An exciting new exhibition featuring the work of 27 students from Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology at Letterfrack will open on 21 June (Thursday) at the National Museum of Ireland – Country Life, Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co. Mayo. The exhibition is entitled ‘Take a Seat’ and will run from 21 June 2007 to June 2008.

This temporary exhibition is comprised of benches and chairs made in 2006 / 2007 by students of the Furniture Design and Manufacture programme at the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology campus in Letterfrack. The students worked from a brief developed by staff of GMIT at Letterfrack and the National Museum of Ireland – Country Life to design seating suitable for the public visiting these exhibition galleries.

The individual pieces take their inspiration from many sources: from the contemporary exhibition building designed by the Office of Public Works, from the Victorian Gothic Turlough Park House by Thomas Newenham Deane, from the subject and themes of the National Folklife Collection and from individual items of vernacular furniture on exhibition.

Much of this gallery seating is made of brown oak purchased by the National Museum from a renewable source. The National Museum, through this project, aims to promote the use of certified wood from forests that practice sustainable forest management.

The Museum has an extensive programme of activities, talks and temporary exhibitions throughout the year. The Education and Outreach department works with people of all ages including schools and colleges and offers a range of services relevant to the subject and themes of the Museum. At times a programme of work undertaken in the museum or as an outreach project will result in an exhibition such as this one. Details of Education programmes, as well as more information about the Museum, are available on the Museum website – http://www.museum.ie/ .

Admission to the exhibition is free. Opening times: Tues-Sat: 10am – 5pm; Sun: 2-5pm. Closed Mondays (incl. Bank Holidays).

For further information on this exhibition please contact:

Bernie Byron, Marketing Executive, National Museum of Ireland – Country Life

Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co. Mayo

Tel: +353 (94) 90 31755 Fax: +353 (94) 90 31628; Email: mailto:tpark@museum.ie

Deirdre Power, Education and Outreach Officer, National Museum of Ireland – Country Life

Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co. Mayo

Tel: +353 (94) 90 31778 Fax: +353 (94) 90 31498; Email: dpower@museum.ie

www.museum.ie

ABOUT GALWAY-MAYO INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AT LETTERFRACK

The Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT) is a multi-campus third level institute that provides for education and research through a variety of disciplines. GMIT offers six degree programmes in Letterfrack and runs these in partnership with Connemara West - a community and rural development organisation. GMIT at Letterfrack aims to provide a dynamic educational environment to support students on a path of development towards creativity and expertise in furniture and wood based technologies and it is synonymous in the mind of the average Irish person with being a centre of excellence.

This collaborative seating project and exhibition with the National Museum of Ireland - Country Life displays the skill and creativity of students studying on the Furniture Design and Manufacture programme. This three year Bachelor of Science degree has pioneered the integration of technological and design skills. Over the years it has evolved and adapted in response to the market growth for contemporary designed, high quality pieces of furniture and within the furniture industry there is a growing demand for furniture personnel who have a balanced mix of design and manufacturing skills.

The programme produces confident, highly skilled knowledge workers who combine creative and design strengths with a keen knowledge of furniture making and technology. Graduates contribute to the Irish economy by designing and making innovative furniture - some take up positions in small workshops, building their skills and knowledge over time to become highly proficient designer-makers. Others take junior management positions where they have the ability to design and develop furniture prototypes that are relevant and market focused.

This project afforded our students an opportunity to work on a live project with a defined brief and actual client. It provided a real and desirable link between third level study and the world of work and as such broadened each student’s educational experience.

Anthony Clare
GMIT
Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology at Letterfrack
Tel: +353 (95) 41044
Tel: +353 (95) 41044