Mission Statement

Our Vision

NIVAL is the internationally recognised and trusted custodian of Ireland's record of art and design from 1900 to the present day.
NIVAL is committed to making our collections accessible to everyone for exploration, education and research.
NIVAL sustains its collections through active collaboration with artists, designers and cultural organisations.

Our Mission

To serve the needs of artists, designers and the arts community in the collection, preservation and provision of public access to visual arts documentation for the benefit of all.

Strategic Priorities

  • Promoting the value of arts documentation as a key resource in the building of cultural memory.
  • Developing the collection by forging relationships with depositors of material though outreach, dialogue and collaboration.
  • Encouraging investigation into Ireland's art, design and craft history for the development of knowledge and innovative scholarship.
  • Growing our community of users at home and internationally through diverse means of engagement with the collection.
  • Strengthening relationships with funders and policy makers to secure the infrastructure necessary to sustain best standards for the care of collections.

Resources & Services

  • Free public access to the collections is provided; material can be consulted on a reference only basis.
  • The building is fully accessible to disabled users.
  • NIVAL staff are always available to offer general information on Irish art and specialist advice on consulting the collections.
  • Currently based in the Clock Building on the campus of the National College of Art & Design, the library aims to move to a larger integral space in the future.

Financial Support

The National Irish Visual Arts Library is funded jointly by The National College of Art & Design and The Arts Council of Ireland. The Library has also been grant-aided by the Heritage Council, the Department of Tourism, Culture, and Sport, the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, the Higher Education Authority/ PRTLI IV, and the Design History Society, UK.