All 44 designs originally submitted for the euro banknote design competition have gone on display for the first time in Ireland today (Monday 11 October). They were originally submitted in 1996 when a Europe-wide competition was held to design the first ever series of euro banknotes. While the winning designs, by Austrian Robert Kalina, are the ones on the euro banknotes in circulation today, the Euro Banknote Design Exhibition, hosted by the Central Bank, shows all the design submissions that were considered, including those of Irish artist, Robert Ballagh. The exhibition in the National College of Ireland at the IFSC, Dublin is open to the public until 22 October.
Opening the exhibition today, Central Bank Governor, John Hurley, said: “The designs covered a huge range of motifs – from abstract patterns to portraits of children, from static buildings to dynamic motion and from animals to human beings. They also had to reflect more practical matters, from the need to make our banknotes as user friendly as possible to the requirement to incorporate ever-more sophisticated security features. All of the designers or design teams that were invited to put forward their proposals for the new euro banknotes were faced with all of these challenges to their creativity, and the exhibition demonstrates that they all rose to those challenges.”
The Governor added that the success of the cash changeover almost three years ago and the acceptance of the euro banknotes by the citizens of Europe was a demonstration of successful European integration in action. “The benefits of our new currency are obvious. They are obvious to those doing business in Europe and to those who may travel to other euro area countries. The same currency, no exchange costs and a more transparent European economy”, he said.
The adoption of the euro itself has been hugely significant, he added. “Since January 1999 the euro area has had a single currency and a single monetary policy conducted by the Governing Council of the ECB. The introduction of the single currency has been an historical landmark. In the financial area, the role of the euro in global markets and the growth in the use of the new currency outside the euro area over the past six years have also been impressive. The euro has very quickly become an important part of the global financial system and the evidence of the past six years is that its role will continue to grow for some time yet.”
The exhibition includes information on the design brief that had to be adhered to - creative ideas had to meet with practical considerations as the designs were taking shape. Various security features had to be incorporated in each design, certain colours used for the different denominations and the designers had to ensure gender equality and avoid national bias in their submissions. Designs were invited under two themes: “Ages and styles of Europe” and “abstract/modern”.
The exhibition first opened at the European Central Bank in Frankfurt in late 2003 and has been hosted by various national central banks throughout Europe during 2004.
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To view a copy opening address by Governor John Hurley click here
Further information, please contact Press Office:
Neil Whoriskey, (01) 434 4276, (087) 221 9199
Elaine Mannix, (01) 434 4506
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