as Chair of this esteemed institution. All my fellow board members give generously of their time to support the executive and the roll out of IMMA’s new strategy. I would like to welcome with appreciation Sinead O’Sullivan to her role as Chair of the Finance, Audit & Risk Committee, succeeding the irrepressible Margot Lyons to whom we owe a great debt of thanks for her excellent stewardship. John Cunningham continues to provide enthusiastic leadership for the Collections & Acquisitions Committee, overseeing a significant workload including the approval of a new Acquisitions Policy and the addition of new works to the Collection with diligence and grace.

As we embark together on 2024, the rollout of our Strategy 2024 – 2028, A Catalyst for Change and the much-anticipated re-opening of the North Wing, we look forward to further enriching Ireland’s cultural landscape.

Warm regards,

Ali Curran
Chair