The Model, in Sligo, is one of Ireland's leading contemporary art centres and home to The Niland Collection.

The Model provides audiences in the North West with access to cutting-edge contemporary art exhibitions, projects and talks by the best national and international artists. We are home to The Niland Collection which is significant for its focus on the north-west of Ireland, through either artist or subject matter. 

Nora Niland campaigned tirelessly on behalf of the collection throughout her tenure as County Librarian and Curator. Through public subscription, bequests, private donations, permanent loans, artist donation and a number of other bodies, works by many significant Irish artists have been acquired for the collection, including works of contemporary Irish artists. 

The Model, which was a school built in 1862, was renovated in 1999 in order to house the amazing collection accrued and so began our journey to where we are today.

Our dynamic education department offers workshops, tours, classes and talks for children and adults alike and has developed groundbreaking programmes for those with mental and physical disabilities and for Early Years. We host family days on the third Sunday of every month to engage family creativity, arts, crafts and fun, in response to our current exhibitions.

The Model’s weekly cinema runs in collaboration with Sligo Film Society, one of Ireland’s longest-running film clubs as well as films in French and Spanish for schools. 

We pride ourselves on being multi-disciplinary and in addition to the above we also have our vibrant music programme which includes projects that respond to our exhibitions, while also collaborating with a number of festivals in music, arts, film, theatre and more.