The Model is delighted to announce that after an open competition, Emer McGarry has been appointed to the role of Director. Emer, who has been Interim Director for the last four-years, led the organisation out of a period of difficulty in 2015/16, and since then, has successfully redefined The Model’s artistic vision. Emer has a particular interest in broadening access to the arts and in creating opportunities for people from all social backgrounds and circumstances to engage with vibrant cultural events and activities. Speaking of her appointment, Emer said “I am delighted to take up this new mandate and to continue to work with our staff, board and the creative community to enable The Model to reach its full potential in the years ahead. The Model has a central role to play here at the heart of the Sligo community for both artists and audiences and I look forward to presenting an exciting artistic programme, with a multitude of points of engagement in 2020 and beyond.”

In her work as a curator, Emer has a strong track record in weaving the traditional with the contemporary, to create programmes which resonate both locally and universally, and that tackle issues relevant to people’s lives. She has curated some of The Model’s most successful exhibitions to date, including The Keeper, which marked the 60th anniversary of The Niland Collection and attracted record visitor numbers earlier this year; and Turbulence, a thematic show which addressed the refugee crisis through the work of Jack Butler Yeats and several Irish and international contemporary artists in 2018. Emer has brought outstanding international practitioners to Sligo, such as Phil Collins, Susan Hiller, Martin Creed and Turner-Prize winner Elizabeth Price. At the same time, she has commissioned new work from a host of Irish artists and musicians.

Speaking of the appointment, Dr. Bláithín Gallagher, Chairperson of The Model Board said “As our new Director, Emer has an amazing artistic vision for the future of The Model. She has an excellent track record in leadership, fundraising and successfully managing a multitude of partnerships and relationships. We are delighted to be going into 2020 with a strong CEO, who has formulated an exciting strategic plan for The Model, which will provide a dynamic framework for our activities until 2023.”