26^th European Symposium & Exhibition

October 9^th - 13^th 2023 Dublin, Ireland

Our Sponsors

Symposium & Exhibition

Our hosting of the 26^th ECWS Symposium in Dublin, will, we trust, provide our guests with many cultural experiences. Though it is a small capital city it has a huge reputation as a multicultural, artistic city brimming with incredible architecture, beautiful green spaces, coffee houses, restaurants and bars made famous over the centuries by many artists, writers, poets and musicians.

We have designed a Symposium Program that we hope will delight everyone and at the same time offer a glimpse at our city and some of what it has to offer.

The associated events include visits to the Watercolour Society of Ireland’s annual exhibition at Farmleigh,* a visit to the National Gallery of Ireland, unique masterclasses, En Plein Air challenge, Urban Sketching event, a day out at the Botanical Gardens and a Gala Dinner.

There are many attractions all within the city’s footprint area and we include, for your convenience, a list of links which we hope will help you when planning your trip.

We look forward to welcoming you all in October.

*Farmleigh has been the home of the WCSI annual exhibition for some years and we hope to welcome our guests at the Society’s annual 2023 exhibition which will be showing at the same time as the ECWS Exhibition and Symposium.

Jayne Barry

President of the Watercolour Society of Ireland

Venue

The City Assembly House, 58 William St S, Dublin 2, D02 X751.

The Irish Georgian Society, in partnership with Dublin City Council, has restored the City Assembly House, reinstating it as a cultural venue in the historic heart of the city. The immediate area was developed from 1671 by William Williams, a brewer, and is first illustrated in Rocque’s map of Dublin from 1756. Despite some late twentieth century interventions, the Georgian Street survives remarkably intact with its two great legacies comprising the City Assembly House and the adjoining Powerscourt Townhouse, which are set alongside one of the most complete surviving groupings of eighteenth-century merchants’ houses in the city.

Farmleigh

Farmleigh House & Gardens

Farmleigh* is an estate situated in Dublin’s Phoenix Park, and provides accommodation for visiting dignitaries and guests of the nation. A historic house, it holds important collections, an art gallery, farm animals, and the official Irish State Guest House.

Home to the Guinness family for generations, Farmleigh remains a unique representation of the Edwardianperiod, and houses important artworks and furnishings, as well as the Benjamin Iveagh collection of rare books, bindings, and manuscripts.

The extensive grounds feature walled and sunken gardens and scenic lakeside walks. Join one of the knowledgeable guides for a tour of Farmleigh House that takes you from the eighteenth century right up to the present day.

At Farmleigh our visitors can enjoy the beautiful grand house and park where it’s herd of deer wander freely. There is also a restaurant offering tea/coffee and lunch with picturesque views over the lake. You may wish to linger awhile, so take your painting apparatus with you!

Presidents’ Meeting

PRESIDENTS’ & LIAISON OFFICERS' MEETING AT THE IRISH ARCHITECTURAL ARCHIVE

The Irish Architectural Archive, 45 Merrion Square East, Dublin 2. D02 VY60

The Irish Architectural Archive was established in 1976 to collect and preserve material of every kind relating to the architecture of the entire island of Ireland and make it available to the public.

As a cumulative body of material the holdings of the Archive represent the greatest single source of information on Ireland’s buildings and those who designed them.

The Irish Architectural Archive Architecture Gallery and first floor rooms are open from 10 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday. Access is free.

Masterclasses

Our volunteer members are already much regarded by art lovers as much as by their colleagues in The Watercolour Society of Ireland for their exceptional skills and artistry. They will demonstrate their distinctive manner of creativity and provide insights into how their work holds the admiration of the public and artists alike.