The building that houses the gallery dates back to 1724, when it functioned as a custom house and Emmet Street was known as the King’s Dock. It is an historic composite of three different phases of construction. First, as the port operations expanded, need for more space spurred on the erection of a new custom house, and functions were moved. In 1850, the building became a Government School of Design. An addition was constructed in 1884 due to the need to accommodate expanding enrollments.
The patron for this project was William Horatio Crawford, so the institute was renamed the Crawford Municipal School of Art. Early in the 19th century, it became an art school and gallery, and in 1979, it became The Crawford Municipal Art Gallery when the art school moved into another building.
Recent renovations and the addition of more than 10,000 square feet of gallery have created space for visiting exhibitions that include modern works such as video depictions, like the one by Charles Lamb RHA, portraits – such as the Victoria Russell painting of the actress Fiona Shaw, and iconic representations of Irish history and culture such as Going to Mass, by James Humbert Craig and Men of the South by Sean Keating.
The permanent collection features landscapes of the Cork area from the 18th and 19th centuries by artists such as William Leech, James Barry, Daniel Maclise and Nathaniel Grogan.
In addition to paintings, the gallery showcases a variety of sculptures, glass and silver pieces. There is a well-stocked bookstore and a café located on the premises.
Next door is the Cork Opera house, rebuilt in 1965 as a replacement for the original beloved building. It has been described as a bit more functional and not as ornate as the original, and hosts capacity audiences for its schedule of performances.