The 2024 National Arts in Education Portal Day – Roundup

The Arts in Education Portal National Day 2024

“An emancipated society however would not be a unitary state, but the realisation of generality (universality) in the reconciliation of differences”

Minima Moralia, Theodor Adorno 1951

Earlier this month on November 9th we returned to the inspiring surroundings of TU Dublin for the ninth annual National Arts in Education Portal Day, in partnership with the School of Art & Design. With over 100 artists, teachers and arts in education professionals in attendance, this year’s conference sought through a programme of presentations and workshops to explore the special focus of “Amplifying All Voices,” and how amplifying diverse perspectives in creativity and education can empower, build confidence, ignite passion, and provide support.

This year’s conference was jointly opened by Dr. Orla McDonagh, Dean of the Faculty of Arts & Humanities at TU Dublin and Kate Delaney from the Arts in Education Portal Editorial Committee and Assistant Principal in the Creative Ireland Programme. The welcome address were followed by the keynote event, a round table panel discussion moderated by Jennifer Buggie from the Arts in Education Portal Editorial Committee and Advisor for Arts & Creativity in Education with the Department of Education and The Education Centre, Tralee with guest speakers Leon Diop, Head of Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion at the Arts Council of Ireland, Francesca Hutchinson, a multidisciplinary artist and post-primary teacher, Dr. Padráig Kirk, Managing Director of Oide, and Dr. Hannagh McGinley, Assistant Professor in Education at MIC Thurles.

Reflecting on the day in his rapporteur address, Creative Communities Engagement Officer with Galway City Council Adam Stoneman captured some of the threads that re-emerged throughout the set of inspiring discussions, presentations and workshops that took place. “The musical term polyphony… is way to think about what we are doing here because polyphony in music refers to multiple melodic parts or voices that are independent and of equal importance… polyphony exposes this false binary between high classical music, the polyphony of Bach and baroque music and simple folk music, it’s nonsense ….  that high and low distinction, we need to always be challenging it”.

Polyphony can contain both harmony and dissonance… that yes, on the one hand when we open a space for voices it allows the possibility for cohesion but also we need to be able to hold open a space for contestation ….  if we are opening a space and amplifying voices we have to be prepared to hear things that will make us uncomfortable, to hear things that are not what we expected, not what we wanted to hear”. 

Echoing the words of Theodor Adorno “it is in that play between universality and holding onto differences, that for me is what polyphony is and that for me is what we are looking at and thinking about and talking about today”.

Thanks to all involved in making the day a huge success! Special thanks to the young performers from the Marino College guitar, keyboard and band clubs accompanied by music teacher Arjun Desai who closed the day with a celebratory performance.

Round table panel discussion L to R: Jennifer Buggie, Arts in Education Portal Editorial Committee Member, Advisor for Arts & Creativity in Education with the Department of Education and The Education Centre, Tralee, Leon Diop, Head of Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion at the Arts Council of Ireland, Dr. Padráig Kirk, Managing Director of Oide, Dr. Hannagh McGinley, Assistant Professor in Education at MIC Thurles and Francesca Hutchinson, a multidisciplinary artist and post-primary teacher.

StreetArt Ink Creative Workshop

Delegates at the 2024 National Arts in Education Portal Day at TU Dublin, School of Art & Design

Young performer, Marino College band and guitar club performance