Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 December 2025
384. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the date on which the OPW last conducted an audit in respect of art works and art pieces on its asset register; the number and value of items that cannot be located as of this date in 2025; the length of time for which they remain unaccounted for and/or unrecoverable; and the total value of the collection in its entirety. [71522/25]
View answerThe State Art Collection, which is managed by the Art Management Office in the OPW, is a unique cultural entity comprised of 13,500 artworks. It contains works that are of historic significance and contemporary works by emerging artists in the early stages of their careers. Artworks are on display in close to 500 client locations around the country. Every artwork in the State Art Collection is given a unique number and photographed before it is placed on display in client buildings. Loan agreements are signed between the client borrowers and the OPW. In 2020, the Art Management Office commenced a major collection management project to improve its control systems. This project involved migration of data and images from a database that had been in use since the mid-1990s to a new digital collection management system.
The Art Management Office undertakes routine collection audits of artworks for which it has responsibility in State owned buildings nationwide. These collection audits are conducted on a regular basis as part of the day-to-day management of the collection. In-person collection audits are undertaken by Art Management Office staff who visit client buildings to assess the artworks in situ. In-person collection audits involve photographing, condition checking and documenting artworks on the collection management system. Digital collection audits are overseen remotely by the Art Management Office and are undertaken by the client. The process involves the Art Management Office issuing a list of artworks on loan to the client and the client is requested to confirm locations of these artworks. If there are any queries, these are followed up with the client by the Art Management Office. All data is updated on the collection management system.
According to collection management system data at 10th December 2025, there were 19 in person collection audits and 37 digital collection audits undertaken in 2025. The total number of artworks audited was 2,633. From these collection audits, 37 artworks were categorised on the collection management system as unlocated. Once an artwork is noted as unlocated, the Art Management Office engages with clients in the relevant building to identify the current location of the artwork. The Art Management Office also conducts a further analysis into the record history of unlocated artworks, including the length of time for which they remain unaccounted for, with the purpose of locating the works. This process is currently ongoing in relation to 2025 collection management audits and a more detailed analysis will be included in the 2026 work programme.
In relation to the total valuation of the State Art Collection, in line with other national collections, there is no policy to value the State Art Collection financially as a whole. Financial valuations are only undertaken on individual artworks where there is a need to insure them when they are placed on loan to external third parties or exhibitions.
