Reflection

Towards the end of our playschool year 2023 we had the pleasure of welcoming welcoming Kids’ Own associate artists Maree Hensey and Naomi Draper into our playspace, as our playschool took part in the Arts in Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) Pilot. Embarking on a journey of creativity and learning together, we put the child’s experience at the centre.

Upon reflection a number of points of interest are highlighted for me. Firstly, what a privilege it is to be able to work with such an enthusiastic, empowered and autonomous group. The ability of the group both children and adults to adapt to and embrace new learning opportunities is evidence of the hard work, perseverance and resilience present in the group individually and as a whole.

Secondly, how exposure to new approaches and ways of doing things can energise practitioners – we saw an enhanced enthusiasm for viewing creativity as a process rather than a product in practitioners, parents, families and the children themselves. Some children (and, more particularly, adults) can tend to view the product as being more important than the process. This arts project helped to challenge this idea and resulted in a more balanced approach towards the process of making art.

Thirdly, the presence of new adults within the setting sparked conversation and directed interactions in new ways, giving Early Years Practitioners opportunities to model pro-social behaviour e.g. inclusion, respect of others, listening, empathy and personal responsibility. The children observed their trusted adults welcoming newcomers with confidence, acceptance and high-regard. This modelled behaviours through which the children acquired learning completely unrelated to art and creativity, but useful and important for their future pro-social development.

Finally, the evolving nature of the project allowed us to reflect upon the constantly changing dynamic of the group and the emerging opportunities, the life of a young child changes quickly as do their needs, interests and motivations. The adults within the group (both artists and practitioners) were able to acknowledge, accept this and use a go with the flow approach when needed, allowing movement of learning from child-to-adult as well as from adult-to-child.

The Portal Team are delighted to announce the first of the of the two recipients of the 2024 Arts in Education Portal Documentation Award. We are very excited to be working with each recipient in the coming months to document their projects. These projects will be showcased on the portal as the documentation progresses.

Project title: Let’s Get Real

The project “Let’s Get Real” consists of creating an advocacy multimedia film with animated elements to share the learner’s ideas of home life, work life, relationships, health, and education and explore how laws and society is changing to make these human rights prevalent. There are five learners, working with Streetwise staff Ruth O’ Keeffe and Patricia Dooley under the guidance of artist Ana Colomer. The sound design is the result of a partnership piece with Oisín Ó Cualáin from Music Generation inspired by the learners’ work.

Using green screen technology and stop motion animation, they are trying to deliver an honest, personal message about themselves. There is nothing strange or supernatural in our film but quite the opposite, we just point and enumerate the small things that make us who we are. What we enjoy, what we do in our day-to-day routines, and our dreams and hopes for the future, simple things that others might take for granted, like going to work or enjoying a meal with friends.

The process consists of:

Storyboarding, green screen video telling the viewer about us and then creating animations to match the autobiographical video bites. These animations are made with tablets and stop motion studio, but each scene has a different background, elements, and props to accompany the narrative.

This specific creative & educational process has been led by the learners at their pace, to convey the message that is paramount to them & their peers.

Artist: Ana Colomer

Ana Colomer is a visual artist based in Ennis Co. Clare. Ana works as a community artist and arts educator. She is a tutor for LCYP, LCETB, a Creative Associate for Creative Schools, Arts Council, and an Associate Artist for Helium Arts. She holds a Bachelor Degree in Fine Arts by Seville University and a H Dip.

Ana is a firm believer in the importance of a holistic approach when educating at any level, such as primary, post primary or in adult education settings. This holistic approach should have the arts at the centre of it, promoting different ways of learning and prioritising the wellbeing and the joy of creative thinking.

This is Ana’s third collaborative project with Streetwise. “This project is truly special, there is so much effort and love put into it through collaborative learning, and it offers an intimate insight into the lives of people currently living in Ireland with intellectual disabilities.”

Department of Education

Deadline: 21st June 2024

The Department of Education has announced TAP+ 2024 Summer Course registration is now open.

Free to all primary & special school teachers. Hosted by your local full time Education Support Centre. Approved and led by the Department of Education and Education Support Centres Ireland (ESCI) under Creative Youth 2023-2027.

Teacher Artist Partnership+ (TAP+) is a creativity rich summer course that supports professional development through wellbeing, relationships and creative partnership for teachers and artists /creative practitioners.

Participants create, explore and collaborate to enhance arts and creativity in education through creative process, critical reflection, collaboration and enjoyment.

TAP+ Teacher Registration Flyer

During the summer course teachers will have the opportunity to apply for a TAP+ Residency to take place in partnership with a creative practitioner from their summer course and their students in the school year 2024/2025. Each ESC will have 8 Residencies for participating teachers on the TAP+ Summer Course.

Please use the following link to register for the upcoming TAP+ Summer Course link

Please contact your local Education Support Centre for queries or support, or email National Arts in Education Adminstration, Tralee Education Support Centre at artsineducation@traleeesc.ie.

For more information and to apply, please visit: https://www.edcentretralee.ie/teacher-artist-partnership.html

Department of Education

Deadline: Friday 7th June 2024

Announcing a wonderful opportunity for artists and creative practitioners of all disciplines to broaden their practice through Teacher Artist Partnership+ (TAP+) professional development and in-school residency programme.

Develop creative partnerships with teachers and children. Receive funded training and residencies that bring the arts and creativity to children all over Ireland through TAP+, an initiative of Creative Youth 2023-27 under Creative Ireland and led by the Department of Education.

TAP+ Overview

TAP+ 2024 Artist Call-Out flyer

TAP+ Summer Course running 1st to 5th July 2024 in your local Education Support Centre
– Fully paid training to support artists and creative practitioners to work in primary and special schools
TAP+ In-school Residencies
– Bringing learning into practice through creative partnership with teachers and children
– Funded 20-hour residencies in the school year 2024/25
– Access to the BLAST register of creative practitioners to deliver in-school residencies

Artists / Creative Practitioners apply for TAP+ via expressions of interest addressed to the Director of Tralee Education Support Centre submitted to artsineducation@traleeesc.ie no later than 5pm on Friday 7th June 2024. Expressions of interest should be in the form of a letter of max 600 words, accompanied by a CV or short bio with links to images or samples of relevant work.

For further information and the requirements for applying, please visit: https://www.edcentretralee.ie/teacher-artist-partnership.html

The Family’s Experience

We have a natural diversity of families and family backgrounds represented at playschool and we place a high value on the richness of the different cultural backgrounds that are represented within the group, both adults and children – we are a community made up of many different parts.

When we introduced the idea of visiting artists to the families there was a general sense of interest and curiosity with parents making comments such as “What is going to be expected of my child…How will they interact with my child…I don’t like art, I was never any good at school…Will my child’s ability be judged…What type of art will be involved?”.

Some parents are artists themselves and were naturally excited and impressed by the idea. One hundred percent of families gave their consent for their child to take part in the art project.

It soon became evident that a great number of parents had fixed ideas about what both ‘Art’ and ‘Artists’ were and some parents talked about their expectations e.g. “It will be lots of colouring…There will be careful painting”.

As the weeks rolled by and the project unfolded I am sure that comments from children at home added detail to parents’ interpretation of what was happening with the artists at playschool.

One of the favourite links between families and playschool was the gallery which we opened after one session, where parents were invited to view and experience the group’s work. This presented a wonderful opportunity for parents to interact with the artists and to get to know them, as well as to appreciate the work the children were doing.

We have very strong, positive bonds with the families who use our service, we value parental input and encourage open communication between parents and the service providers.

The arts project was very much a shared experience where a recognition and value was placed upon the contribution made by families towards the overall development of the child both within and outside of the setting. The introduction of the community artists into our space strengthened the link between our service provision and the local community – the project formed a conduit for interaction and involvement.

Creative Youth

Creative Ireland have released the review of the Creative Youth Plan 2018-2022.

Trinity College Dublin have undertaken a systematic review of the first Creative Youth Plan. Since 2017, Creative Youth has had a significant impact nationally which has included support for over 2,000 schools and Youthreach centres to enrich their students experience through a range of creative programmes, and provided access to programmes such as creative writing, youth drama, music, and creative technology, as well as supporting educators in embedding creativity into their programmes

The report is a systematic review of outcomes and trends across the Creative Youth Plan 2017 – 2022.

Read the report in full here: https://www.creativeireland.gov.ie/app/uploads/2025/03/20240327-Creative-Youth-2017-2022-Systematic-Review.pdf

Department of Education & The Arts Council of Ireland

The application deadline for the following Arts In Education initiatives are closing.

Creative Schools

Deadline: 2nd May 2024

Successful schools will receive €4,000 to implement their plans over the school years 2024–25 and 2025–26.

In addition to downloading and reading the guidelines, you can find out more about the Creative Schools Initiative here.

BLAST

Deadline: 10th May 2024

Minister for Education Norma Foley, TD, has invited primary, post-primary, special schools and YouthReach to apply for the BLAST – Bringing Live Arts to Students and Teachers – arts in education initiative 2024/25. The 2024 programme will enable 425 new arts in education residencies in schools over the course of the year.

BLAST aims to provide pupils in schools all over the country, time and the space to work with a professional artist/creative practitioner on imaginative and joyful projects. BLAST is a key Department of Education initiative of the Creative Youth Plan 2023-2027 which aims to foster creativity in schools focus and to provide young people with opportunities to learn and develop the key skills and competencies of collaboration, critical thinking, problem-solving, and innovation.

Innovative BLAST residencies are designed and developed between the artist/creative practitioner, teacher, students and the school community under the coordination of the 21 full-time Education Support Centres Ireland (ESCI) network.

Please see the following link for BLAST Application Guidelines and further details: https://www.gov.ie/pdf/?file=https://assets.gov.ie/288286/7c65be23-c08f-4dc0-9837-141b6345ad6c.pdf

Creative Clusters

Deadline: 10th May 2024

The Department of Education is pleased to announce the opening of a new round of Creative Clusters for the two years commencing September 2024. The programme is open to primary and post-primary schools, including special schools, as well as YouthReach centres.

Up to €575,000 has been made available this year for Creative Clusters and this will enable up to 210 schools to come together across 42 clusters.

Each Creative Cluster will receive grant funding of €3,000 per school over a two-year period to implement their project 2024–2026.

3 schools would receive €9,000
5 schools would receive €15,000

In addition to financial support above each cluster will also receive:

A Creative Cluster Facilitator
Teacher Substitution to attend workshops and meetings
Room hire, travel & subsistence

Please see the following link for more details: Creative Clusters 2024 Department of Education Guidelines

NCCA

Date: March to June 2024

As part of the redevelopment of the Primary School Curriculum, NCCA is now consulting on five Draft Primary Curriculum Specifications in Arts Education; Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) in the Primary Language Curriculum; Social and Environmental Education (SEE); Science, Technology and Engineering (STE) Education; and Wellbeing from March to June 2024.

The consultation includes gathering feedback from children, working with schools networks, online and in-person focus groups, online questionnaires, written submissions, bilateral meetings and a consultation conference.

Here are some of the ways you can get involved and have your say:

Focus Group Events: Online and in-person focus groups will take place for teachers, school leaders and parents. The in-person focus groups will take place across the country.
Questionnaires: There are two online questionnaires, one for education professionals and one for parents. Each should take no more than ten minutes to complete.
Written submissions: Individuals, groups and organisations are invited to make an online written submission on one or more of the Draft Primary Curriculum Specifications.

For more information on the consultation and how you can get involved, please visit their dedicated consultation page.

Photo Museum Ireland

Closing date: Thursday 25th April 2024

Photo Museum Ireland is hiring an Education Coordinator to work as part of a dynamic team providing essential administrative & promotional support to deliver Photo Museum Ireland’s new education programme. The Education Coordinator will work closely with the museum’s Education Curator & Curatorial Team to ensure the smooth running of their education programme which encompasses talks, evening lectures, workshops, training courses, in-house artist-led projects, community outreach projects, online resources and education toolkits.

Follow the link to read more and to apply: https://photomuseumireland.ie/we-are-hiring-education-coordinator

Department for Education – TAP+

Minister for Education Norma Foley TD has announced the opening of registration for the 2024 Teacher Artist Partnership+ summer courses for primary and special school teachers, artists and creative practitioners.

These professional development summer courses for teachers and creative practitioners are aimed at enhancing arts and creativity in education in primary and special schools. The Teacher Artist Partnership+ Summer Courses will be provided free of charge in each of the 21 full-time Education Centres in Ireland this summer. Each course will have 20 primary teachers and 4 professional artists participating.

Minister Foley said: “I hope that this exciting initiative will help teachers and schools to further enhance creativity in their classrooms. It is important that our children are allowed to express themselves and learn to adapt and collaborate.”

The Creative Youth Programme aims to develop the creative potential of every child. Professional development for both teachers and creative practitioners working in schools is critical to the long-term success and sustainability of creativity in education.

To achieve the long-term objectives of cultural and creative education, it is necessary to build a critical mass of education and creative practitioner professionals who are versed in the theoretical frameworks of arts and creativity education and equipped with the skills and techniques for delivering programmes in partnership.

The TAP+ residency element of this programme will give students of all ages in primary and special schools the opportunity to have their TAP+ trained teacher and artist working together in their classroom facilitating the development of these essential skills for students to enjoy and explore artistic and creative expression.

TAP+ provides trained teachers with the opportunity to host a fully funded TAP+ Artist in Residency in their school in 2024/25. This Department of Education-led initiative is a highly innovative, creative and participant-responsive programme that promotes professional learning towards partnership.

There are two application processes for teachers and creative practitioners, for further information and application requirements please visit: https://www.edcentretralee.ie/teacher-artist-partnership.html

National Opera House

School Shows: Thursday, 25 & Friday, 26 April, 10am and 12pm

Booking is now open for school performances and public performances of Pegasus The Clothes Horse, which runs at the National Opera House. This play is suitable for young people aged 7-10

This new play by Wexford-based Alison Ní Mháirtín, brims with wonder and play. Irish language, music and mythology combine with puppetry, opera and some very silly socks to create an epic journey from a young girl’s own house to the National Opera House.

Follow the link to book your tickets: https://www.nationaloperahouse.ie/whats-on/show/pegasus-the-clothes-horse

MTU Crawford College of Art & Design

Application Deadline: 24th April 2024

Applications are now open for the Level 9 Certificate in Arts & Wellbeing in MTU Crawford College of Art & Design. This is the first course of its kind in Ireland. The course is designed to offer professional development that guides you through the most up to date theories in Wellbeing and Positive Psychology. You will develop your own personal wellbeing at the start of the course, finishing with a resource toolkit of tried and tested arts and wellbeing activities and workshops, developed with your peers.

Completing this course has the added bonus of being an elective on the MA in Arts & Engagement in MTU Crawford, should you wish to continue your studies. Applications for the Certificate in Arts & Wellbeing and the MA in Arts & Engagement are now open through the Crawford and MTU websites.

This course is part-time over the duration of one year.

One Academic Year (Part-time. 1 day twice a month in person, 1 evening online every 2nd week)

Fees €1700

Mónica Muñoz Dance

Location and Dates: Various

Mónica Muñoz Dance presents FALL and FLOAT: A Dance show for schools in venues across Ireland recommended for children from age 4+.

With playful energy, impressive acrobatics, comic timing and a joyful soundscape, two dancers create a magical world through the clever manipulation of simple balloons. Their imagination seems to know no bounds- resulting in a hypnotic, funny and uplifting performance full of falling, throwing, catching, stumbling, floating… and sometimes maybe even a little bit of flying.

The tour takes place in May across selected venues throughout the country:

15 May Backstage Theatre, Longford
16 May Nenagh Arts Centre, Co. Tipperary
21 May Civic Theatre, Tallaght, Dublin 24
23 May Mermaid Arts Centre, Bray, Co. Wicklow
5 June Source Arts, Thurles, Co. Tipperary
8 June Dunamaise Arts Centre, Portlaoise *Family shows for Cruinniú na nÓg
12 June Draíocht Blanchardstown, Dublin 15.
13 June Riverbank Arts Centre, Newbridge, Co. Kildare

Schools and Teachers interested in attending should contact their local venue and book directly through their box office. Ticket prices vary, and teachers attend FREE with their classes.

For more information and individual venue links, please visit: https://www.monicamunozdance.com/productions/fall-float

The Adult’s Experience

Towards the end of our playschool year 2023 we had the pleasure of welcoming Kids’ Own associate artists Maree Hensey and Naomi Draper into our playspace, as our playschool took part in the Arts in Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) Pilot. Embarking on a journey of creativity and learning together, we put the child’s experience at the centre.

Placing the child at the centre of practice requires a greater investment of energy from the adult. It is usually more stressful and certainly appears more chaotic and messy than putting the adult’s needs at the centre of practice.

In our space we try always to put the experience of the child at the centre of all we do – empowering for the child, exhausting for the adult! One of the many benefits of adopting a truly child-centred approach means that by the end of the year the group is very well defined, usually extremely confident, inclusive and cohesive with members confident, and comfortable within their own role and expectations. This can be beneficial when introducing new adults into the setting, allowing for the swift development of trust and rapport.

Strong leadership is important in ensuring that staff feel supported and secure in their role when new adults are introduced, especially staff are being asked to step away from their comfort zone into unfamiliar and unknown areas: e.g. “I’m rubbish at art…..I don’t know anything about art”. Thoughtful use of supportive, inclusive, non-threatening language can enhance and promote a feeling of mutual respect and encouragement, protecting positive outcomes for all of the adults involved.

We observed how the adults in the setting, both staff and artists, developed positive, supportive links, sharing the experience and learning that emerged through reflective practice: e.g. “I’ve noticed how ______ really loves working with charcoal….We should bring that resource into the playspace more often…..I really enjoyed working with the flowers, twigs, moss that we collected on the nature lane, I never thought of using them in that way before”.

Reflective practice should be a cornerstone of practice in the Early Years and is the hallmark of a high quality service – embracing new ways of doing things, seeking out and welcoming new challenges and reflecting upon this process empowers staff and encourages creative and innovative thinking.

The adult’s experience enhances the child’s experience.

Inviting the artists into our space elevated our practice and energised our thought processes, supporting our continued professional development.

Department of Education: BLAST Initiative

Application Deadline: 10th May 2024

Applications for BLAST are now open.

Minister Foley is delighted to confirm that BLAST will be running in 2024 for the fourth time. The 2024 programme will enable 425 new arts in education residencies in schools over the course of the year.

Minister Foley said: “I am extremely proud to announce the launch of BLAST 2024, which builds on the great success of the BLAST 2021, 2022 and 2023 Programme.”

Please see the following link for BLAST Application Guidelines and further details: https://www.gov.ie/pdf/?file=https://assets.gov.ie/288286/7c65be23-c08f-4dc0-9837-141b6345ad6c.pdf

BLAST Arts & Creativity in Education Residency 2024/2025 apply online here: LINK

Siamsa Tíre Theatre & Art Gallery

Dates: 24th April 2024 10am to 11:30am

School groups can join award-winning children’s author Jane Hayes, along with other authors and illustrators for a hands-on workshop designed specifically for young children.

As part of the Whole Wide World Bus Tour, Siamsa Tíre Theatre and Art Gallery are offering free workshops for children. This first-of-its-kind ‘Whole Wild World Bus Tour’ will bring children’s writers and illustrators to schools, libraries, bookshops and cultural venues all along the west coast of Ireland this April to host workshops, readings and artist events for school groups, library groups and families.

The children will work with the writers to create a brand-new story together while the illustrator produces artwork to accompany the children’s story. These illustrations will be projected onto a screen for everyone to see in real time while the artist draws. The audience can see their story come together as they view what their new characters and the world they are creating will look like.

Follow the link for full details and booking: https://siamsatire.com/event/whole-wide-world-bus-tour-laureate-na-nog/

The bus will stop at various schools, follow the link for the full tour. https://childrenslaureate.ie/laureate-projects/whole-wild-world/

FÍS FILM Project

Deadline: Friday 19th April 2024 at 5pm

Irish primary schools are invited to enter the 2024 FÍS Storyboard Storytelling competition. The FÍS Storyboard Storytelling Competition is open to all primary schools in the Republic of Ireland. Only storyboards created and produced by primary school pupils and their teacher(s) will be eligible, i.e., the storyboard must be the school’s own original work.

To enter schools should create a storyboard that is a visual interpretation of a story, a concept, a topic, a poem or nursery rhyme. Suggested themes are as follows but not limited to:

Everyday heroes, e.g. ‘a day-in-the-life of someone in your community who supports others
Staycation
Local History / Folklore
As Gaeilge
Curriculum relevant topic, e.g. environmental exploration, climate change, history, science, etc.
Time capsule, e.g. school of the future, letters to grandchildren, a snapshot of time
An adaptation of a traditional story / fairytale with a modern day twist
FÍS film making in schools – what would that be like in the future?
The pupils own original story

Judging Critera Highlights:

When reviewing storyboards submitted to the competition, judges will consider the following:

Excellence in visual interpretation of a story or concept or topic
Excellence in the use of artistic media e.g. a variety of art materials, copyright free images, etc.
Imagination and creativity
Curricular relevance
Support of pupils’ literacy skills development and enhanced learning
Use of different types of shots, i.e. close-ups, mid-shots, long-shots, etc. that help to convey the story
Evidence that the Storyboards could be developed in the future by the class or group into a FÍS film or stop-motion animation project for entry into the 19th Annual FÍS Film Awards competition 2024.

Kids’ Own Publishing Partnership

Kids’ Own have published two books by children and young people from the Roma and Traveller community Cork. They are offering complimentary copies of these books, together with the accompanying teacher learning resource, to schools and educators.

Explore the lives of Roma children with The Real Us. This publication shares their voices, experiences, and ambitions, challenging stereotypes and fostering empathy.

Discover insights from Traveller children with Grow Up Strong. Through narratives and artwork, this publication celebrates their experiences, highlighting the significance of their voices.

Developed by teachers, artists, and educators, the teacher resource supports the use of these books in classrooms. With a focus on fostering creativity and meaningful discussions, it aims to cultivate cultural understanding by centring children and young people’s experiences.

Tailored for upper primary and post-primary levels (Junior Cycle), these resources provide valuable perspectives and insights for your students’ educational journey.

Follow the link to read more and request copies for your school. https://kidsown.ie/educators-free-copies-of-grow-up-strong-and-the-real-us-books-and-teacher-resources-available-now/

Education Support Centres Ireland (ESCI)

Education Support Centres Ireland are offering a selection of CPD courses for teachers. Highlights of courses available are as follows:

Cork Education Support Centre

Course Title: Enriching Learning Through Play – The Power of Drama Games in your Classroom
Location: Online
Date: 10 April 2024
Level: Primary

Drama can sometimes feel like a strain for teachers! Join Debbie Cullinane for an enlightening, informative webinar, where you’ll delve into the magic of drama games for all ages and the positive impact they can have in your classroom. A huge bank of games & resources will be shared, along with practical ideas to seamlessly integrate drama games into your classroom.

Read more and register here: https://www.cesc.ie/primary-courses/3022-24-5938-spr-enriching-learning-through-play.html

Wexford Education Support Centre

Course Title: Senior Cycle Poetry
Location : Online
Date: 30 April 2024
Level: Post primary

Join facilitator Deidre Carroll in this CPD Course by Wexford Education Support Centre.

Looking at Language – What is required in a Comprehension exercise? Writing style – what is it? How to write an impactful piece. The composition – what to choose, what to write.

Drumcondra Education Support Centre

Course Title: Let’s Play
Location : Online
Date: 30 April 2024
Level: Primary and Post primary

Join multi-disciplinary artist Kajsa Kinsella for an exciting webinar titled “Let’s Play!” In this session, learn how to transform everyday objects into simple, cost-effective toys, games, and even musical instruments. Imagine the joy on your students’ faces as they learn to create, replicate, and share these fun projects, fostering a love for learning that lasts a lifetime.

This is a great opportunity to bring hands-on, interactive learning into your classroom.

Blackrock Education Centre

Course Title: Sensory Arts for SEN
Location : Online
Date: 07 May 2024
Level: Primary, Special Education

Join Blackrock Education on this webinar where you will learn to create captivating educational, safe and sensory arts and crafts for and with SEN classes. Speaker Kajsa Kinsella will show you how to utilise everyday items to create educational material for children of different abilities, sensitivities and preferences.

Catalyst International Film Festival

Date: 18th April 2024

Booking is now open for Catalyst International Film Festival’s Screening The Future Student Day. The event will include a full day of film for Second Level Students plus:

INTERACTIVE FILMMAKING MASTERCLASS
With Screenwriter & Director Laura O’Shea and Editor & Educator Phil Shanahan (plus Actor)
Venue: Engine – Innovate Limerick, Cecil Street, Limerick
Time: 9am and 11am
Duration: 1.5 hours
Price: €10 per student (€15 for Masterclass + Afternoon in The Belltable)

AN AFTERNOON OF FILM IN THE BELLTABLE!
Irish Shorts Taster Programme
Vote for your favourite Short
Meet the Industry Panel and Q+A
Nextgen perspectives shorts programme and award presentation
Venue: Belltable Theatre, 69 O’Connell Street, Limerick
Time: 1.15pm – 4pm with short interval
Price: €7 per student (€15 for Masterclass + Afternoon in The Belltable)

Read more and book tickets here: https://catalystinternationalfilmfestival.com/student-day-2024

Deadline extended: 5th April 2024

Artists, teachers, academics and arts education professionals… Would you like to be part of the Portal Spring Regional Day? The Arts in Education Portal Team are seeking submissions for presentations for the Portal Spring Regional Day 2024 with a focus on the North-West Region. This regional event will take place on Saturday 25th May in Sligo at Sligo Education Centre.

The event aims to connect teachers, artists, arts managers and anyone with an interest in art and creativity in education based in the counties around Sligo, Mayo, Donegal, Leitrim and Roscommon.

Practitioners can learn more about the Portal and what it offers, tell us about their work, connect with the community at regional level, share practice and find out what opportunities or events are available in their local area.

We are inviting proposals from organisations or individuals who are involved in arts and creative projects in education in the North-West, and who want to give inspiring presentations or workshops that can offer sharing of skills, practical approaches, new insights and critical thinking across the field, from a range of perspectives.

Do you have a presentation or workshop that you would like to be included in the programme for the Portal Spring Regional Day? If so, please complete your proposal via our online form from the link below. If you have any questions please get in touch by email to editor@artsineducation.ie.

Application Information:

The programme includes two project presentations with up to two presenters.
Two creative workshops with one facilitator will be selected.
All Speakers and Creative workshop facilitators must be based in the North-West Region (Donegal, Leitrim, Mayo, Roscommon and Sligo).
Deadline: 5pm, 5th April 2024

Proposals should be submitted via Google Forms, click here to access the form.

The Children at the Centre

Towards the end of our playschool year in 2023 we had the pleasure of welcoming Kids’ Own associate artists Maree Hensey and Naomi Draper into our playspace, as our playschool took part in the Arts in Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) Pilot. Embarking on a journey of creativity and learning together, we put the child’s experience at the centre.

By placing the experience for the child at the centre it, the experience, becomes relevant and meaningful for the child – they are empowered and the process better reflects the individual need of each child. For example, a more confident and socially independent child will prioritise their learning through identifying and initiating contact with the newcomers. She will explore what they have to offer, what their contribution is going to be and how she can use this to further her own learning. She will embrace the new experience, quickly and enthusiastically seeking out learning e.g. “What’s your name?….What’s in your basket?….Can I have a go?….I need that” etc. etc.

A more reserved child, on the other hand, may prefer to spend his time in an observational role, building up learning through spectating, watching others, as they develop relationships and build trust. Once this phase is completed he is ready to take a more active role within the group once they become certain of expectation, roles and the new dynamics which are emerging.

Children experience art and the creative process differently to adults. Mostly children are creative in nature, possessing abundant curiosity and motivation to explore, experiment and create. Children do this all of the time through constructive play, arts and craft, mark making, dramatic role-play, musical play and physical play. It is, in fact, impossible to stop children from creating – it is how they learn.

The introduction of the artists directed the children’s learning and we observed how the child’s experience was enhanced through the patient, child-centred and facilitative approach adopted and employed by the artists.

UNESCO

This guide invites teachers to harness the transformative power of the arts through the research-informed Arts for Transformative Education model. This thinking tool for teachers was developed by analysing data from more than 600 teachers across 39 countries in the UNESCO Associated Schools Network (ASPnet).

The guide presents and explains the Arts for Transformative Education model – a thinking tool for understanding, planning and supporting transformative arts learning experiences. It also describes a curated collection of arts learning activities and projects from across the globe that may serve as inspiration for arts learning experiences suited to your own context.

This publication provides:

12 ‘learning experience descriptions’ illustrating how the Arts for Transformative Education model works in real-world learning.
12 ‘learning experience snapshots’ providing shorter additional examples.
‘Guidelines for teachers’ outlining a step-by-step process for activating arts learning to empower transformative education.

For more information and to download the guide please visit https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/arts-transformative-education-guide-teachers-unesco-associated-schools-network

Cork County Council Library and Arts Service

Deadline: Friday 15th March 2024 at 5pm

Cork County Council’s Library and Arts Service is seeking creative facilitators and musicians to work with them over the next two years.

This is an invitation for

Musicians who are interested in performing in community settings, including schools, libraries, care homes etc. as part of the Council’s Arts Activity Programme.
Arts Facilitators working in any medium, for example visual arts, literature, or crafts, interested in delivering workshops and co-creating once off and medium-term quality arts projects with people of all ages, as part of the Council’s Arts Activity Programme.

In 2022, the Arts Office established a panel of enthusiastic, experienced, and skilled arts facilitators in various arts disciplines. Selected panellists have worked in a range of different engagement settings throughout the county including National Play Day, Cruinniú na nÓg, library workshops, and arts and health projects.

Cork County Council’s Arts Office is now updating this panel for arts facilitators, also extending the call to musicians.

JCSP Libraries

Closing date : 15th March 2024

JCSP Libraries are running an exciting new photography challenge. This inclusive challenge can be enjoyed by students in post-primary JCSP/DEIS schools across all year groups. The aim is to support young people to develop their artistic practice, creativity, originality and self-expression through the medium of photography.

The main idea behind this initiative is to promote visual literacy and creative thinking. To take part, students are encouraged to take a daily photo inspired by daily prompt words throughout February. Students can snap photographs of people, places or things around them. The prompt list encourages students to study the world around them and to focus on visual features including texture, pattern, colour and shape. Extra resources on jcsplibraries.com will also allow students to make connections between photography and numeracy, learn new tips and tricks, and to develop their literacy with photography keywords. The challenge is very flexible: individual students, clubs or classes can participate.

The Challenge is open to students in all post-primary JCSP/DEIS schools and that winners will be selected in 3 categories:

1. Junior

2. TY and Senior

3. Special Needs

HOW TO ENTER:

This exciting new photography competition is open to students in 2nd Level JCSP and DEIS schools across Ireland.
There will be three prizes categories: Junior Cycle, Senior Cycle, Special Needs.
Each school can submit a maximum of 5 entries per category.
All entries must be the original work of the students.
All entries must be submitted via the school and using the official entry form. Students should not submit entries directly.
Send a digital file or make a scan of all of your student entries and send them to info@jcsplibraries.ie along with a copy of the entry form detailing your school and participating students’ details.

Read more and download the entry form here https://jcsplibraries.com/2024/02/01/jcsp-libraries-snap-photography-challenge/

Barnstorm Theatre Company

Dates: Thursday 29th February & Fri 1st March 2024

This month Barnstorm Theatre Company is proud to produce the first Curriculum Play Live for Junior Cert students. This gives an opportunity for students to contextualise course material by experiencing a full production of a play in their Junior Cert curriculum. This play is ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ by Oscar Wilde

This is a great opportunity for students to see the characters, themes, and language of the play in action, and to have fun while learning.

School performances take place on Thursday 29th Feb and Friday 1st March at 10:30am.

School group tickets are only €12 per person (teachers go free).

You can book online https://www.watergatetheatre.com/whats-on/events/the-importance-of-being-earnest-by-oscar-wilde or call the Watergate Theatre on 056 7761674.

IMMA

Date: until 21st April 2024

Self -Determination: A Global Perspective is a major new exhibition at IMMA for winter and spring 23/24. The exhibition offers the opportunity to look through the eyes of the artists, while they recall Ireland’s journey to independence after the formation of the Free State.

This is not just an Irish story. Other emerging states experienced similar dramatic changes following World War I: Poland, Finland, Ukraine, Estonia, Turkey and Egypt. The exhibition includes artists from these countries and presents artworks from the time of the foundation of this state alongside newly commissioned works by contemporary artists.

Self -Determination: A Global Perspective will be of value to second level students, especially those studying art, but will also be engaging for students studying history, literature, language, economics and politics.

Exhibition Resources

The Self-Determination exhibition provides resources for students and teachers to engage with. These include:

Art and Self-Determination: A Reader is comprised of essays and poems alongside an introduction to the exhibition and a selection of artwork. It is available to purchase through the IMMA Shop or as a free pdf.
The exhibition also includes a useful timeline of social, political and cultural events in Ireland and throughout the states that emerged in the aftermath of World War 1, from 1913 to 1939.

To receive the free Timeline and the Reader as a PDF contact mark.maguire@imma.ie

Conference: 100 years of Self-Determination – available to watch back are key papers presented by invited speakers and researchers responding to themes of Self-Determination.
Podcast: IMMA Past Futures – a related podcast series on the shared site histories of IMMA / RHK is available to listen.

To access these resources and read more about the exhibition, please visit: https://imma.ie/whats-on/self-determination-a-global-perspective/

Self-determinaton: A Global Perspective runs until the 21^st April 2024. Book tickets to a free guided tour on immatours.ticketsolve.com.

Cork County Council Arts Serive

Dealine : 9th January 2024

Cork County Council has announced details of its 2024 funding opportunities for the county’s arts sector. Cork County Council’s Library and Arts Service is inviting proposals for funding for arts projects, activities and events taking place in the Cork County administrative area in 2024 that may be eligible for funding under a range of grant assistance schemes available.

Schemes announced include the Arts Grants Scheme which will support arts organisations and the voluntary sector, a scheme to support artists to work in schools, support for developing arts projects through the Irish Language, and a set of bursary and residency opportunities for professional artists of all disciplines.

Announcing details of the funding, Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr. Frank O’Flynn, said, “Cork County Council is proud to support the arts community on an annual basis through our grants scheme. The Arts are integral to our communities, our schools, and our citizens. As well as supporting artists and arts organisations, we support festivals, performances, exhibitions, and other publicly accessible cultural programmes throughout County Cork. I look forward to seeing the joy and creativity that will emerge from the many projects who are set to benefit next year.”

Cork County Council supports artists, schools, and arts and community organisations in the Cork County administrative area annually through the following grant assistance schemes:

ARTS GRANT SCHEME

The Cork County Council Arts Grant Scheme provides financial or other assistance to individuals and organisations engaged in the presentation and promotion of arts activities or events in Cork County.

The Arts Grant Scheme is open to new or established arts groups, artists, festivals or other groups wishing to undertake creative artistic activity in any artform in the Cork County Council administrative area.

ARTISTS IN SCHOOLS SCHEME

The Artists in Schools Scheme enables primary and post-primary students and teaching staff to work collaboratively with an artist working in any artform on a creative project.

All Department of Education and Skills-recognised primary and post-primary schools and Youthreach centres in Cork County are eligible to apply.

To remove barriers for participation, this year for the first time, Cork County Council will also accept video/audio applications through the online portal. The Arts Office will provide assistance to applicants where extra accessibility support may be required.

Applications can be made online until the 9th of January 2024. Guidelines and further information is available here: https://www.corkcoco.ie/en/resident/arts/arts-funding-opportunities

For queries, email arts@corkcoco.ie or call 021- 4346210.

Self-care and Textiles

I realise that the work I’ve done so far with Arts in Education has not touched on the curriculum. So far in my experience, teachers are using the projects as some time out for students to relieve anxiety post Covid both in primary and secondary schools. I suppose this is reflective of what we are, what we all need as a society post-Covid.

Working on the TAP+ project with Our Lady of Mercy Primary School in Sligo with Niamh Middleton is such an example. Niamh had identified 11 students from first class up to sixth class who were struggling for one reason or another. There were children suffering from high levels of anxiety, trauma, poverty and we wanted to give these children something special, some time out and they were just so thrilled to have been chosen.

There were different needs and abilities in the group, and the children didn’t know each other at the start as it’s such a large school. We decided on a rough plan of doing taster sessions every week but we were letting them lead on what they liked doing best. Firstly we did tetra pak printmaking and it turns out their favourite bit was rolling the ink. If I had left the glass pallet there for two weeks and the children could’ve kept rolling the ink they would’ve been so happy! I love that you CANNOT predict what the children will gravitate towards. They were not that bothered about the actual printing and we didn’t push them, it was all about what was making them happy in the moment. They just loved mixing the colours and it was the lovely sticky sound it makes which I can appreciate!

One of the weeks we decided we would try pom pom making and the children absolutely LOVED it. They were helping each other out, making multi-coloured ones and giant ones. Niamh thought it would be great to spread the pom pom love throughout the school. I had talked about guerilla crocheting and how I had yarn bombed a tree in Sligo with 400 pom-poms and they were very interested in this. We picked a tree in the schoolyard that was looking a bit sad so we could decorate it with pom poms. We decided it would be great for the students to go back into their respective classrooms with me and share with their classmates what they had learnt and how to make pom-poms so that every child in the school could then contribute to this pom-pom tree.

In my own practice post-Covid, I have returned to textiles as a self-care tool and I make my own clothes, knit, crochet, and quilt. It’s so useful when I’m trying to work out a painting, I take a break, do a seam or knit a row. You are still thinking about the work but there’s something about having textiles in your hand that eases and clarifies things. It is a mindful activity, you can’t be scrolling or thinking about 1 million other things. So I can see why the children responded to it, the tactile quality, the bright colours. What’s not to like?

Solstice Arts Centre

School Gallery Tours using VTS

DATE : Tuesdays – Fridays, various times available during exhibitions.

Broaden creative thinking through oral and visual literacy by exploring works in the Solstice Art’s Centre gallery spaces.

Using Visual Thinking Strategies, this is an opportunity for students to investigate, analyse and reflect on multiple perspectives, and assist in the development of imaginative and innovative ideas. Using cross-curricular links and learning through art, these sessions support the Junior and Senior Cycle, placing students at the centre of the learning process. Upon visiting Solstice, Senior Cycle students will receive specific information that embraces the three strands – Research, Create and Respond (visual and written responses), with particular focus on Content Area 3: Today’s World of the New Appreciating Art

Encouraging peer-to-peer discussion, this is an opportunity for children and teachers to focus and reflect on multiple perspectives, enhancing engagement and enjoyment of learning through art. To conclude, learn about the artist and her work, inspiring you to create artworks back in the classroom.

Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) is an inquiry-based method of visual processing – looking, describing and discussing what we see in a work of art. It is about listening to others, responding and expanding thoughts and new possibilities revealed within group engagement. VTS improves oral and visual literacy, problem-solving and collaborative interactions among peers. Suitable for all ages, VTS tours are best with groups of 5 or more.

Booking: free, booking essential, duration: 60mins. For all queries & booking please contact Deirdre: deirdre.rogers@solsticeartscentre.ie

National Museum of Ireland

Date: Thursday 16^th November 2023
Times: 10am & 11.30am

National Museum of Ireland invite schools to join a highlights tour of the ground floor Irish Room to learn about the museum and its displays of animals and fossils. Includes a close up inspection of some of the educational handling collections in the Wonder Cabinet e.g. real and replica furs, fossils and skulls. Join this special tour in Irish for Science Week! Discover the unique stories behind a selection of 3,000 animals and fossils on display. Students will see up-close zoological and geological examples of the natural world that have been on display since we opened our doors over 166 years ago.

Includes curriculum linked themes such as biodiversity, ecology, endangerment and extinction.

On completion of this live session students should be able to:

Identify wildlife and biodiversity of Ireland
Describe animal adaptations and their habitats
Explain local and global environmental issues, such as threats to species and habitats
Define conservation and outline actions that help protect biodiversity
Summarise the role of a science museum and how collections are preserved for display and scientific research

On the tour learn about:

How the giant Irish deer became extinct 10,500 years ago in Ireland
A seven metre long basking shark that was caught off the west coast of Ireland over 150 years ago
The ecology of different Irish sea birds and the threats the face
The Wonder Cabinet and see up close the different predators and prey on display, including the fossil jawbone of an Irish hyena!

Level: 3rd Class – 6th Class
Duration: 45 mins
Capacity: One class per session

Before your visit

Prepare the class for the tour. Give pupils an idea of what to expect to see or have a discussion about the Museum in advance of the visit.

Why not take a 3D virtual tour of the NMI – Natural History in the classroom with your students

Places are limited. To enquire about booking a facilitated visit for your class please complete this enquiry form.

After your visit

After the session, Teachers will be sent via email a number of fun follow-up learning activities in Irish for pupils to explore in the classroom.

Please note: The teacher will remain with the class throughout the duration of the tour.

Kerry County Museum

Date: Saturday November 11^th until January 5^th 2024.

Kerry Local Creative Youth Partnership (LCYP) at Kerry ETB has announced a unique exhibition opening at Kerry County Museum on Saturday 11th November at 2pm. Mixing Moments highlights the work through a project of the same name, which brought together one hundred and twelve younger and older Ukrainian, Irish, African-Irish, French, Indian-Irish and English families. Through a series of workshops and events, music, art and sound offered a structure for participants to meet, express pain, joy, and beauty in imaginative ways using art, drums and sound recordings. It was a chance for many communities of people to come together using creativity as the common ground, where mixing, meeting new people, making new friends was the order of the day.

Mixing Moments is an art and audio visual experience detailing a creative journey in 2023 that allowed friendships to form and integration to happen. Developed in collaboration with Áiseanna na hÓige Dingle, Killorglin FRC, Maine Valley FRC, Tralee International Resource Centre and South Kerry Development Partnership with support from Kerry County Museum. Mixing Moments brought together 112 remarkable individuals from diverse backgrounds, including younger and older members of Ukrainian, Irish, African-Irish, French, Indian-Irish, and English families together, fostering care and support of one another and serving as a reminder that it’s often the small things in life that provide us with meaning and comfort.

Mixing Moments was facilitated by a creative team of artists and arts professionals, including Martin Scharer and Teresa Galvin, musicians, David Fortune, visual artist and audio video expert Niall Foley. Funding was provided by Creative Ireland and the Department of Education, as well as through the International Protection Integration Fund at the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration, and Youth (DCEDIY).

For further information, please contact:

Deirdre Enright, Creative Youth Co-Ordinator, Kerry ETB

email denright@kerryetb.ie Mobile: 085 8734946 See www.kerryetb.ie

OIDE Creativity

Dates: Various

OIDE Creativity have released various dates for their creative and engaging workshops for teachers this autumn and winter.

The courses include:

Unlocking Shakespeare: The Merchant of Venice

Oide Creativity in collaboration with voice specialist Andrea Ainsworth, presents a one-day elective workshop, open to post-primary teachers from all subject disciplines.

This workshop offers participants an opportunity to:

focus on a prescribed Shakespeare play (junior cycle English)
experience practical, creative ways to lift Shakespeare’s language off the page and into action
reflect on how the workshop may support professional classroom practice and approaches to Classroom-Based Assessments (CBAs).

Get your World Turning With woodturner Willie Creighton

Oide Creativity and Oide Technology Subjects, in collaboration with woodturner Willie Creighton, present a one-day elective workshop, open to post-primary teachers from all subject disciplines.

This practical workshop offers participants an opportunity to:

experience exciting ways to create wood turned artefacts
discover the natural properties and aesthetics of wood through the craft
develop practical and creative approaches that may be used in classroom practice.

Page Turners

Oide Creativity, in collaboration with spoken word poet Erin Fornoff, author Sam Blake/Vanessa Fox O’ Loughlin and author Dave Rudden, presents a one-day series of workshops and a panel discussion, open to teachers from all subject disciplines.

These three writing workshops offer participants an opportunity to:

collaborate, share ideas, learn and reflect in a safe, supportive environment
learn practical, creative teaching methods
discuss writing tips, writing groups, and author visits.

Spaces are limited for each workshop. A waiting list will apply.

For more information on workshops, dates and to book your place, please visit: https://www.creativity.oide.ie

Threading needles with Youthreach

This year, I was hired to do a project with Youthreach and MSLETB in Sewing and Sustainability in Sligo, Carrick on Shannon and Mohill. It was also designed as a few hours in the week to help ease anxiety in students post Covid. The students were studying catering, hairdressing, computers or LCA in the various centres.

We started off the six week project with the basics of the sewing machine, learning how to thread a machine and how to fix it if it stops working. We went on to cut out a basic pattern for a gender neutral top in curtain lining or fabric the students had at home. The students worked in groups of two and threes at a machine so everyone got a go. Some struggled with going from a 2 dimensional flat piece to a 3 dimensional garment but eventually got it when they saw the finished article. I love sharing my passion for me made clothes and by making your own clothes, you can make garments to fit every body shape.

I found a few challenges as the artist working in this context. There are new students starting not every week, but frequently and absenteeism is common so it became normal to have students at different levels at the project, which is tricky when you are trying to build on skills every week and to keep having to start again at the beginning.

I sometimes forget that a lot of young people are not used to working with their hands and it can take a while for students to get that hand eye coordination going. Basic instruction like threading a needle can be very frustrating for students in the beginning but when they persevere with it, they find it really rewarding and I know from the tutors when they walked into the room they couldn’t believe how quiet the class was, the students were completely engrossed in the task, it’s an extremely mindful pastime.

Riverbank Arts Centre

Secondary Schools – Monday 6th November, Monday 4th December 2023 at 10.30am

Primary Schools – 27th November, 11th December 2023 at 10.30am

Riverbank Arts Centre, Newbridge is the Kildare Partner of Fighting Words. They are hosting creative writing workshops for primary and secondary schools. Fighting Words workshops are always free of charge to the participating schools.

Their volunteer mentors work with the young writers to identify key elements of a story and help them write the first half of their story together as a group. The students work together to choose their characters and plot the group story sentence by sentence, editing as they go. In the second half of the workshop, students can opt to continue the group story or write a new story of their own.

These workshops will be conducted in Riverbank Arts Centre by an experienced Fighting Words Kildare coordinator, Pierina Campbell, and supported by 2-3 writing mentors from Riverbank’s Fighting Words team. The workshop will last 2 hours and they require that the teacher is present throughout.

Please contact Theresa 045 448327, or email boxoffice@riverbank.ie to book your workshop.

Cork International Film Festival

Locations: The Everyman Theatre – 13th to 17th November 2023, Gate Cinemas Midleton and Mallow – 20th to 24th November 2023, The Reel Cinema Ballincollig – 20th to 24th November 2023

Cork International Film Festival are presenting a diverse and exciting programme of films for young people as part of their Festival Schools Programme in November. Screenings include:

TY and Leaving Cert || Green Screen – Environmental Activism:
Fashion Reimagined

Special Event – Screening + Q&A with Special Guests || Everyman Theatre Only
Becky Hutner || UK, USA || 2022 || 100 mins || TY and up || Documentary

Follow fashion designer Amy Powney on her journey from outsider to industry leader, as she sets out to create a transparent, ethical and sustainable collection, from the field to the finished garment. Exposing the complexity of the fashion industry’s supply chain, and addressing the urgent issue of global waste, this documentary highlights how the actions of one can influence an entire sector.
The screening will be followed by an open Q&A with special guests.
This event is sponsored by Future Planet.

Junior Cert French: The Little Gang (La Petite Bande)

Pierre Salvadori || France || 2022 || 106 mins || Drama || French, Subtitled

Four young teens in rural France form a plan to stop the local factory polluting their local water supply and help raise awareness about climate change. The young gang turned activists want to carry out a late night attack on the factory, when things don’t go quite to plan. This French family comedy will have you routing for the mini climate activists despite their crimes.

Leaving Cert German: Run Lola Run (Lola Rennt)

Tom Tykwer || Germany || 1998 || 81 mins || Thriller || German, Subtitled

In celebration of the films’ 25th anniversary, we are bringing Run Lola Run back to the big screen for new audiences. Bursting on to the scene in 1998, Run Lola Run was an instant cult classic thanks to its innovative style and catchy soundtrack. The set-up is simple: Lola gets a phone call from her boyfriend Manni, who needs to deliver 100,000 Deutschmarks to a local gangster at noon, 20 minutes from now. Will she get the money in time? Or will her father, the police and barking dogs get in her way?

Junior and Senior Cycle French, Spanish and German language films are available. For the full programme and accompanying study guides, please visit https://corkfilmfest.org/schools-programme-2023/

Each student ticket is €7.00 (€6.50 DEIS school discount) accompanying teachers can attend free of charge.

To inquire about the screenings’ schedule and for bookings, please contact schools@corkfilmfest.org

Unveiling the 2023 National Arts in Education Portal Day Programme.

Ticket Booking Now Open!

We’re excited to be back with our 2023 conference taking place at Mary Immaculate College, Limerick on Saturday, 11 November 2023 in partnership with the Department of Arts Education & Physical Education. The event aims to bring together members of the arts in education and creative practice community from all across Ireland, to share, learn, talk, network, get inspired and continue interrogating best practice in the field.

The Programme will see a mix of presentations, smaller discussion-led sessions and creative workshops each addressing the special focus of ‘Seldom Heard Voices’ reflecting diversity and inclusion across school communities.

As previously announced The Portal Team is delighted to welcome guest speaker, artist/researcher Dr. Jill Goodwin, highly respected for her practice working with children labelled as having profound and multiple learning disabilities, who will deliver the conference keynote address.

View the 2023 Programme HERE

How to Book Tickets

Tickets for the 2023 National Arts in Education Portal Day are free but pre-booking is essential as capacity is limited.

For further enquiries please contact events@artsineducation.ie.

Book Tickets HERE

Ticket Booking Opens on 12th October!

Ticket booking for the Arts in Education 2023 National Portal Day will open on 12th October.

This year’s conference is taking place at Mary Immaculate College, Limerick on Saturday, 11 November 2023 in partnership with the Department of Arts Education & Physical Education. The event aims to bring together members of the arts in education and creative practice community from all across Ireland, to share, learn, talk, network, get inspired and continue interrogating best practice in the field.

As previously announced The Portal Team is delighted to welcome guest speaker, artist/researcher Dr Jill Goodwin, who will deliver the conference keynote address. Using personal examples from her experience in schools, her research and her art practice, Jill will consider the spaces – both physical and psychological – we provide and inhabit. Can we make space to dream, to listen, to be?

Sneak Peek at the 2023 National Arts in Education Portal Day Programme

Presentation & Discussion: Seen and Heard – Refracting responses of children to a school-based theatre workshop and arising implications for the Arts and Education sectors

Lecturer in Drama Education Dr Tríona Stokes and Creative Producer/Curator Hannah Mullan will reflect on the findings from an engaged research project featuring a consultation with key stakeholders, including children, about the extent to which they felt seen and heard in a pre-production school-based theatre workshop by Monkeyshine. They will invite audience consideration and discussion for artists, teachers and teacher-artist collaboration and partnership.

Creative Workshop: Reflective Data Visualisation – Using art-based reflections to encourage participants to promote an individual as well as a collective understanding of social injustices.

Visual Art Education lecturer Anne Marie Morrin from Mary Immaculate College will present an original methodology called ‘The Data Reflective Wall’. The focus of this workshop is (in)equality and will place the participants’ own understanding of inequality and social justice at the forefront of the learning experience, building a sense of empathy and collective responsibility into a teaching and learning experience.

Ticket bookings open at 12 noon, Thursday 12th October 2023. Tickets are free but pre booking is essential as capacity is limited.

For further enquiries please contact events@artsineducation.ie.

Barnstorm Theatre Company

Dates: Monday 16th October, 11.30am, Tuesday to Friday 20th October 10am and 12pm

Barnstorm Theatre Company in Kilkenny City will launch its latest world-premiere at the Watergate Theatre this October and invites schools to attend matinee performances.

Noah Barleywater Runs Away is the world premiere of a truly exciting theatre piece which has been adapted by internationally renowned playwright Mike Kenny from John Boyne’s novel of the same name.

The book explores the world of childhood and the adventures that we can all have there. Noah is running away from his problems, or at least that’s what he thinks, the day he takes the untrodden path through the forest. When he comes across a very unusual toyshop and meets the even more unusual toymaker, he’s not sure what to expect. But the toymaker has a story to tell, a story full of adventure, and wonder and broken promises. And Noah travels with him on a journey that will change his life for ever. This is a thought-provoking fable for our modern world from the author of the bestselling and critically acclaimed Boy in the Striped Pyjamas.

Cost: School Groups €10 (teachers go free)

Book tickets online HERE

Or call the Watergate Theatre on 056 7761674.

The Big Idea

Deadline: Open

The Big Idea have created a full 14-week creative programme of learning resources for your Transition Year or Leaving Cert Applied students. Each teacher and tutor will receive a teaching pack to support in-class activities regardless of their school context. You will also join their B!G Teacher community with exclusive offers from their partners.

All resources are digitally formatted with two lessons per week. The adaptable format can be used for either a 40-minute class or a 1-hour class with teacher prompts and lesson plans included as well as built-in assessment structures and additional class materials.

Their national and international network of professional experts will share knowledge directly with your students, supporting them in their project development. Student teams will be matched with Big Idea industry Mentors giving them the opportunity to gain advice on next steps, ask questions to get students thinking, ask them things to consider or offer resources to explore.

There will be a free B!G Idea Learning Pack given to every student, which includes all the materials needed to engage in the programme.

Visit the link for more information and to apply for your school https://thebigidea.ie/teachers/

In the first of a new guest blog series, artist Lorna Watkins talks about her thoughts and experiences on her TAP placement.

New Beginnings

Being an artist of any kind can be a lonely existence. I love my alone time, it’s necessary to do the work but other human exchange is needed from time to time. I need that human energy to feed into my work and to me. I had worked with adults on painting workshops before but had never really considered working with young people.

My studio work is cyclical, I tend to make more work during the winter than the summer as I’m a Mammy too, with kids off school it’s harder to to get to the studio every day.

In comes an email from Sligo Education Centre and I clicked on it. I don’t even remember signing up for it. They were offering the TAP+ CPD training. Truthfully I didn’t really know a whole lot about it but it sounded interesting. It turned out to be a week long of blissful discussion with other artists, theatre practitioners, composers and designers amongst passionate educators.

The exercises that we did during the course were fun, inventive, thought provoking and playful. As an artist once you complete the course you are given a TAP+ Residency with a Primary School. That year I got a TAP+ placement in the Our Lady of Mercy Primary School, Sligo paired with tutor Niamh Middleton. It was a wonderful experience and has energised my practice. As a result I have since worked on four BLAST projects, worked on several Youthreach projects and with the SMILY LGBTI group. All because I left myself open to the “what if?”

So artists out there. If you’ve ever wondered about Arts in Education, please go to your local Education Centre and enquire about the TAP+ CPD Summer Course.

It can change everything!

This year the 2023 National Arts in Education Portal Day is taking place at Mary Immaculate College, Limerick on Saturday, 11 November 2023 in partnership with the Department of Arts Education & Physical Education.

The Portal Team is delighted to welcome guest speaker, artist/researcher Dr. Jill Goodwin, highly respected for her practice working with children labelled as having profound and multiple learning disabilities, who will deliver the conference keynote address.

Dr Jill Goodwin

Dr Jill Goodwin is a UK-based artist/researcher with a background in education. Her experience working with children labelled as having ‘profound and multiple learning disabilities’ has led her to seek and explore ways of sharing meaning without words, and she sees the arts as key to this process. Jill has recently worked as a consultant, mentor and trainer with arts and educational organisations, as well as with individual artists. She was Visiting Research Fellow with the ‘Centre for Research in Inclusion’ at the University of Southampton from 2020 – 2023, and Researcher-in-Residence with Oily Cart, a London-based sensory theatre company, from 2020 – 2022. Jill’s own art work privileges the sensory over the intellectual, making it innately inclusive.

The full line-up of the national day will be announced soon when ticket bookings will open online. This year’s event will again focus on ‘Seldom Heard Voices’ and will see a return to the usual mix of presentations, smaller discussion-led presentations and creative workshops addressing this theme.

These events bring together members of the arts in education community from all across Ireland, to share, learn, talk, network, get inspired, and continue interrogating best practice in the field.

For further enquiries please contact events@artsineducation.ie.

Baboró International Arts Festival For Children

Baboró have published their report and findings from their pilot LEAP programme. LEAP is a community-building project and artist development programme for creative individuals from underrepresented, ethnically diverse communities and/or migrant backgrounds curious about creating work for young audiences.

This report is an account of the development and implementation of Baboró’s LEAP as a pilot programme between December 2020-April 2022. The report examines the context of LEAP’s creation, what worked about this pilot programme, what could be improved for the future, and what learnings LEAP offers that are relevant to wider Irish and international theatre for young audiences’ communities.

This report also situates Baboró’s LEAP within post-2000s Irish arts policy focused on interculturalism and/or diversity and the wider international landscape of politics, policy and social change in the theatre for young audiences sector and beyond that immediately influenced the creation and implementation of this programme.

For a short executive summary of this report, and their learnings from the pilot LEAP programme, download the document below.

Download the LEAP Learnings here

Read The Full Report

Download the complete LEAP Report here

Burrenbeo Trust

Application Deadline: 12th October

Burrenbeo Trust have announced the latest round of the National Heritage Keepers Programme which they launched with the help of Kinvara Tidy Towns and The Dolmen Centre, Kinvara. After working closely with 117 groups and schools over the past two years, the programme is now accepting expressions of interest for its highly anticipated third round. Burrenbeo Trust proudly partners with the Heritage Council in this transformative initiative.

The National Heritage Keepers Programme is a fantastic opportunity for schools and communities across Ireland. It empowers them to delve into their local built, natural, and cultural heritage and then provides funding to allow them to take action. This programme offers various learning formats, including in-person, online, and blended options, making it accessible to a wide range of participants.

In the previous year, 40 schools and communities participated in the programme, with the majority successfully completing local projects and actions. These actions included constructing ponds, developing heritage trails, hosting networking days, tree planting, creating booklets on local built heritage, and even organising historic photography exhibitions.

Mary Dillon, Heritage Keepers Co-ordinator, emphasised the programmes mission, stating, “Heritage Keepers aims to empower people to explore and discover their own local heritage, fostering pride, ownership, and ultimately responsibility towards both their community and environment. Through Heritage Keepers, schools and communities can play a huge part in protecting and promoting their local heritage and Place.“

The programme consists of five engaging two-hour workshops, followed by dedicated support while completing the funded action. It opens for expressions of interest on the 14^th September, with options to begin this autumn or in the New Year. The programme is open to senior classes in primary schools and will be scheduled during school hours.

Learn more about this opportunity at an online information session scheduled for Thursday, September 28th, at 7.30pm. Visit heritagekeepers.ie for additional details and to complete a brief Expression of Interest form.

The Ark

Date: Saturday 21 Oct at 10.30am – 12.30pm

In this CPD workshop for teachers, you will enjoy: Learning some of these new songs which are simple and fun to sing. It can be difficult to find songs in Irish in genres other than traditional; these songs are new and in a variety of music styles.

Join musician Ríona Sally Hartman in discovering music in the classroom anew in this morning CPD workshop for teachers presented through Irish and English. Ríona has created a new collection of original bilingual songs written specifically for use in primary school classrooms with accompanying class activities.

Exploring links to recordings and work-pages to accompany the songs that you can photocopy for use in the classroom. Trying out sample activities to cover all three areas of the music curriculum: listening and responding, performing and composing. Discovering songs for use outside music time, such an “attention grabber” in Irish (a very short call and response song to use when you want to get the class’s attention). Ríona will also bring some examples of other books and CDs that she finds useful in the classroom. There’ll be time to look at these and time for discussion and questions also.

Overall, this fun and inspiring workshop will build your confidence in both your Irish and your singing voice. It is suitable for all levels of experience and the resources shared will work for all primary classes.

Cost: €20 (€18 for ArkEd Members)

Book your ticket here: https://ark.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/873639444

The Courthouse Gallery and Studios, Ennistymon

Date : 8th – 29th September

The Courthouse Gallery and Studios launched Keystone; new moving image work by Art School on 8th September. Commissioned by Clare Arts Office to celebrate twenty years of arts in education programming, Keystone was developed with selected artists Mitch Conlon and James Moran in collaboration with fifth year students from two schools in Co. Clare.

Taking the theme of the collective as its central point of departure, Keystone took shape as a series of workshops guided by artist Mitch Conlon and theatre maker and comedian James Moran working with the 5th year art students and teachers of Coláiste Muire, Ennis, and Scoil Mhuire, Ennistymon, during the school year 2022–23. The project was curated by Jennie Guy, founder and director of Art School, alongside invited co-curator Fiona Gannon, and investigated ideas around the collective by exploring the places where teenagers go to hang out.

Through presentations, games, recording sessions and collaborative decision-making, the production of Keystone explored the atmospheres of specific hang-out spots visited by the students from both schools. Drawing on additional support from filmmaker and artist Emily McFarland and electronic music composer Liam McCartan (Son Zept), the students worked with sound and video to communicate the dynamics of these often peripheral places.

There was a private screening for students and other project partners in the Courthouse Gallery on the 8th September 2023 at 6PM and the work will be subsequently exhibited in the gallery space upstairs from the 8th through the 29th of September. The gallery opening hours are 12pm through 5pm.

To celebrate the launch of the project, a limited edition poster is being produced with award-winning design studio Distinctive Repetition to mark this screening event and will be gifted to each student collaborator involved in the project.

Keystone is supported by Clare Arts Office and the Arts Council.

The project was a recipient of the 2023 Arts in Education Documentation Award

Solstice Arts Centre

Solstice Arts Centre have a number of upcoming events and opportunities for teachers, artists and schools.

Opportunity; An introduction to the gallery for educators & artists

Date: 3rd October 2023 at 4pm

Solstice Gallery are offering teachers, lecturers, teaching artists, youth workers or community leaders an opportunity to learn more about the gallery and what it can offer your class or group.

Over a relaxed tea/coffee, you can discover how to use their gallery as a rich learning environment. Through the exploration of contemporary artists and their work, experience the Solstice Arts Centre’s VTS (Visual Thinking Strategies) tours and resources, discover their artist-led workshops created especially for schools and plan a visit for your students with their Learning & Engagement Coordinator. Embracing cross-curricular links, this rich environment for learning supports all students in primary, secondary and 3rd level.

School Gallery VTS Tours

Dates: Tuesdays – Fridays, various times available.

Exploring contemporary artworks in Solstice’s gallery spaces using VTS (Visual Thinking Strategies), this is an opportunity for pupils and teachers to investigate, analyse and reflect on multiple perspectives. With cross-curricular links, these sessions support pupils in primary and post-primary, placing them at the centre of the learning process. While visiting Solstice, Senior Cycle students will receive specific information and resources that embrace Content Area 3: Today’s World of the New Appreciating Art Visual Studies curriculum. Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) is an inquiry-based method of visual processing. Responding and expanding thoughts revealed within group engagement, VTS improves oral and visual literacy, problem solving and collaborative interactions among peers.

Price: free, booking essential, duration: 90mins

Sensory Connections

Dates: Wed 6, 13 Sept/4, 11, 18, 25 Oct, 8/ 15 Nov/ 6, 13 Dec.

These relaxed gallery tours and short workshops designed for small groups with additional needs and their teacher/carers follow a slow pace of engagement. Tailored to individual needs participants can engage in a multi-disciplinary, sensory activity that connects to an artwork on display. All levels of capability are welcome. The gallery will be closed during your visit and guidance from teachers and carers will be discussed prior to the session.

Read more about the event here: https://solsticeartscentre.ie/event/sensory-connections-1

For all queries and bookings email Deirdre: deirdre.rogers@solsticeartscentre.ie

Our Voices

During 2023 I took part in the Keystone art project. Once a week, Mitch and James, two successful artists, came to our school for a discussion, which later became activities and progress on the actual project. For the first few weeks we all got to know each other by chatting and discussing our favourite art forms. Something that stood out for me during these chats was our discussion of collaboration and what it meant to us. We all got to say what we thought, making the classroom environment very collaborative. We discussed whether people should have different roles within the project. I loved having these discussions and getting to know the artists, as it made the project a lot easier to work on.

Our first task was to write about somewhere special to us. I chose Lahinch as it is where I’m from and where I have spent many happy memories with my friends. We all shared our work with the class which gave us insight into our favourite places around the local area. Our second task was to record audio from somewhere in our area or community. I recorded the sounds of waves crashing on the beach as it is a sound that relaxes me, and I associate it with fond memories. We shared our sound recordings in class. After more discussion, where we looked for common interests in our chosen locations and recordings, we decided on what other footage we might need for our film. We all went to Lahinch with a film crew and equipment to record. We took film footage of the rocks, sand etc. We all had a go at filming and holding the recording equipment. This was a really fun day as we finally got to see a vision for what the finished project would become.

The next week in the classroom we received our first draft for the audio of our short film. It included all the sounds that we hand recorded earlier in the year as well as nostalgic music. The artists explained that our footage would be laid down after the soundtrack.

A few weeks later, we finally got to see our first draft of the whole film. Each scene was numbered. We got to say what we liked and didn’t like, by taking notes on each scene. It was such a great feeling to finally see what we had been working on for so long. Our feedback was sent back to the artists and videographer, where they would edit and tweak the footage to align with what our class wanted.

Participating in this project was such a great experience. We got to be part of a huge collaboration where all student voices were heard. It felt great knowing that my own ideas would impact the project. I’m grateful for this opportunity, as I got to learn more about collaborative artwork which is something I would love to continue exploring. Thanks to Jennie, Mitch, James, Fiona and everyone involved for this fantastic opportunity.

Arts in Education Portal

Deadline: Friday 15 September 2023

Artists, teachers, academics and arts education professionals….Do you want to be part of the eighth annual National Arts in Education Portal Day?

The National Arts in Education Portal Day will take place at Mary Immaculate College on Saturday, 11 November 2023 in partnership with the Department of Arts Education & Physical Education. The event aims to bring together members of the arts in education and creative practice community from all across Ireland, to share, learn, talk, network, get inspired and continue interrogating best practice in the field.

The Arts in Education Portal Editorial Committee invites proposals from organisations or individuals who want to give dynamic and inspiring presentations or workshops that can offer sharing of skills, practical approaches, new insights and critical thinking across the field, from a range of perspectives.

This year, the Portal Day will continue the special focus of ‘Seldom Heard Voices’. The Committee particularly want to profile projects this year that reflect diversity and inclusion across school communities and represent all children.

Do you have a workshop or presentation that you would like to be included in the programme for this day? If so, please send us your proposal.

The deadline for submission of proposals is 5pm Friday 15th September 2023.

Proposals should be submitted via Google Forms, click here to access the form.

Creative Schools

Deadline: 31st August 2023

Creative Schools have launched a call out for Teacher Creative Associates. Scoileanna Ildánacha/Creative Schools is a flagship initiative of the Creative Ireland Programme to enable the creative potential of every child. Creative Schools is led by the Arts Council in partnership with the Department of Education.

It is expected that the Creative Associate will work in partnership with up to one school to develop expertise and approaches that will develop and sustain arts and creative practices in their schools. Creative Associates will draw on the range of opportunities within the school and wider community to stimulate and support creative practices as part of the school’s plan.

Creative Associates are educators with their own arts practice and a deep understanding of creativity and its potential to transform the lives of children and young people. They are dynamic agents for change uniquely placed to form sustainable partnerships between teachers, school staff, learners and other partners.

They are original thinkers who will match the needs of schools to creative opportunities in their locality. They can identify potential areas for improvement and will inspire, energise and drive schools forward in addressing these. Through this pioneering initiative, Creative Associates will have the chance to shape the place of the arts and creativity in Irish schools.

It is expected that up to 10 to 15 Teacher Creative Associates will be engaged to deliver services. Each associate will be partnered with one school within one the following regions:

Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Monaghan, Sligo
Mayo, Roscommon, Galway
Laois, Longford, Offaly, Westmeath
Kildare, Louth, Meath, Wicklow
Dublin
Carlow, Kilkenny, Wexford, Waterford
Cork, Kerry,
Clare, Tipperary, Limerick

Follow the link to apply: https://form.jotform.com/232194890105354

For more information please visit: https://www.artscouncil.ie/creative-associate-opportunities/

Baboró International Arts Festival

Date: Friday 13th to Sunday 22nd October 2023

Deadline for Schools Application: Friday 8th September

Baboró share a first look at the highlights of their upcoming 27th annual festival.

You’ll find an enchanting new show from beloved Irish companies Fidget Feet and Ceol Connected alongside world-class theatre for older children by renowned Australian company Slingsby. Also from Australia, an engaging visual art exhibition will invite Galway families to create and view their own photographic portraits in Galway Arts Centre.

“As we finalise plans for Baboró 2023, I am delighted to unveil three stunning festival highlights featuring aerial dance, theatre, live music and portrait photography – two of which come from as far away as Australia! The full programme of work from Belgium, England, Spain, The Netherlands, Australia and Ireland will be revealed in a few weeks,” said Aislinn Ó hEocha, Executive Artistic Director.

The full programme will include visual arts, music, dance, theatre, literature, creative workshops and adult events, as well as many more performances for all ages. The programme will be announced on Tuesday 5 September.

Schools

All schools and group bookings via the Online Booking Request form, available below from Monday 21 August. https://www.baboro.ie/schools/schools

Contact the Schools Box Office on schools@baboro.ie or 091 532 985.

See more on the festival here : https://www.baboro.ie/news-events/2023-sneak-peek

Source Magazine

Date: Ongoing

Source Magazine has created a free online learning resource about photography, designed for the Senior Cycle. Its three interlinked strands of research, creativity and response aim to provide a context for students to develop critical and productive skills in photography.

They are written by Jesse Alexander, an experienced educationist in photography and contributor to Source. Each includes group discussion topics and suggested activities to help grasp their significance. They are illustrated with the work of some of the most celebrated photographers.

Portraiture & the Human Form: Portraiture has been an important part of art for centuries and photography has given the genre new opportunities. This essay looks at how portraiture photography compares and how it can reveal the private lives of its subjects, show their emotional states and personalities. We might see ourselves reflected in some!
Exterior & Interior Spaces: Many photographers concentrate on landscapes and cityscapes, along with interior spaces such as bedrooms, shared domestic spaces or parts of public buildings. They can make familiar places look strange and make the unfamiliar seem welcoming. After seeing many of the photographs included, we may see our own surroundings a little differently!
Documentary & Narrative The many forms of documentary photography often record everyday aspects of our lives, such as work or play, or it can be used to help professionals in many fields to do their work. For some, this is an opportunity to tell stories about how we live our lives. At times, this is an area where making art and documenting the world around us often cross over, making this, for many people, the most exciting area of photography to pursue or to look at!

Teachers can email research@source.ie to obtain a free digital subscription to Source, which includes access to the digital archive of the last 47 issues.

For more information please visit: https://www.source.ie/learning/index.html

Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council (DLR)

Deadline for applications: 16th August 2023 at 12pm

Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, in partnership with Blackrock Education Centre, is looking for four experienced artists/creative practitioners to work with children and teachers in the classroom setting. They are also seeking two emerging artists/creative practitioners to join the programme. Applications are open to practitioners who work in any art form. The programme runs from October 2023 to May 2024.

The purpose of the programme is to partner a Creative Practitioner with a primary school class and teacher. They will explore creativity in the classroom together. A Creative Practitioner is a professional artist/facilitator with an art form background, for example; a dancer, a visual artist, a writer, or a musician.

The fees are €60 per hour for facilitation; with an additional €500 payment for research and €250 for blogging about the programme. Payments will also be available for coming to three scheduled meetings with all the artists and teachers during each project. Five meetings with the teacher outside of contact hours with the class will be paid for, if these are required (these can be phone meetings or in person).
The two emerging creative practitioners will be expected to work with a mentor who will support and assist their development. It is envisioned that this will be four sessions, two in the classroom and two outside.

To apply please email your application to mdavey@dlrcoco.ie with the subject line dlr Primary Arts

For further details please visit:www.dlrcoco.ie/sites/default/files/2023-07/dlr%20Primary%20Arts%20Programme%202023%20to%202024_0.pdf

Ballet Ireland

Dates: 3rd – 7th July 2023

Ballet Ireland invite primary school teachers, educational professionals and artists to sign up for their CPD course: Ballet Ireland Teachers Week: Dance In Primary Schools. The course is approved by the Department of Education with 3 EPV days entitlement.

It takes place at DCU St. Patrick’s Campus, Drumcondra, in association with the School of Arts Education and Movement, DCU, 3rd-7th July 2023. The course provides participants with a secure understanding of how to teach dance, using simple, clear methods, easy steps and straightforward dance vocabulary.

Teachers are introduced to the fundamental aspects of dance education, including:

class structure
an understanding of anatomy in relation to dance
how music is used, composed, and selected for dance
how dance relates to drama and narrative
expression

The course presents an interdisciplinary approach to teaching dance, and explores the potential for integrated curricular learning. Each day comprises a gentle Pilates-based warm-up, demonstration/lecture workshops and timetabled periods of peer and self-assessment, discussion, and reflection.

The programme employs specialists in several complementary areas, providing workshops in dance, anatomy, music and mime. Participants are supported with comprehensive course notes and access to online video resources and dedicated musical content.

Optional follow up days are held during mid-term breaks in autumn and spring (at DanceHouse, Dublin) and ongoing support is available through closed social media groups.

The week will be led by Stephen Brennan, Education Officer at Ballet Ireland, supported by Hayley Cunningham, former Ballet Ireland dancer, Stott Pilates instructor, qualified ballet teacher and a member of the Ballet Ireland educational team.

Focused workshops will be led by Nolwenn Collett, composer and musician trained at the Paris Conservatoire, and specialist in dance accompaniment, and Deirdre McKenna, a Musculoskeletal & Dance Physiotherapist specialising in sports and dance training and injury prevention.

Cost of the course: €125

For more information and to register for the course please visit: https://www.balletireland.ie/join-in/teachers-week/

MTU Crawford College of Art and Design

Deadline: Open for the summer.

The Certificate in Arts and Wellbeing (Level 9, 20 credits) offers an introduction to key concepts in models of Wellbeing, with a focus on the arts. The course gives participants opportunities to explore arts and wellbeing activities in a personal and group dimension, supported by a reflective process.

This course will benefit teachers or artists looking to broaden the scope of their practice. The aim of the course is to equip participants with practical approaches to Arts and Wellbeing, which can be applied in a range of contexts.

Through a series of experiential workshops, participants will be offered the opportunity to explore practical ways of developing Arts based Wellbeing programmes. Through a series of lectures and guest speakers, participants will critically engage with a range of concepts and theories related to Arts in Health and Wellbeing.

The course duration is one academic year, part-time, one day twice a month in person, one evening online every second week. The fee for the course is €1700.

For enquiries, contact: Avril O’Brien, Department of Arts in Health and Education. Email: avril.obrien@mtu.ie

Apply here: https://www.mtu.ie/courses/craarwe9/

Uillinn: West Cork Arts Centre

DATE: 3rd June – 1st July 2023

Four primary schools from across West Cork came together to participate in Bright Lines – Uillinn’s Spring education programme for primary schools. Bright Lines invited students to stretch how they see and interpret the world around them and weave together new stories.

The programme consisted of a tour and workshop at Uillinn with Public Engagement Artist Kate McElroy viewing the work of Sérgio Leitao ‘The Fallout’ which was then followed by visits in the students’ classrooms to develop their own collaborative collages exploring creativity and storytelling. Bright Lines invited students to be creative with their responses blending items from their everyday life with their imagination.

Altogether 100 students from 1st – 6th class worked on Bright lines. An exhibition of their work is currently on view until 1st July 2023.

Uillinn wish to thank students from Dromore NS, Scoil Mhuire NS, Schull, Scoil na mbuachaillí, Clonakilty and Gaelscoil Dr. Uí Shúilleabháin, Skibbereen for their excellent creative work and the teachers for taking part in the programme.

On Saturday 10 June between 10 AM – 1PM, children and young people are invited to take part in a drop in art activity at the centre where they too can add their artistic contributions to Bright Lines. This collaborative drawing art activity is part of the celebration of Crinniú na nÓg – A day of free creativity for children and young people.

To read more please visit: https://www.westcorkartscentre.com/schools-archive

A Coláiste Muire Collective

I was instantly intrigued by the idea and inspiration behind the Keystone project. At its essence art should challenge our perceptions and viewpoints, provoke thought and discussion. By getting the students to focus on the local, and the everyday, they were challenged to reconsider their traditional concepts of what is worthy to be art. Moments in their own lives were investigated especially those centred around places they frequented around the town; their hang out spots.

These “spots”, these centres of interactions and events, often located in places unintended for that purpose; private places within shared spaces, offer teenagers a third space away from the restrictions and rules of home and school. A separate social dynamic for freedoms of expression and connectivity. Nevertheless, these places are normally frowned upon, considered loitering spots, adults tell youths to move on, to stop wasting time. The very idea that the artists wanted students to celebrate these places challenged their preconceptions of the value of these spots and in turn inspired further exploration.

The explorations brought us down a rabbit hole of new experiences where Mitch and James introduced the group to artistic influences such as the sound art of Mary Anne Amacher, and a documentary about protestors in Curraghinalt made by Emily MacFarland. Each piece inspired very much by the space they were captured in; the physical place and landscape told the story or was the story. This encouraged the students to go out and collect and gather content to tell theirs. They used sound recording, photography, written word and film. A multi-sensual catalogue of data was being built that would act as the primary source of a final realisation.

Our collective expanded further when the expertise of sound producer Liam McCartan and filmmaker Emily MacFarland were brought in to help build our content. Their choices, influenced by written reflections made by students, an interactive zoom call and on-site video shoot where students made creative inputs into all decision making. The experience of observing the layering and manipulation of individual sounds to produce a whole composition, along with the opportunity to use professional video production equipment was something I feel the students really enjoyed.

Seeing how, as the project developed, the students’ immersion within the project increased was something that was very enjoyable for me. Evident in their reflections their initial writings were basic literal descriptions of the sessions, but as the project developed and the students allowed themselves to become more absorbed, their writings became more conceptual considerations. They contemplated how themes could be communicated within the content; a swinging zipline rope from the playground could suggest isolation, a grove of trees in the fair green symbolised privacy in a public space. Their thoughts were now of symbolism and metaphor, associations were being sought outside of their literal meaning. This I believe was one of the greatest successes of the project; the opening of the student’s minds and realisation that all the resources they need to create and solve are often right there in front of them, they just need to give themselves time to look and observe.

FÍS Film Awards

Deadline: 30th June 2023 at 5pm

FÍS have launched an open invitation to all Dept. of Education designated Irish primary schools to enter their films into the annual national FÍS Film Awards competition. There is no need to register in advance. To enter, primary schools across the country are asked to create an (up to) five-minute film on a subject of their choice.

Judging Criteria Highlights:

Imagination and creativity
Originality of the story
Curricular relevance (include details of subject/strand/strand unit where relevant)
Support of pupils’ literacy and/or numeracy skills development
Excellence in set design, costume design, film direction, film production, the use of sound, acting, cinematography, etc
Excellence in the art of storytelling
Excellence in the use of special techniques, e.g., animation or special effects
Excellence in visual interpretation of a story or concept

Shortlisted schools must be available to attend the FÍS Film Awards Ceremony, which takes place in the Helix Theatre, DCU Dublin. It is a large-scale national event with over 900 people in attendance, filmed and broadcast by students and staff from the National Film School, at the Institute of Art, Design & Technology (IADT). The awards ceremony is live- streamed via their website. Shortlisted schools must be available to attend the ceremony.

Full details of Rules & Guidelines and Judging Criteria are available at https://fisfilmproject.ie/competition/rules/ and https://fisfilmproject.ie/competition/judging_criteria/

You can submit your entry via https://fisfilmproject.ie/competition

Creativity and Change at MTU

Application Deadline: 22nd June 2023

Creativity & Change is accepting applications for their 2023-2024 course, which begins in September. This part-time, 20 credit certificate at level 9 offers participants the opportunity to explore Global Citizenship Education, immersing themselves in arts-based practices that connect their heads, hearts and hands, to learn about and take action for global justice, while developing skills to nurture fellow changemakers.

What you can expect from the programme:

Participate in a transformative experience in global citizenship education
Examine your place in our interconnected, rapidly-changing and unequal world
Explore issues affecting the world and make connections between local and global
Reflect on the values, actions and behaviours of global citizens
Develop skills in facilitating meaningful dialogue, collaborative arts processes and transformative learning
Boost your creative confidence through participating in workshops including movement, theatre and street art
Put your learning and passion into practice to engage others on a journey of transformation and growth as global citizens
Build a toolkit of exercises to design and facilitate learning processes to nurture global citizenship
Apply Design Thinking to develop creative actions in imaginative learning environments
Connect your passions to take action for change
Recognise that small actions can have big impacts
Plug into a network of people passionate about creativity, learning and changemaking

Supported by Irish Aid, Department of Justice, the course will be of interest to artists, activists, youth & community educators, volunteers and all those who are interested in collaboration and the transformative power of art. They especially welcome applicants from minority groups facing barriers to accessing education, who can apply to avail of fully funded places under their Amplifying Voices scheme.

Duration: One weekend per month from September 2023 to May 2024

Location: Munster Technological University (MTU) Crawford College of Art and Design

Course fee: €680 (subsidised by funding from Irish Aid)

For further information and to apply visit: https://www.cit.ie/course/CRACRCH9

Baboró International Arts Festival for Children

Baboró has announced the launch of their Strategic Plan for 2023-2027 highlighting their vision for the future, and their ambitions for the next five years.

“We are committed to making our festival and programmes more equitable. Baboró is building on our work in the community by bringing festival shows and workshops into schools throughout the city and county, touring to rural schools and community libraries, and unearthing new ways of reaching audiences that cannot reach us. We work directly with teachers and schools year-round on innovative arts in education projects in Galway city and county. We are building our community of families, schools, artists and local organisations so that everyone feels that they can belong at Baboró. We collaborate with our Children’s Panel to ensure the voice of the child is included in our work” – Barboró

Baboró’s Strategic Goals:

Every child is valued and welcome at Baboró. Baboró is working towards removing barriers facing children and artists and is committed to creating programmes where everyone feels welcomed, feels heard and is represented in their community. They commit to reflecting the diverse, multicultural Ireland of today in our artistic programmes.

Goal One:
Their annual Festival continues to be Baboró’s beating heart – a celebration of all their work and a gathering place for their community.

Goal Two:
Children in all their diversity and brilliance will be at the centre of their programmes and activities.

Goal Three:
Artists will be supported to make exciting, innovative work for children and young people.

Goal Four:
The environmental and biodiversity crisis will be reflected in the way they work and the stories they tell.

Goal Five:
Invest in their staff team and build a resilient organisation that reflects the breadth and quality of their work.

For further information visit www.baboro.ie or to read the full strategy go to www.baboro.ie/content/files/Baboro-2023-2027-Strategy.pdf

The Ark

Date: 14th – 18th August 2023

Join artist Jole Bortoli at The Ark for this hugely popular hands-on, creative course focusing on a visual arts approach to exploring narrative, literacy & other subjects.

The aim of the course is to enable participants to start the new school year with an enhanced toolbox of skills and knowledge, in order to effectively deliver the visual arts curriculum in the classroom. Participants will be engaged ‘hands-on’ throughout this course so learning will be through doing. Working in teams and individually, you will cover a range of curriculum strands including drawing, painting, print, 3D construction, fabric, and fibre.

A strong emphasis will be on building skills and confidence. The group will also explore how visual art can be used to engage with aspects of the English, SPHE, History and Maths curriculum, as well as to promote visual literacy approaches. School self-evaluation exercises will be incorporated as an integral part of the course. Time will also be given for individual reflection and learning and group discussion.

This course will appeal to teachers of all levels of experience and will be facilitated by the visual arts and education specialist and founder of Art to Heart, Jole Bortoli. This is a continuing professional development opportunity not to be missed!

TICKETS

€100/€90 (For ArkEd Members)

DURATION

Five day course – teachers must commit to all five days.

This is a five-day Department of Education EPV-approved summer course for teachers.

Suitable for all levels of experience.

Book your tickets here: https://ark.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows

Arts in Junior Cycle

Dates: Various

Arts in Junior Cycle have an extensive range of elective courses available to book for post-primary School teachers. Please see a selection of the course available below.

Lights, Camera, Action! A film production workshop

Date: Wednesday 7th, Thursday 8th and Friday 9th June

Times: 10.30am – 4pm

Location: Kilkenny Education Centre

This Arts in Junior Cycle workshop with Young Irish Film Makers (YIFM) in Kilkenny Education Centre will provide participants with an opportunity to:

understand how camera tells a story and consider film as visual language
engage in the three phases of production from concept to realisation, including: story-boarding, scripting, devising shot lists, filming, editing and creating a final rough cut
learn techniques to support classroom engagement with film-making across a range of contexts, including free software and using smart phones to film

This in-person workshop is open to junior cycle teachers of all subjects and disciplines.

Figurative Oil Painting workshop

Dates: Monday 19th and Tuesday 20th June

Times: 10.30am – 3.30pm

Location: Royal Hibernian Academy of Arts (RHA), Dublin

This Arts in Junior Cycle workshop with visual artist Blaise Smith in the RHA will provide participants with an opportunity to:

explore basic technical and material skills to underpin a professional painting practice
examine how compositional tools such as the Golden Mean and the Rule of Thirds are utilsed in traditional and contemporary oil painting
use a limited palette to create layers and flesh tones
explore basic anatomical structure of the human figure

Open to junior cycle teachers of all subject disciplines.

Do Your Own Thing! A workshop to explore the creative process

Dates: Thursday 22nd and Friday 23rd June

Time: 10.30am – 4.00pm

Location: Irish Museum of Modern Art

Arts in Junior Cycle in partnership with visual artist threadstories and writer and poet Colm Keegan offer a two-day workshop in The Irish Museum of Modern Art.

In this hands-on and practical workshop, participants will:

engage in an open-ended exploration of word and image, using a variety of art-making materials and writing prompts
consider their own relationship to education, art and self-expression
gain insights into the creative processes of a visual artist and a writer
explore IMMA and use it as a source of inspiration
discuss possible approaches to a range of stimuli
collaborate in a safe, supportive and experiential environment

Visit the link below for full details and to register www.artsinjuniorcycle.ie

Creative Ireland Programme

Date: 10th June 2023

On the 11th May at Mud Island Community Garden, Catherine Martin TD, Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, announced details of Cruinniú na nÓg 2023, a day of free creative activity for young people.

This year Cruinniú na nÓg will be on 10th June 2023 and will feature more than 500 free creative activities for children and young people throughout the country. Cruinniú na nÓg 2023 is a collaboration between, the Creative Ireland Programme, local authorities and RTÉ and is the only event of its kind in the world.

Announcing Cruinniú na nÓg 2023, Minister Martin said:

“Every year Cruinniú na nÓg becomes more firmly embedded into the lives of young people all over Ireland. There’s a huge programme of free creative activities for 10th June that will really stretch the imaginative muscles of all young people. Cruinniú na nÓg 2023 is a wonderful opportunity for the young people of Ireland to show off a little, try a new creative activity, make new friends and connect with their communities. Every event is free.”

The Creative Ireland Programme and its strategic partners have developed a number of creative projects, all planned to go live on Saturday 10^th June 2023. These include:

Irish Street Arts, Circus and Spectacle Network (ISACS) will host open days for young people who want to try their hand at circus skills and street spectacle at their dedicated venues in Cloughjordan, Cork, Dublin and Galway. For those that can’t be there on the day, there will be a full range of online tutorials available.

Rhyme Island – This year Creative Ireland is teaming up with The Kabin Studio to get every young person in Ireland rapping. In preparation the Rhyme Island team have been travelling the length and breadth of the country holding a series of online and in-person workshops which will culminate in a massive day of rap at 17th Century Elizabeth Fort in Cork.

This is Art 2023 – Creative Ireland and RTÉ’s wonderful art competition for young people has returned, and the winning entries will be announced on 10^th June 2023 along with a national on-line digital gallery of all entries.

TG4 with support from the Gaeltacht division of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media will support ‘Our World’/ ‘Mo Dhomhan’ several Cruinniú na nÓg projects groups which will include sand art projects.

Cruinniú na nÓg 2023 Ambassadors

This year, Creative Ireland have asked five wonderful young people to represent Cruinniú na nOg 2023 to inspire others with their creative energy and skills.

Caterina Chiu Paone (8) Last year Caterina triumphed in This is Art with her cat collage. Not only does Caterina make art but she loves Irish dancing, playing the guitar, writing and singing her own songs.

Sibéal de Spáinn (8) loves swimming, making art and recording radio shows. She made her first radio show in 2022 on Raidió Rí-Rá. Making art makes her feel great and that she is helping the world.

Jamie (the King) Forde (17) has been rapping at Knocknaheeny’s The Kabin in Cork since he was 10. With his friend MC Tiny (Darren Stewart) Jamie recorded ‘ Yeah Boy’ which they have performed in all over Cork, at Dublin Castle and on The Late, Late Toy Show.

Jodie Byrne (14) is a member of the Dublin Circus Club which she joined in 2022. In a relatively short period of time she was walking on stilts in the St Patrick’s Day parade. For Cruinniú na nÓg this year she will be at the Dublin Circus Club learning to spin plates.

Archie Evans (15) has been involved with the Dublin Circus Club for over a year and he loves it! Once a week he joins his friends in the club to learn everything from stilt walking to trapeze to juggling. Through circus he has met other circus teens from all over the country.

Consistent with the aims of the Government’s Shared Island initiative to deepen beneficial cooperation and connections across the island of Ireland, Cruinniú na nÓg 2023 will be programmed on an all-island basis with cross-community events connecting children and young people from both sides of the border, including via our partners in Circus Explored and Rhyme Island. This action is an integral part of the Shared Island dimension to the Creative Ireland Programme which focuses on harnessing the power of culture and creativity to inspire connections between people, communities and places.

RTÉ is supporting Cruinniú na nÓg with a nationwide campaign on television, radio, online and digital.

For full events listings and further information go to: https://cruinniu.creativeireland.gov.ie/

Arts Council of Ireland

Application Deadline: Thursday 15 June 2023 at 5.30pm

Maximum Award: with €4,000

Applications are now open for the Creative Schools Initiative! All Department of Education-recognised primary and post-primary schools and Youthreach centres that have not already participated in a previous round of Creative Schools are eligible to apply.

Creative Schools supports primary and post-primary schools and Youthreach centres across Ireland to put arts and creativity at the heart of children’s and young people’s lives.

It supports schools/centres to provide opportunities for children and young people to build their artistic and creative skills, and to develop additional ways of working that reinforce the impact of creativity on their learning and wellbeing.

Schools and Youthreach centres that join the programme take part in a two-year guided journey to develop a Creative Schools Plan unique to their own school, and to put it into action. Children and young people’s involvement in planning, decision-making and reflection is central to the journey.

Participating schools/centres will be provided with a package of supports that includes working with a Creative Associate, training and networking to support them to create their Creative School Plan, as well as seed funding to begin to implement their Plan. Successful schools will receive €4,000 to implement their plans over the school years 2023–24 and 2024–25.

Application guidelines 2023

The application guidelines are available  here.  All applications to the Arts Council are made through the Arts Council’s online services system. To access the application form and make an application, please set up an organisation account for your school or Youthreach centre on the Arts Council’s online services system here.

Information clinics

Please join one of our online information clinics to find out more.

Monday 15 May 2023 at 16.00-17.00. Book tickets here.
Tuesday 16 May 2023 at 16.00-17.00. Book tickets here.

The Hunt Museum

Dates: Ongoing

Join The Hunt Museum for a range of options of tours and workshops in the museum, and online resources for learners of all ages including lesson plans, videos and activities.

Some highlights of the workshops include:

Primary:

Life in the Bronze Age

Duration: 60 minutes

This workshop encourages pupils to thematically explore the objects and practices of Ireland’s Bronze Age people. It enables them to investigate and use as evidence the Bronze Age collections on display in the Hunt Museum. The handling of replica prehistoric artefacts will provide additional opportunities for inquiry-led learning. Pupils also get to try out some simple prehistoric technologies. This workshop walks the students through the prehistoric timeline as they learn how technologies emerged and advanced from the Stone Age to the Bronze Age.

Animal Hunt Online Programme

Date: Watch video to your schedule

This 20 minute video workshop introduces Primary School students to animal based collections at the Hunt Museum. Students learn how artists throughout history have depicted animals in their art, and why certain animals are important to different cultures. Students will be introduced to the online research tools that will help them complete the Animal Hunt 3D online activity.

Post-Primary

800 Years of Fashion Workshop

Duration: 60mins

€3.50 euro per student. Teachers go free!

In this workshop, students will learn about clothing from eight different periods (between 1200 and 1920), and these societies. These resources, and objects in the permanent collection, will be used as historical evidence to better understand the evolution of fashion over time, and how these shifts in style relate to changes in society.

To book, email educationoffice@huntmuseum.com

To see all workshops and tours for schools visit: https://www.huntmuseum.com/schools/

Creative Schools

Date: 8th-12th May

Creative Schools have invited every school in Ireland (primary, post-primary, special education schools and Youthreach centres) to celebrate the arts and creativity from 8 – 12 May, 2023. The theme this year “Creativity Lives Here” encourages school communities to pause and reflect on where creativity is evident in their lives, in every class, in every school and in the experience of every student. The week is a time to focus on celebrating this creativity, perhaps adding to the experiences of students in the form of events or workshops and providing a platform to show how creative each school can be.

If your school is already in the Creative Schools initiative, this week is a great time to celebrate your journey so far!

Previous years’ Celebrations included Online Celebrations highlighting work from a selection of Creative Schools and Creative Clusters initiatives since 2018, as well as workshops, interviews and features across a wide range of different artists and arts and cultural organisations. They invite you to watch these videos with your students to learn about school communities across the initiative as well as their creative approaches to learning and artistic responses to Covid 19. Schools highlighted are a representation of the over 460 schools who had participated in the Creative Schools initiative since 2018.

Watch a video on Creative Schools Week 2021 Online Celebration: Episode 1 here: Creative Schools Week 2021 Online Celebration: Episode 1 – Primary

For FAQ’s about Creative Schools Weeks visit: https://www.artscouncil.ie/creative-schools/creative-schools-week-2023-faq/#faq1

The Ark: A Cultural Centre for Children

Dates: June, various

Inspired by Cartoon Saloon’s award winning animated movies The Secret of Kells, Songs of the Sea and WolfWalkers, this visual arts workshop invites Primary school classes from 1st to 6th to delve into the rich world of Irish folk tales.

During the workshop, each child will start by creating the setting for a personal narrative by painting the backdrop for this story, as background artists do in animation studios. They will then design a character of their own invention – perhaps a creature or animal they’d love to shape-shift into, to be in their skin and take on their abilities?

In keeping with folklore traditions, children will explore the magical and mythical world of Irish stories and legends, their characters, environments and possible artefacts to see what connections can be made with real historical events.

To fuel the children’s imagination, your class will start the session by visiting Cartoon Saloon’s WolfWalkers exhibition in The Ark gallery. This exhibition contains concept art, beautiful framed artworks and panels that illustrate WolfWalkers’ production stages and teamwork.

Dates: Wed 7 – Fri 9th, Tue 13th – Fri 16th & Tue 20th – Fri 23rd June

Times: 10.15am & 12.15pm

Cost: Schools: €6.50 (€5 Early Bird*). Teachers go free.

Suitable For: 1st – 6th Classes

For more information on the workshop and to book visit: https://ark.ie/events/view/schools-my-own-folktale

Creative Futures Academy

Date: Wednesday, 10th May 2023

Creative Futures Academy at IADT invites you to join their upcoming webinar on creative uses for immersive technology.

Are you looking to explore how immersive technologies can be used to enhance learning and creativity? Join their upcoming webinar, Immersive Technologies Use Cases for Learning and Creativity.

Learn about the potential of these technologies and how they can be applied in education and creative activities. Their panel of experts will be showcasing their work in utilising immersive technologies. Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to gain insight into the latest trends and innovations in immersive tech! Register now for their webinar.

Book your place now via Eventbrite or by emailing iadt@creativefutures.ie

Find out more about the speakers here: https://creativefuturesacademy.ie/events/webinar-immersive-technologies-use-cases-for-learning-and-creativity/

Erasmus+

The Online eTwinning Schools Conference

Date: 24th-26th May 2023.

The Online eTwinning Schools Conference will take place from 24 to 26 May 2023. The first day of the conference (Wednesday 24 May) will be live streamed and open for anyone to join and engage with. No registration is needed.

The overall goal of the conference is to identify, highlight, share, promote, disseminate and further establish the practices of eTwinning Schools that focus on creativity and well-being.

During that first day, Arianna Sala of the Joint Research Centre (JRC) will present the keynote presentation “LifeComp: A European competence framework for better lives in our uncertain world”. LifeComp is the European framework for the personal, social and learning to learn key competence.

Days 2 and 3 will be closed only to eTwinning registered participants.

For more information and to join the public livestream, visit here: https://school-education.ec.europa.eu/en/insights/news/get-ready-european-online-conference-etwinning-schools-igniting-creativity-nurturing

Mayo Education Centre

Date: 30th May 2023

Mayo Education Centre invites teachers to a free arts session that will inspire them to experiment and be creative with a variety of materials to create both two and three dimensional artworks. Led by artist Jennifer Hickey “Making the Season Creative with Art” is a practical face to face session, which will encourage participants to explore art making processes using a variety of materials and will deliver an imaginative learning experience that teachers can bring back to the classroom.

Participants will work with a variety of materials including; clay, inks, paint, card and materials from nature.

It is aimed at teachers of all levels of experience and is suitable for teachers in junior and senior classes.

Learning outcomes

• Learn new and easy ways to incorporate natural materials into the classroom.

• Gain knowledge on contemporary artists who explore their environment and use natural materials in their work.

• Explore hands on craft processes that will promote wellbeing and encourage the classroom to respond, explore and interpret the season in a visual and creative way.

Date: 30th May, 7pm – 9pm

Fee: Free

To Book: https://mayoeducationcentre.ie/

Arts In Junior Cycle

Date: Wed 3 May 2023

Time: 5:00pm – 6:30pm

Venue: Zoom

Arts in Junior Cycle are hosting a creative writing workshop for Teachers. Knights of the Borrowed Dark: Approaches to Story writing with award-winning author Dave Rudden.

Using his novel Knights of the Borrowed Dark – an indicative text for 1st year junior cycle English – Dave will share how he turns inspiration into a fully developed narrative. You will see the writing process from the inside and learn creative writing techniques you may wish to use in the classroom.

During this workshop participants will:

use the Knights of the Borrowed Dark as a starting point, learn how to, craft ideas into stories and develop sustainable writing practices
explore how to create and describe the characters and structure of a story
develop a plan to write a ‘draft zero’ of your own novel or short story
collaborate, share ideas, and reflect in a safe, supportive workshop space
experience practical and creative methodologies that can be used / put to use in professional classroom practice.

Spaces are limited. A waiting list will apply. Register on www.artsinjuniorcycle.ie

Irish Architecture Foundation (IAF)

Application Deadline: 9 June 2023 – 6 pm

The Irish Architecture Foundation has opened a call for schools to participate in their TY Architects in Schools Programme 2023/24.

Now entering into its 11th annual cycle, this Transition Year programme is creative, collaborative and participatory, providing an introduction to architecture and the design process for young people. There is no cost for your school to participate (apart from providing some art materials). An architect will facilitate hands-on design workshops in your school.

Dates, times and workshop duration will be arranged directly between the designated teacher / TY coordinator and the assigned architect.

Workshops must take place between 1 September 2023 and 22 March 2024.

There are two options for participation:

Option A: Full Programme

30 schools can participate in the full programme (12 hours of workshops per school, with an architect / architectural graduate).

Option B: Introductory Programme

40 additional schools can avail of introductory workshops (1 x 3 hour workshop per school, with an architect / architectural graduate).

To apply and find out more visit: https://architecturefoundation.ie/news/architects-in-schools-open-call-for-schools-2023-24/

The Ark

Dates: Saturday 13 May 10.30am – 12.30pm

Tickets: €20 (€18 for ArkEd Members)

In this CPD workshop for primary teachers, textile artist and educator Gabi McGrath will introduce participants to the art of felting and explore ways to bring their learning into their classroom.

A designer, craft teacher, maker and curator, Gabi will introduce her textile practice to participants and share a selection of projects that she has undertaken with schools.

You will then have the opportunity to experiment with fibres in this hands-on workshop, learning simple felting techniques and uncovering the expressive possibilities of the material. Through both 2D and 3D construction, you will explore shape, tone, texture and form.

Over the course of this two-hour workshop, Gabi will help you develop skills, techniques and processes that can be integrated into your lesson plans and adapted for students of all ages.

To Book https://ark.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/873635778

National Gallery of Ireland (NGI)

The National Gallery of Ireland have released their spring programme for schools. Some highlights include:

ONSITE:

School Tour: Collection highlights (free)

Term Time. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays at 10am, 11am, 12pm and 1pm

Explore treasures of the national collection through engaging discussions with National Gallery expert guides on this free school tour. Focusing on dialogue, questioning, and creativity, this free tour will embolden students to look, respond, and form opinions. The tour will be tailored to the age and level of your group and is available in Irish, English or ISL.

The school tours are free but booking is essential. Book your tour here

Sketching Tour (€35)

Term Time. Thursdays at 12.30pm

Take a deeper look at the national collection on this sketching tour with an artist from the NGI’s guide panel. Use sketching to observe and respond to details and techniques. Your guide will select some key artworks to look at in depth on this tour. The tour will be tailored to the age and level of your group and is available in English.

Booking is essential. Book your sketching tour online

ONLINE:

Gallery in the Classroom (free)

Term Time. Monday- Friday at 12pm.

Explore treasures of the national collection through engaging online discussions with one of their expert guides. Focusing on dialogue, questioning and creativity, the session will embolden students to look, respond and form opinions. The online session will be tailored to the age and level of your group and is available in Irish or English. You can choose from the following themes: Collection Highlights; Portraits; Irish Art; European Art.

Book an online Gallery in the Classroom session

For more information on all on offer this spring at NGI please visit https://www.nationalgallery.ie/explore-and-learn/schools/schools-programme

Poetry Ireland – Day of Poetry 2023

Date: Thursday 27th April

Submission Deadline: 20th April

Poetry Ireland is celebrating poetry in schools by offering this online collection of inspiring activities and ideas for teachers and children. Packed with poems and fun activities, this vibrant online resource encourages teachers, children and families nationwide to read, write, listen to, illustrate, perform, share – and above all enjoy
poetry.

https://www.poetryireland.ie/content/files/Poetry_Day_Resource-2023.pdf

The programme of events is now live on their website. This all-island celebration of poetry takes place on Thursday 27 April and the theme is ‘Message in a Bottle’.

They have more than 70 exciting events included in the programme encompassing Bangor, Belfast, Cork, Donegal, Drogheda, Dublin, Galway, Kerry, Kilkenny, Limerick, Mayo, New York, Tipperary, Waterford and Wexford, so far!

Submissions are still being taken up to Thursday 20th April. Register your Poetry event here: https://www.poetryireland.ie/poetry-day/join-in/registration

You can see the entire programme here https://www.poetryireland.ie/poetry-day/whats-on

Department of Education: BLAST and Creative Clusters

Deadlines:

BLAST: 19th May 2023

Creative Clusters: 12th May 2023

The Minister for Education Norma Foley TD has invited primary and post-primary schools to apply for the arts in education initiative, Bringing Live Arts to Students and Teachers (BLAST) 2023 and Creative Clusters.

BLAST – Bringing Live Arts to Students and Teaches

BLAST will be running in 2023 for the third time. The 2023 programme will enable 425 new arts in education residencies in schools over the course of the year.

The aim of BLAST is to provide pupils in schools all over the country, time and the space to work with a professional artist on creative, imaginative and fun projects.

For Applications in English and Irish, please visit: https://www.edcentretralee.ie/blast.html

The deadline for receipt of applications is 19^th May 2023.

Watch the promotional video for the TAP+ and BLAST initiatives: https://vimeo.com/825074868

Creative Clusters

Each Creative Cluster will receive grant funding of €3,000 per school over a two-year period to implement their project in the 2023–2025 school years (e.g. a cluster of 3 schools would receive €9,000 over two years while a cluster of 5 schools would receive €15,000 over two years). Clusters will receive 50% of the total grant funding in Year 1, with the second 50% being provided in Year 2. In addition, but separate to the grant funding, all successful clusters are further supported with: A fully paid Creative Cluster Facilitator; paid Teacher Substitution to attend training and meetings; room hire, travel & subsistence.

For Applications in English and Irish please visit: https://www.edcentretralee.ie/creative-clusters.html

The deadline for receipt of applications is 12^th May 2023.

For more information on both initiatives please visit: https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/5e9e9-minister-foley-announces-call-for-applications-from-schools-for-blast-2023-and-creative-clusters-initiatives/

Watch the promotional video for theCreative Clusters initiative: https://vimeo.com/825072944

Cork City Council & Leitrim County Council

Deadline: Monday 10th April

Cork City Council Arts Office and Leitrim County Arts Office invite artists with a special interest in arts practice with children and young people to participate in a FREE professional development opportunity.

Supported by The Arts Council Invitation to Collaboration Scheme and taking place throughout May and June, this exciting programme—Social Practice Toolkit: Children and Youth—is aimed at artists and arts workers who are keen to exchange knowledge and upskill in collaborative and participatory arts with children and young people.

The deadline for applications is midnight on Monday 10th April. Please contact sptoolkit2023@gmail.com with any queries.

For more information and to apply, visit:

http://www.leitrimcoco.ie/eng/community-culture/arts/grants-opportunities/social-practice-toolkit-children-youth/social-practice-toolkit-children-youth.html

The Abbey Theatre: Tartuffe – Text to Performance

Dates: Various

Arts in Junior Cycle and the Abbey Theatre are delighted to present Tartuffe: Text to Performance. Open to teachers from all subject disciplines, Tartuffe: Text to Performance consists of an in-person workshop, a performance of Tartuffe and a follow-up online workshop.

In a new adaptation by Frank McGuinness, Molière’s 17th century classic has been updated to an Irish setting and will embrace the comedy’s humour and farce in which the villainous Tartuffe shocks and enthrals with his deceptive powers.

A key part of Tartuffe: Text to Performance includes attending a performance of the Abbey Theatre’s production of Tartuffe, directed by Abbey Theatre artistic director, Caitríona McLaughlin.

Tartuffe: Text to Performance offers opportunities to:

explore how a play in performance communicates its message to an audience.
collaborate, share ideas and reflect in a safe, supportive environment.
experience practical and creative methodologies that may be used in professional classroom practice.

As Tartuffe is an Abbey Theatre touring production, Tartuffe: Text to Performance is being they offered in Donegal and Cork.

Participants will register for ONE of these locations.

DONEGAL :

Saturday 6th May 2023:

Workshop: 10.30am – 1:00pm, Perfomance: 2:30pm

An Grianán Theatre, Letterkenny

Monday 8th May 2023:

Online Workshop: 6:00pm – 7:00pm

CORK :

Saturday 13th May 2023:

Workshop 10.30am – 1:00pm

Cork Education Support Centre

Performance 2.30pm

Cork Opera House

Monday 15th May 2023:

Online Workshop: 6:00pm – 7:00pm

Spaces are limited to a maximum of 20 participants for each workshop venue. A waiting list will apply. Register on www.artsinjuniorcycle.ie

CLOSING DATES FOR REGISTRATIONS: Friday 28 April at 4.30pm (Donegal) and Friday 5 May (Cork) or prior to these dates if the workshops have reached capacity.

The Ark

Dates: Thursday 18th May and Friday 19th May

An exciting new dance piece for children aged 4+ inspired by Aesop’s Fables, presented by The Ark, Dublin Dance Festival and Arts & Disability Ireland.

From acclaimed international choreographer, Marc Brew, The Race entwines three of Aesop’s Fables to create a fun, interactive and colourful world of animals, puppets, theatre and movement.

Cheer with the cast of animals as the Tortoise and the Hare set off for the finish line, join the Grasshopper in gazing with fascination as the Ants collect food for the winter ahead, and root for the little Mouse as she faces down the mighty Lion! Watch as their journeys unfold through beautiful movement and dance, and share in the lessons they learn along the way.

The Race will make its World Premiere as part of Dublin Dance Festival 2023. Presented by a cast of disabled and non-disabled dance artists, all performances have been created to offer an inclusive audience experience. The show is relaxed in nature and welcomes children who are neurodiverse.

School Day Performances
Previews – Thursday 18th May, 10.15am & 12.15pm and Friday 19th May, 10.15am

Fri 19 May, 12.15pm

Schools’ Tickets: €6.50 (€5 Early Bird** if booked by 21 April). Teachers go free.

Book your tickets here: https://ark.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/873634148

Creative Ireland

Creative Ireland have released their 2022 progress report A Creative Future, highlighting their initiatives throughout the year, including progress made under the Creative Youth Plan. Published in December 2017, the aims of the Creative Youth Plan are to give every child practical access to tuition, experience and participation in art, music, drama and coding by 2022.

Catherine Martin TD, Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, was delighted to announce the project will be extended until 2027.

Under the project 185 new schools and Youthreach facilities joined the Creative Schools programme. This includes the addition of four schools in alternative settings which will receive enhanced supports: Oberstown Children Detention Campus School; Ballydowd High Support Special School; Crannog Nua Special School, Portrane; and St Canice’s Special School, Limerick.

Other highlights include :

153 new schools joined 42 Creative Clusters around the country.
629 new school artist residencies were awarded under BLAST (Bringing Live Arts to Students and Teachers) for the 2022/2023 school year

To read the progress report in full see : https://report2022.creativeireland.gov.ie/

To read more about the first 5 years of Creative Youth, see https://www.creativeireland.gov.ie/app/uploads/2022/08/Creative-Youth-Plan-2017-2022.pdf

The Arts Council’s Creative Associates

Deadline: 12 mid-day, Tuesday 18th April 2023

Creative Schools is delighted to announce an exciting opportunity for artists, creative practitioners and individuals working in organisations in the arts and cultural sector.

The Arts Council wish to engage between 100 and 120 Creative Associates to work in up to 400 schools across the Republic of Ireland. Creative Associates are artists or creative practitioners with a deep understanding of creativity and its potential to transform the lives of children and young people. They are key to the success of the Creative Schools initiative. Individuals or organisations that wish to nominate an individual may apply for this opportunity.

Full details on the services and how to apply are available https://www.artscouncil.ie/creative-associate-opportunities/

Applications must be completed and submitted by 12 mid-day on Tuesday 18 April 2023.

Webwise / PDST Technology in Education

Deadline: Friday, 21st April

The Safer Internet Day Awards are back and this year a special new category has been added for budding creatives.

NEW: Art Competition with special guest judge; Irish artist – Maser. Be in with a chance to have your work exhibited in a gallery! Simply design a poster under the Safer Internet Day theme Respect and Empathy Online.

Entries will be judged by International Irish Artist Maser.
Open to Primary and Post-Primary Schools.
Closing date March 31st.

Categories for Primary:

1st and 2nd Class | 3rd and 4th Class | 5th and 6th Class

Categories for Post-Primary:

1st and 2nd Year | Transition Year | 5th and 6th Year

How to submit your entry:

Post your entry to: Webwise / PDST Technology in Education, Innovation House DCU Alpha, Old Finglas Rd, Dublin 11, D11 KXN4

Include the following information: Name, school, teacher’s contact details, category you are entering, and a brief description of the poster.

For full details on the competition see https://www.webwise.ie/saferinternetday/competition/art-competition/

Baboró International Arts Festival for Children

Deadline: Midnight, Monday 10th April

Baboró are inviting applications from multidisciplinary artists with experience working with children for Creating Space, a two-year collaborative project with a Galway primary school that will begin this summer and conclude in 2025.

This is an opportunity for experienced multidisciplinary and performing artists who are passionate about the positive impact the creative arts can make on young lives. The selected artist will design and deliver a plan for creative classroom engagements and activities which will take place from autumn 2023 until spring 2025.

The deadline to apply is Monday 10 April.

To make an application, please visit: https://www.baboro.ie/news-events/creating-space-artist-open-call

If you would like to find out more about Creating Space, you can join Baboró for an online information session via Zoom on Tuesday 21 March at 3pm. RSVP to receive the Zoom link here: https://forms.gle/aCZk1KuYQYW3STkF6

FÍS Film Awards 2023

Cappawhite National School in Tipperary have been crowned winners of ‘FÍS Film of the Year’ at the FÍS Film Awards 2023, which have taken place at The Helix, DCU, Dublin.

The movie, entitled ‘The Christmas Truce of 1914’ recounts the fabled ceasefire between British and German soldiers on the Western Front during World War I. It also scooped the Outstanding Cinematography prize. The FÍS Film Awards 2023 recognises the creative talents of primary school children across Ireland.

The Awards, hosted by RTE’s Sinead Kennedy, is a collaboration between the Institute of Art, Design and Technology and the Professional Development Service for Teachers It was devised as a grassroots initiative to nurture Ireland’s future moviemaking talent by encouraging them to devise, develop, produce, and submit their short films for consideration in a range of categories. The event was co-produced by students of IADT’s National Film School and streamed live on the official FÍS website.

Some other 2023 winners include :

Lackamore NS, Tipperary – Outstanding Achievement in Filmmaking – Adaptation – Na Trí Mhuc
Carrig N.S, Offaly – Award for Best Comedy – The Villains
Strawberry Hill NS, Cork – Outstanding Achievement in Filmmaking – Production Design – The Normans
Gaelscoil Riabhach, Galway – An Scannán Is Fearr as Gaeilge – Fáilte go dtí An Córas Díleá

A montage of all finalists can also be viewed by clicking https://youtu.be/tSNFo0SqLI8

Commenting on this year’s awards, FÍS Manager from The Institute of Art, Design & Technology, Bernadette Meagher said: “The judges had a tough task at this year’s event, the standard and ambition of the entries was so high, not to mention the creativity. We congratulate every one of the children involved, along with their teachers, on their well-deserved awards……”

National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA)

Deadline: 31st March, 5pm

NCCA is seeking the views of a range of parties, including education stakeholders, practising teachers and students who are interested in contributing to this Early Insights Review. There are several ways to participate in the consultation:

Via an Online Survey
Make a written submission, using our template, Visual Art Written Submission” in the subject line.
Register to attend a regional focus group:
Dublin: Ashling Hotel – 21st March
Limerick: Strand Hotel – 14th March
Galway city: Harbour Hotel – 28th March

These focus groups will take place during the day from 10:30am – 1:00pm. Places are limited and registration remains open until one week in advance of each focus group.

This review process will close on Friday, 31st March at 5pm.

For more information see : https://ncca.ie/en/junior-cycle/curriculum-developments/visual-art/

National Museum of Ireland (NMI)

The National Museum of Ireland (NMI) is inviting schools and teachers across Ireland to spring into culture and heritage with a new programme of tours, activities and resources for onsite and online engagement.

The museum has just launched a diverse range of events across four public sites in Dublin and Mayo. Activities include virtual tours, guided tours, self-guided visits, workshops, classroom resources, video resources, wordsearches, arts and crafts and more.

The curriculum-linked programme aims to spark curiosity, stimulate discussion and encourage cultural and heritage engagement through our national collections.

All schools visits are free but must be booked in advance as capacity is limited and varies from site to site.

Primary level: Browse the full spring 2023 programme
Post Primary level: Browse the full spring 2023 programme

Here are some of the highlights of the upcoming schedule.

Orienteering Workshop / Post Primary

Learn some basic map reading and navigation skills and complete an orienteering course around the grounds of the National Museum of Ireland – Country Life at Turlough Park in Co Mayo. Booking is required.

PRIMARY / Classroom activity: Ice Age Ireland – Cool Fossils

Use these curriculum-linked activity sheets and video resource to learn more about Ice Age Ireland. In this museum activity, find out about Ice Age Ireland, learn about fossils and the different kinds of animals that lived on your doorstep thousands of years ago.

For the full programme of activities go to https://www.museum.ie/en-IE/News/Schools-programme-2023

!!!! Blog 4 – Lucy Davey, Educator, Farmyard Miniworld, (Ballintogher Playschool)

Reflection

!!!! Part 1 – Announcing the 2024 Arts in Education Portal Documentation Award Recipients

Project title: Let’s Get Real

The process consists of:

This specific creative & educational process has been led by the learners at their pace, to convey the message that is paramount to them & their peers.

Artist: Ana Colomer

!!!! TAP+ Summer Course: Teacher Registration Open

Department of Education

Deadline: 21st June 2024

The Department of Education has announced TAP+ 2024 Summer Course registration is now open.

Participants create, explore and collaborate to enhance arts and creativity in education through creative process, critical reflection, collaboration and enjoyment.

TAP+ Teacher Registration Flyer

Please use the following link to register for the upcoming TAP+ Summer Course link

Please contact your local Education Support Centre for queries or support, or email National Arts in Education Adminstration, Tralee Education Support Centre at artsineducation@traleeesc.ie.

For more information and to apply, please visit: https://www.edcentretralee.ie/teacher-artist-partnership.html

!!!! TAP+ Summer Course & Residency: Call Out for Artists & Creative Practitioners

Department of Education

Deadline: Friday 7th June 2024

TAP+ Overview

TAP+ 2024 Artist Call-Out flyer

TAP+ Summer Course running 1st to 5th July 2024 in your local Education Support Centre
– Fully paid training to support artists and creative practitioners to work in primary and special schools
TAP+ In-school Residencies
– Bringing learning into practice through creative partnership with teachers and children
– Funded 20-hour residencies in the school year 2024/25
– Access to the BLAST register of creative practitioners to deliver in-school residencies

For further information and the requirements for applying, please visit: https://www.edcentretralee.ie/teacher-artist-partnership.html

!!!! Blog 3 – Lucy Davey, Educator, Farmyard Miniworld, (Ballintogher Playschool)

The Family’s Experience

Some parents are artists themselves and were naturally excited and impressed by the idea. One hundred percent of families gave their consent for their child to take part in the art project.

As the weeks rolled by and the project unfolded I am sure that comments from children at home added detail to parents’ interpretation of what was happening with the artists at playschool.

We have very strong, positive bonds with the families who use our service, we value parental input and encourage open communication between parents and the service providers.

!!!! Creative Ireland Release Review of Creative Youth Plan 2018-2022

Creative Youth

Creative Ireland have released the review of the Creative Youth Plan 2018-2022.

The report is a systematic review of outcomes and trends across the Creative Youth Plan 2017 – 2022.

Read the report in full here: https://www.creativeireland.gov.ie/app/uploads/2025/03/20240327-Creative-Youth-2017-2022-Systematic-Review.pdf

!!!! Deadline Closing for arts & creativity in education initiatives

Department of Education & The Arts Council of Ireland

The application deadline for the following Arts In Education initiatives are closing.

Creative Schools

Deadline: 2nd May 2024

Successful schools will receive €4,000 to implement their plans over the school years 2024–25 and 2025–26.

In addition to downloading and reading the guidelines, you can find out more about the Creative Schools Initiative here.

BLAST

Deadline: 10th May 2024

Please see the following link for BLAST Application Guidelines and further details: https://www.gov.ie/pdf/?file=https://assets.gov.ie/288286/7c65be23-c08f-4dc0-9837-141b6345ad6c.pdf

Creative Clusters

Deadline: 10th May 2024

Up to €575,000 has been made available this year for Creative Clusters and this will enable up to 210 schools to come together across 42 clusters.

Each Creative Cluster will receive grant funding of €3,000 per school over a two-year period to implement their project 2024–2026.

3 schools would receive €9,000
5 schools would receive €15,000

In addition to financial support above each cluster will also receive:

A Creative Cluster Facilitator
Teacher Substitution to attend workshops and meetings
Room hire, travel & subsistence

Please see the following link for more details: Creative Clusters 2024 Department of Education Guidelines

!!!! Have Your Say: NCCA Consults on Five Draft Primary Curriculum Specifications in Arts Education

NCCA

Date: March to June 2024

Here are some of the ways you can get involved and have your say:

Focus Group Events: Online and in-person focus groups will take place for teachers, school leaders and parents. The in-person focus groups will take place across the country.
Questionnaires: There are two online questionnaires, one for education professionals and one for parents. Each should take no more than ten minutes to complete.
Written submissions: Individuals, groups and organisations are invited to make an online written submission on one or more of the Draft Primary Curriculum Specifications.

For more information on the consultation and how you can get involved, please visit their dedicated consultation page.

!!!! Opportunity: Photo Museum Ireland Seek Education Coordinator

Photo Museum Ireland

Closing date: Thursday 25th April 2024

Follow the link to read more and to apply: https://photomuseumireland.ie/we-are-hiring-education-coordinator

!!!! Opportunity: Teacher Artist Partnership+ Summer Course and Residency Programme 2024

Department for Education – TAP+

Minister Foley said: “I hope that this exciting initiative will help teachers and schools to further enhance creativity in their classrooms. It is important that our children are allowed to express themselves and learn to adapt and collaborate.”

!!!! National Opera House Present New Drama For Primary School Children

National Opera House

School Shows: Thursday, 25 & Friday, 26 April, 10am and 12pm

Booking is now open for school performances and public performances of Pegasus The Clothes Horse, which runs at the National Opera House. This play is suitable for young people aged 7-10

Follow the link to book your tickets: https://www.nationaloperahouse.ie/whats-on/show/pegasus-the-clothes-horse

!!!! Teacher’s CPD: Arts & Wellbeing in MTU Crawford College of Art and Design

MTU Crawford College of Art & Design

Application Deadline: 24th April 2024

This course is part-time over the duration of one year.

One Academic Year (Part-time. 1 day twice a month in person, 1 evening online every 2nd week)

Fees €1700

!!!! Fall and Float Dance Show Irish Tour 2024 for schools

Mónica Muñoz Dance

Location and Dates: Various

Mónica Muñoz Dance presents FALL and FLOAT: A Dance show for schools in venues across Ireland recommended for children from age 4+.

The tour takes place in May across selected venues throughout the country:

Schools and Teachers interested in attending should contact their local venue and book directly through their box office. Ticket prices vary, and teachers attend FREE with their classes.

For more information and individual venue links, please visit: https://www.monicamunozdance.com/productions/fall-float

!!!! Blog 2 – Lucy Davey, Educator, Farmyard Miniworld, (Ballintogher Playschool)

The Adult’s Experience

The adult’s experience enhances the child’s experience.

Inviting the artists into our space elevated our practice and energised our thought processes, supporting our continued professional development.

!!!! BLAST Arts & Creativity in Education Residency 2024/2025 Applications Are Now Open

Department of Education: BLAST Initiative

Application Deadline: 10th May 2024

Applications for BLAST are now open.

Minister Foley said: “I am extremely proud to announce the launch of BLAST 2024, which builds on the great success of the BLAST 2021, 2022 and 2023 Programme.”

Please see the following link for BLAST Application Guidelines and further details: https://www.gov.ie/pdf/?file=https://assets.gov.ie/288286/7c65be23-c08f-4dc0-9837-141b6345ad6c.pdf

BLAST Arts & Creativity in Education Residency 2024/2025 apply online here: LINK

!!!! Siamsa Tíre Theatre Host Free ‘Whole Wild World Bus Tour’ Workshop for Children

Siamsa Tíre Theatre & Art Gallery

Dates: 24th April 2024 10am to 11:30am

School groups can join award-winning children’s author Jane Hayes, along with other authors and illustrators for a hands-on workshop designed specifically for young children.

Follow the link for full details and booking: https://siamsatire.com/event/whole-wide-world-bus-tour-laureate-na-nog/

The bus will stop at various schools, follow the link for the full tour. https://childrenslaureate.ie/laureate-projects/whole-wild-world/

!!!! FÍS Film Project Invite Primary Schools to Enter Their Storyboard Storytelling Competition

FÍS FILM Project

Deadline: Friday 19th April 2024 at 5pm

To enter schools should create a storyboard that is a visual interpretation of a story, a concept, a topic, a poem or nursery rhyme. Suggested themes are as follows but not limited to:

Everyday heroes, e.g. ‘a day-in-the-life of someone in your community who supports others
Staycation
Local History / Folklore
As Gaeilge
Curriculum relevant topic, e.g. environmental exploration, climate change, history, science, etc.
Time capsule, e.g. school of the future, letters to grandchildren, a snapshot of time
An adaptation of a traditional story / fairytale with a modern day twist
FÍS film making in schools – what would that be like in the future?
The pupils own original story

Judging Critera Highlights:

When reviewing storyboards submitted to the competition, judges will consider the following:

Excellence in visual interpretation of a story or concept or topic
Excellence in the use of artistic media e.g. a variety of art materials, copyright free images, etc.
Imagination and creativity
Curricular relevance
Support of pupils’ literacy skills development and enhanced learning
Use of different types of shots, i.e. close-ups, mid-shots, long-shots, etc. that help to convey the story
Evidence that the Storyboards could be developed in the future by the class or group into a FÍS film or stop-motion animation project for entry into the 19th Annual FÍS Film Awards competition 2024.

!!!! Kids’ Own Offer Complimentary Books and Teacher Resource to Schools and Educators

Kids’ Own Publishing Partnership

Explore the lives of Roma children with The Real Us. This publication shares their voices, experiences, and ambitions, challenging stereotypes and fostering empathy.

Discover insights from Traveller children with Grow Up Strong. Through narratives and artwork, this publication celebrates their experiences, highlighting the significance of their voices.

Tailored for upper primary and post-primary levels (Junior Cycle), these resources provide valuable perspectives and insights for your students’ educational journey.

Follow the link to read more and request copies for your school. https://kidsown.ie/educators-free-copies-of-grow-up-strong-and-the-real-us-books-and-teacher-resources-available-now/

!!!! Opportunity For Teachers : CPD Courses with Education Support Centres Ireland

Education Support Centres Ireland (ESCI)

Education Support Centres Ireland are offering a selection of CPD courses for teachers. Highlights of courses available are as follows:

Cork Education Support Centre

Course Title: Enriching Learning Through Play – The Power of Drama Games in your Classroom
Location: Online
Date: 10 April 2024
Level: Primary

Read more and register here: https://www.cesc.ie/primary-courses/3022-24-5938-spr-enriching-learning-through-play.html

Wexford Education Support Centre

Course Title: Senior Cycle Poetry
Location : Online
Date: 30 April 2024
Level: Post primary

Join facilitator Deidre Carroll in this CPD Course by Wexford Education Support Centre.

Looking at Language – What is required in a Comprehension exercise? Writing style – what is it? How to write an impactful piece. The composition – what to choose, what to write.

Drumcondra Education Support Centre

Course Title: Let’s Play
Location : Online
Date: 30 April 2024
Level: Primary and Post primary

This is a great opportunity to bring hands-on, interactive learning into your classroom.

Blackrock Education Centre

Course Title: Sensory Arts for SEN
Location : Online
Date: 07 May 2024
Level: Primary, Special Education

!!!! Catalyst International Film Festival Hosts Screening The Future Student Day

Catalyst International Film Festival

Date: 18th April 2024

Booking is now open for Catalyst International Film Festival’s Screening The Future Student Day. The event will include a full day of film for Second Level Students plus:

Read more and book tickets here: https://catalystinternationalfilmfestival.com/student-day-2024

!!!! Call for presentations and workshops: Portal Spring Regional Day 2024

Deadline extended: 5th April 2024

The event aims to connect teachers, artists, arts managers and anyone with an interest in art and creativity in education based in the counties around Sligo, Mayo, Donegal, Leitrim and Roscommon.

Application Information:

The programme includes two project presentations with up to two presenters.
Two creative workshops with one facilitator will be selected.
All Speakers and Creative workshop facilitators must be based in the North-West Region (Donegal, Leitrim, Mayo, Roscommon and Sligo).
Deadline: 5pm, 5th April 2024

Proposals should be submitted via Google Forms, click here to access the form.

!!!! Blog 1 – Lucy Davey, Educator, Farmyard Miniworld (Ballintogher Playschool)

The Children at the Centre

!!!! Arts for transformative education: A guide for teachers from the UNESCO Associated Schools Network

UNESCO

This publication provides:

12 ‘learning experience descriptions’ illustrating how the Arts for Transformative Education model works in real-world learning.
12 ‘learning experience snapshots’ providing shorter additional examples.
‘Guidelines for teachers’ outlining a step-by-step process for activating arts learning to empower transformative education.

For more information and to download the guide please visit https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/arts-transformative-education-guide-teachers-unesco-associated-schools-network

!!!! Cork County Council’s Library and Arts Service Seeks Creative Facilitators and Musicians

Cork County Council Library and Arts Service

Deadline: Friday 15th March 2024 at 5pm

Cork County Council’s Library and Arts Service is seeking creative facilitators and musicians to work with them over the next two years.

This is an invitation for

Musicians who are interested in performing in community settings, including schools, libraries, care homes etc. as part of the Council’s Arts Activity Programme.
Arts Facilitators working in any medium, for example visual arts, literature, or crafts, interested in delivering workshops and co-creating once off and medium-term quality arts projects with people of all ages, as part of the Council’s Arts Activity Programme.

Cork County Council’s Arts Office is now updating this panel for arts facilitators, also extending the call to musicians.

!!!! JCSP Libraries SNAP Photography Challenge

JCSP Libraries

Closing date : 15th March 2024

The Challenge is open to students in all post-primary JCSP/DEIS schools and that winners will be selected in 3 categories:

1. Junior

2. TY and Senior

3. Special Needs

HOW TO ENTER:

This exciting new photography competition is open to students in 2nd Level JCSP and DEIS schools across Ireland.
There will be three prizes categories: Junior Cycle, Senior Cycle, Special Needs.
Each school can submit a maximum of 5 entries per category.
All entries must be the original work of the students.
All entries must be submitted via the school and using the official entry form. Students should not submit entries directly.
Send a digital file or make a scan of all of your student entries and send them to info@jcsplibraries.ie along with a copy of the entry form detailing your school and participating students’ details.

Read more and download the entry form here https://jcsplibraries.com/2024/02/01/jcsp-libraries-snap-photography-challenge/

!!!! Barnstorm Theatre presents new work for Junior Cert Students

Barnstorm Theatre Company

Dates: Thursday 29th February & Fri 1st March 2024

This is a great opportunity for students to see the characters, themes, and language of the play in action, and to have fun while learning.

School performances take place on Thursday 29th Feb and Friday 1st March at 10:30am.

School group tickets are only €12 per person (teachers go free).

You can book online https://www.watergatetheatre.com/whats-on/events/the-importance-of-being-earnest-by-oscar-wilde or call the Watergate Theatre on 056 7761674.

!!!! Self-Determination: A Global Perspective exhibition and resources at IMMA

IMMA

Date: until 21st April 2024

Exhibition Resources

The Self-Determination exhibition provides resources for students and teachers to engage with. These include:

Art and Self-Determination: A Reader is comprised of essays and poems alongside an introduction to the exhibition and a selection of artwork. It is available to purchase through the IMMA Shop or as a free pdf.
The exhibition also includes a useful timeline of social, political and cultural events in Ireland and throughout the states that emerged in the aftermath of World War 1, from 1913 to 1939.

To receive the free Timeline and the Reader as a PDF contact mark.maguire@imma.ie

Conference: 100 years of Self-Determination – available to watch back are key papers presented by invited speakers and researchers responding to themes of Self-Determination.
Podcast: IMMA Past Futures – a related podcast series on the shared site histories of IMMA / RHK is available to listen.

To access these resources and read more about the exhibition, please visit: https://imma.ie/whats-on/self-determination-a-global-perspective/

Self-determinaton: A Global Perspective runs until the 21^st April 2024. Book tickets to a free guided tour on immatours.ticketsolve.com.

!!!! Opportunity for Artists: Funding Opportunities for Artists in Schools Announced for Cork County

Cork County Council Arts Serive

Dealine : 9th January 2024

Cork County Council supports artists, schools, and arts and community organisations in the Cork County administrative area annually through the following grant assistance schemes:

ARTS GRANT SCHEME

ARTISTS IN SCHOOLS SCHEME

The Artists in Schools Scheme enables primary and post-primary students and teaching staff to work collaboratively with an artist working in any artform on a creative project.

All Department of Education and Skills-recognised primary and post-primary schools and Youthreach centres in Cork County are eligible to apply.

Applications can be made online until the 9th of January 2024. Guidelines and further information is available here: https://www.corkcoco.ie/en/resident/arts/arts-funding-opportunities

For queries, email arts@corkcoco.ie or call 021- 4346210.

!!!! Blog 3 – Lorna Watkins, Visual Artist and TAP+ Tutor

Self-care and Textiles

!!!! Opportunity For Schools: Solstice Arts Centre Gallery Tours Using VTS

Solstice Arts Centre

School Gallery Tours using VTS

DATE : Tuesdays – Fridays, various times available during exhibitions.

Broaden creative thinking through oral and visual literacy by exploring works in the Solstice Art’s Centre gallery spaces.

Booking: free, booking essential, duration: 60mins. For all queries & booking please contact Deirdre: deirdre.rogers@solsticeartscentre.ie

!!!! Opportunity for Schools: On-site Tour of The Dead Zoo in Irish

National Museum of Ireland

Date: Thursday 16^th November 2023
Times: 10am & 11.30am

Includes curriculum linked themes such as biodiversity, ecology, endangerment and extinction.

On completion of this live session students should be able to:

Identify wildlife and biodiversity of Ireland
Describe animal adaptations and their habitats
Explain local and global environmental issues, such as threats to species and habitats
Define conservation and outline actions that help protect biodiversity
Summarise the role of a science museum and how collections are preserved for display and scientific research

On the tour learn about:

How the giant Irish deer became extinct 10,500 years ago in Ireland
A seven metre long basking shark that was caught off the west coast of Ireland over 150 years ago
The ecology of different Irish sea birds and the threats the face
The Wonder Cabinet and see up close the different predators and prey on display, including the fossil jawbone of an Irish hyena!

Level: 3rd Class – 6th Class
Duration: 45 mins
Capacity: One class per session

Before your visit

Prepare the class for the tour. Give pupils an idea of what to expect to see or have a discussion about the Museum in advance of the visit.

Why not take a 3D virtual tour of the NMI – Natural History in the classroom with your students

Places are limited. To enquire about booking a facilitated visit for your class please complete this enquiry form.

After your visit

After the session, Teachers will be sent via email a number of fun follow-up learning activities in Irish for pupils to explore in the classroom.

Please note: The teacher will remain with the class throughout the duration of the tour.

!!!! Mixing Moments – An LCYP-ETB exhibition at Kerry County Museum

Kerry County Museum

Date: Saturday November 11^th until January 5^th 2024.

For further information, please contact:

Deirdre Enright, Creative Youth Co-Ordinator, Kerry ETB

email denright@kerryetb.ie Mobile: 085 8734946 See www.kerryetb.ie

!!!! Opportunity for Teachers: Oide Creativity Autumn/Winter Workshops

OIDE Creativity

Dates: Various

OIDE Creativity have released various dates for their creative and engaging workshops for teachers this autumn and winter.

The courses include:

Unlocking Shakespeare: The Merchant of Venice

Oide Creativity in collaboration with voice specialist Andrea Ainsworth, presents a one-day elective workshop, open to post-primary teachers from all subject disciplines.

This workshop offers participants an opportunity to:

focus on a prescribed Shakespeare play (junior cycle English)
experience practical, creative ways to lift Shakespeare’s language off the page and into action
reflect on how the workshop may support professional classroom practice and approaches to Classroom-Based Assessments (CBAs).

Get your World Turning With woodturner Willie Creighton

Oide Creativity and Oide Technology Subjects, in collaboration with woodturner Willie Creighton, present a one-day elective workshop, open to post-primary teachers from all subject disciplines.

This practical workshop offers participants an opportunity to:

experience exciting ways to create wood turned artefacts
discover the natural properties and aesthetics of wood through the craft
develop practical and creative approaches that may be used in classroom practice.

Page Turners

These three writing workshops offer participants an opportunity to:

collaborate, share ideas, learn and reflect in a safe, supportive environment
learn practical, creative teaching methods
discuss writing tips, writing groups, and author visits.

Spaces are limited for each workshop. A waiting list will apply.

For more information on workshops, dates and to book your place, please visit: https://www.creativity.oide.ie

!!!! Blog 2 – Lorna Watkins, Visual Artist and TAP+ Tutor

Threading needles with Youthreach

!!!! Opportunity for Schools: Fighting Words Workshop for Schools At Riverbank Arts Centre

Riverbank Arts Centre

Secondary Schools – Monday 6th November, Monday 4th December 2023 at 10.30am

Primary Schools – 27th November, 11th December 2023 at 10.30am

Please contact Theresa 045 448327, or email boxoffice@riverbank.ie to book your workshop.

!!!! Cork International Film Festival Schools Programme 2023

Cork International Film Festival

Locations: The Everyman Theatre – 13th to 17th November 2023, Gate Cinemas Midleton and Mallow – 20th to 24th November 2023, The Reel Cinema Ballincollig – 20th to 24th November 2023

Cork International Film Festival are presenting a diverse and exciting programme of films for young people as part of their Festival Schools Programme in November. Screenings include:

TY and Leaving Cert || Green Screen – Environmental Activism:
Fashion Reimagined

Special Event – Screening + Q&A with Special Guests || Everyman Theatre Only
Becky Hutner || UK, USA || 2022 || 100 mins || TY and up || Documentary

Junior Cert French: The Little Gang (La Petite Bande)

Pierre Salvadori || France || 2022 || 106 mins || Drama || French, Subtitled

Leaving Cert German: Run Lola Run (Lola Rennt)

Tom Tykwer || Germany || 1998 || 81 mins || Thriller || German, Subtitled

Junior and Senior Cycle French, Spanish and German language films are available. For the full programme and accompanying study guides, please visit https://corkfilmfest.org/schools-programme-2023/

Each student ticket is €7.00 (€6.50 DEIS school discount) accompanying teachers can attend free of charge.

To inquire about the screenings’ schedule and for bookings, please contact schools@corkfilmfest.org

!!!! 2023 National Portal Day – Programme Announced

Unveiling the 2023 National Arts in Education Portal Day Programme.

Ticket Booking Now Open!

View the 2023 Programme HERE

How to Book Tickets

Tickets for the 2023 National Arts in Education Portal Day are free but pre-booking is essential as capacity is limited.

For further enquiries please contact events@artsineducation.ie.

Book Tickets HERE

!!!! Get Ready for the 2023 National Arts in Education Portal Day!

Ticket Booking Opens on 12th October!

Ticket booking for the Arts in Education 2023 National Portal Day will open on 12th October.

Sneak Peek at the 2023 National Arts in Education Portal Day Programme

Presentation & Discussion: Seen and Heard – Refracting responses of children to a school-based theatre workshop and arising implications for the Arts and Education sectors

Ticket bookings open at 12 noon, Thursday 12th October 2023. Tickets are free but pre booking is essential as capacity is limited.

For further enquiries please contact events@artsineducation.ie.

!!!! Barnstorm Theatre Company Presents Noah Barleywater Runs Away

Barnstorm Theatre Company

Dates: Monday 16th October, 11.30am, Tuesday to Friday 20th October 10am and 12pm

Barnstorm Theatre Company in Kilkenny City will launch its latest world-premiere at the Watergate Theatre this October and invites schools to attend matinee performances.

Cost: School Groups €10 (teachers go free)

Book tickets online HERE

Or call the Watergate Theatre on 056 7761674.

!!!! Opportunity For Teachers: Teaching Creative Skills Programme by The Big Idea

The Big Idea

Deadline: Open

There will be a free B!G Idea Learning Pack given to every student, which includes all the materials needed to engage in the programme.

Visit the link for more information and to apply for your school https://thebigidea.ie/teachers/

!!!! Blog 1 – Lorna Watkins, Visual Artist and TAP+ Tutor

In the first of a new guest blog series, artist Lorna Watkins talks about her thoughts and experiences on her TAP placement.

New Beginnings

My studio work is cyclical, I tend to make more work during the winter than the summer as I’m a Mammy too, with kids off school it’s harder to to get to the studio every day.

So artists out there. If you’ve ever wondered about Arts in Education, please go to your local Education Centre and enquire about the TAP+ CPD Summer Course.

It can change everything!

!!!! Dr. Jill Goodwin Announced As Keynote Speaker for 2023 National Arts In Education Portal Day

Dr Jill Goodwin

These events bring together members of the arts in education community from all across Ireland, to share, learn, talk, network, get inspired, and continue interrogating best practice in the field.

For further enquiries please contact events@artsineducation.ie.

!!!! Baboró Publish LEAP Report and Findings

Baboró International Arts Festival For Children

For a short executive summary of this report, and their learnings from the pilot LEAP programme, download the document below.

Download the LEAP Learnings here

Read The Full Report

Download the complete LEAP Report here

!!!! Opportunity for Schools: Applications Open For National Heritage Keepers Programme

Burrenbeo Trust

Application Deadline: 12th October

!!!! Teachers’s CPD: Úlla Buaille – New Songs for the Classroom in Irish at The Ark

The Ark

Date: Saturday 21 Oct at 10.30am – 12.30pm

Cost: €20 (€18 for ArkEd Members)

Book your ticket here: https://ark.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/873639444

!!!! Keystone by Art School; An Exhibition of Moving Image at The Courthouse Gallery

The Courthouse Gallery and Studios, Ennistymon

Date : 8th – 29th September

Keystone is supported by Clare Arts Office and the Arts Council.

The project was a recipient of the 2023 Arts in Education Documentation Award

!!!! Opportunities and Events For Teachers and Artists at Solstice Arts Centre

Solstice Arts Centre

Solstice Arts Centre have a number of upcoming events and opportunities for teachers, artists and schools.

Opportunity; An introduction to the gallery for educators & artists

Date: 3rd October 2023 at 4pm

Solstice Gallery are offering teachers, lecturers, teaching artists, youth workers or community leaders an opportunity to learn more about the gallery and what it can offer your class or group.

School Gallery VTS Tours

Dates: Tuesdays – Fridays, various times available.

Price: free, booking essential, duration: 90mins

Sensory Connections

Dates: Wed 6, 13 Sept/4, 11, 18, 25 Oct, 8/ 15 Nov/ 6, 13 Dec.

Read more about the event here: https://solsticeartscentre.ie/event/sensory-connections-1

For all queries and bookings email Deirdre: deirdre.rogers@solsticeartscentre.ie

!!!! Blog 4 – Coláiste Muire (Ennis) and Scoil Mhuire (Ennistymon), Co. Clare

Our Voices

!!!! Call for Papers, Presentations and Workshops! 2023 National Arts in Education Portal Day

Arts in Education Portal

Deadline: Friday 15 September 2023

Artists, teachers, academics and arts education professionals….Do you want to be part of the eighth annual National Arts in Education Portal Day?

Do you have a workshop or presentation that you would like to be included in the programme for this day? If so, please send us your proposal.

The deadline for submission of proposals is 5pm Friday 15th September 2023.

Proposals should be submitted via Google Forms, click here to access the form.

!!!! Opportunity for Teacher Creative Associates: Creative Schools

Creative Schools

Deadline: 31st August 2023

It is expected that up to 10 to 15 Teacher Creative Associates will be engaged to deliver services. Each associate will be partnered with one school within one the following regions:

Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Monaghan, Sligo
Mayo, Roscommon, Galway
Laois, Longford, Offaly, Westmeath
Kildare, Louth, Meath, Wicklow
Dublin
Carlow, Kilkenny, Wexford, Waterford
Cork, Kerry,
Clare, Tipperary, Limerick

Follow the link to apply: https://form.jotform.com/232194890105354

For more information please visit: https://www.artscouncil.ie/creative-associate-opportunities/

!!!! Baboró Share First Look at their 27th Annual Festival Programme

Baboró International Arts Festival

Date: Friday 13th to Sunday 22nd October 2023

Deadline for Schools Application: Friday 8th September

Baboró share a first look at the highlights of their upcoming 27th annual festival.

Schools

All schools and group bookings via the Online Booking Request form, available below from Monday 21 August. https://www.baboro.ie/schools/schools

Contact the Schools Box Office on schools@baboro.ie or 091 532 985.

See more on the festival here : https://www.baboro.ie/news-events/2023-sneak-peek

!!!! Opportunity for Teachers and/or Artists: Online Photography Learning Resource with Source Magazine

Source Magazine

Date: Ongoing

Portraiture & the Human Form: Portraiture has been an important part of art for centuries and photography has given the genre new opportunities. This essay looks at how portraiture photography compares and how it can reveal the private lives of its subjects, show their emotional states and personalities. We might see ourselves reflected in some!
Exterior & Interior Spaces: Many photographers concentrate on landscapes and cityscapes, along with interior spaces such as bedrooms, shared domestic spaces or parts of public buildings. They can make familiar places look strange and make the unfamiliar seem welcoming. After seeing many of the photographs included, we may see our own surroundings a little differently!
Documentary & Narrative The many forms of documentary photography often record everyday aspects of our lives, such as work or play, or it can be used to help professionals in many fields to do their work. For some, this is an opportunity to tell stories about how we live our lives. At times, this is an area where making art and documenting the world around us often cross over, making this, for many people, the most exciting area of photography to pursue or to look at!

Teachers can email research@source.ie to obtain a free digital subscription to Source, which includes access to the digital archive of the last 47 issues.

For more information please visit: https://www.source.ie/learning/index.html

!!!! Opportunity for Creative Practitioners: Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council

Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council (DLR)

Deadline for applications: 16th August 2023 at 12pm

The fees are €60 per hour for facilitation; with an additional €500 payment for research and €250 for blogging about the programme. Payments will also be available for coming to three scheduled meetings with all the artists and teachers during each project. Five meetings with the teacher outside of contact hours with the class will be paid for, if these are required (these can be phone meetings or in person).
The two emerging creative practitioners will be expected to work with a mentor who will support and assist their development. It is envisioned that this will be four sessions, two in the classroom and two outside.

To apply please email your application to mdavey@dlrcoco.ie with the subject line dlr Primary Arts

For further details please visit:www.dlrcoco.ie/sites/default/files/2023-07/dlr%20Primary%20Arts%20Programme%202023%20to%202024_0.pdf

!!!! Teacher’s CPD: Dance in Primary Schools with Ballet Ireland

Ballet Ireland

Dates: 3rd – 7th July 2023

Teachers are introduced to the fundamental aspects of dance education, including:

class structure
an understanding of anatomy in relation to dance
how music is used, composed, and selected for dance
how dance relates to drama and narrative
expression

Optional follow up days are held during mid-term breaks in autumn and spring (at DanceHouse, Dublin) and ongoing support is available through closed social media groups.

Cost of the course: €125

For more information and to register for the course please visit: https://www.balletireland.ie/join-in/teachers-week/

!!!! Applications Open for Art and Wellbeing Course for Teachers at MTU

MTU Crawford College of Art and Design

Deadline: Open for the summer.

The course duration is one academic year, part-time, one day twice a month in person, one evening online every second week. The fee for the course is €1700.

For enquiries, contact: Avril O’Brien, Department of Arts in Health and Education. Email: avril.obrien@mtu.ie

Apply here: https://www.mtu.ie/courses/craarwe9/

!!!! Uillinn: Brightlines – Children’s exhibition of work

Uillinn: West Cork Arts Centre

DATE: 3rd June – 1st July 2023

Altogether 100 students from 1st – 6th class worked on Bright lines. An exhibition of their work is currently on view until 1st July 2023.

To read more please visit: https://www.westcorkartscentre.com/schools-archive

!!!! Blog 1 – Coláiste Muire (Ennis) and Scoil Mhuire (Ennistymon), Co. Clare

A Coláiste Muire Collective

!!!! Primary School FÍS Film Awards 2023 Open for Entries

FÍS Film Awards

Deadline: 30th June 2023 at 5pm

Judging Criteria Highlights:

Imagination and creativity
Originality of the story
Curricular relevance (include details of subject/strand/strand unit where relevant)
Support of pupils’ literacy and/or numeracy skills development
Excellence in set design, costume design, film direction, film production, the use of sound, acting, cinematography, etc
Excellence in the art of storytelling
Excellence in the use of special techniques, e.g., animation or special effects
Excellence in visual interpretation of a story or concept

Full details of Rules & Guidelines and Judging Criteria are available at https://fisfilmproject.ie/competition/rules/ and https://fisfilmproject.ie/competition/judging_criteria/

You can submit your entry via https://fisfilmproject.ie/competition

!!!! Applications Open for Creativity and Change at MTU

Creativity and Change at MTU

Application Deadline: 22nd June 2023

What you can expect from the programme:

Participate in a transformative experience in global citizenship education
Examine your place in our interconnected, rapidly-changing and unequal world
Explore issues affecting the world and make connections between local and global
Reflect on the values, actions and behaviours of global citizens
Develop skills in facilitating meaningful dialogue, collaborative arts processes and transformative learning
Boost your creative confidence through participating in workshops including movement, theatre and street art
Put your learning and passion into practice to engage others on a journey of transformation and growth as global citizens
Build a toolkit of exercises to design and facilitate learning processes to nurture global citizenship
Apply Design Thinking to develop creative actions in imaginative learning environments
Connect your passions to take action for change
Recognise that small actions can have big impacts
Plug into a network of people passionate about creativity, learning and changemaking

Duration: One weekend per month from September 2023 to May 2024

Location: Munster Technological University (MTU) Crawford College of Art and Design

Course fee: €680 (subsidised by funding from Irish Aid)

For further information and to apply visit: https://www.cit.ie/course/CRACRCH9

!!!! Barboró Arts Festival launch their Five Year Strategic Plan

Baboró International Arts Festival for Children

Baboró has announced the launch of their Strategic Plan for 2023-2027 highlighting their vision for the future, and their ambitions for the next five years.

Baboró’s Strategic Goals:

Goal One:
Their annual Festival continues to be Baboró’s beating heart – a celebration of all their work and a gathering place for their community.

Goal Two:
Children in all their diversity and brilliance will be at the centre of their programmes and activities.

Goal Three:
Artists will be supported to make exciting, innovative work for children and young people.

Goal Four:
The environmental and biodiversity crisis will be reflected in the way they work and the stories they tell.

Goal Five:
Invest in their staff team and build a resilient organisation that reflects the breadth and quality of their work.

For further information visit www.baboro.ie or to read the full strategy go to www.baboro.ie/content/files/Baboro-2023-2027-Strategy.pdf

!!!! Summer CPD for Teachers: A Visual Arts Approach in the Classroom with The Ark

The Ark

Date: 14th – 18th August 2023

Join artist Jole Bortoli at The Ark for this hugely popular hands-on, creative course focusing on a visual arts approach to exploring narrative, literacy & other subjects.

TICKETS

€100/€90 (For ArkEd Members)

DURATION

Five day course – teachers must commit to all five days.

This is a five-day Department of Education EPV-approved summer course for teachers.

Suitable for all levels of experience.

Book your tickets here: https://ark.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows

!!!! Sign up for Arts In Junior Cycle Elective Courses!

Arts in Junior Cycle

Dates: Various

Arts in Junior Cycle have an extensive range of elective courses available to book for post-primary School teachers. Please see a selection of the course available below.

Lights, Camera, Action! A film production workshop

Date: Wednesday 7th, Thursday 8th and Friday 9th June

Times: 10.30am – 4pm

Location: Kilkenny Education Centre

This Arts in Junior Cycle workshop with Young Irish Film Makers (YIFM) in Kilkenny Education Centre will provide participants with an opportunity to:

understand how camera tells a story and consider film as visual language
engage in the three phases of production from concept to realisation, including: story-boarding, scripting, devising shot lists, filming, editing and creating a final rough cut
learn techniques to support classroom engagement with film-making across a range of contexts, including free software and using smart phones to film

This in-person workshop is open to junior cycle teachers of all subjects and disciplines.

Figurative Oil Painting workshop

Dates: Monday 19th and Tuesday 20th June

Times: 10.30am – 3.30pm

Location: Royal Hibernian Academy of Arts (RHA), Dublin

This Arts in Junior Cycle workshop with visual artist Blaise Smith in the RHA will provide participants with an opportunity to:

explore basic technical and material skills to underpin a professional painting practice
examine how compositional tools such as the Golden Mean and the Rule of Thirds are utilsed in traditional and contemporary oil painting
use a limited palette to create layers and flesh tones
explore basic anatomical structure of the human figure

Open to junior cycle teachers of all subject disciplines.

Do Your Own Thing! A workshop to explore the creative process

Dates: Thursday 22nd and Friday 23rd June

Time: 10.30am – 4.00pm

Location: Irish Museum of Modern Art

Arts in Junior Cycle in partnership with visual artist threadstories and writer and poet Colm Keegan offer a two-day workshop in The Irish Museum of Modern Art.

In this hands-on and practical workshop, participants will:

engage in an open-ended exploration of word and image, using a variety of art-making materials and writing prompts
consider their own relationship to education, art and self-expression
gain insights into the creative processes of a visual artist and a writer
explore IMMA and use it as a source of inspiration
discuss possible approaches to a range of stimuli
collaborate in a safe, supportive and experiential environment

Visit the link below for full details and to register www.artsinjuniorcycle.ie

!!!! Minister Catherine Martin launches Cruinniú na nÓg 2023

Creative Ireland Programme

Date: 10th June 2023

Announcing Cruinniú na nÓg 2023, Minister Martin said:

The Creative Ireland Programme and its strategic partners have developed a number of creative projects, all planned to go live on Saturday 10^th June 2023. These include:

Cruinniú na nÓg 2023 Ambassadors

This year, Creative Ireland have asked five wonderful young people to represent Cruinniú na nOg 2023 to inspire others with their creative energy and skills.

RTÉ is supporting Cruinniú na nÓg with a nationwide campaign on television, radio, online and digital.

For full events listings and further information go to: https://cruinniu.creativeireland.gov.ie/

!!!! 2023 Creative Schools Initiative open for applications

Arts Council of Ireland

Application Deadline: Thursday 15 June 2023 at 5.30pm

Maximum Award: with €4,000

Creative Schools supports primary and post-primary schools and Youthreach centres across Ireland to put arts and creativity at the heart of children’s and young people’s lives.

Application guidelines 2023

Information clinics

Please join one of our online information clinics to find out more.

Monday 15 May 2023 at 16.00-17.00. Book tickets here.
Tuesday 16 May 2023 at 16.00-17.00. Book tickets here.

!!!! School Tours and Workshops at The Hunt Museum

The Hunt Museum

Dates: Ongoing

Join The Hunt Museum for a range of options of tours and workshops in the museum, and online resources for learners of all ages including lesson plans, videos and activities.

Some highlights of the workshops include:

Primary:

Life in the Bronze Age

Duration: 60 minutes

Animal Hunt Online Programme

Date: Watch video to your schedule

Post-Primary

800 Years of Fashion Workshop

Duration: 60mins

€3.50 euro per student. Teachers go free!

To book, email educationoffice@huntmuseum.com

To see all workshops and tours for schools visit: https://www.huntmuseum.com/schools/

!!!! Get ready for Creative Schools Week 2023!

Creative Schools

Date: 8th-12th May

If your school is already in the Creative Schools initiative, this week is a great time to celebrate your journey so far!

Watch a video on Creative Schools Week 2021 Online Celebration: Episode 1 here: Creative Schools Week 2021 Online Celebration: Episode 1 – Primary

For FAQ’s about Creative Schools Weeks visit: https://www.artscouncil.ie/creative-schools/creative-schools-week-2023-faq/#faq1

!!!! The Ark Presents A Schools Visual Art Workshop: My Own Folktale

The Ark: A Cultural Centre for Children

Dates: June, various

Dates: Wed 7 – Fri 9th, Tue 13th – Fri 16th & Tue 20th – Fri 23rd June

Times: 10.15am & 12.15pm

Cost: Schools: €6.50 (€5 Early Bird*). Teachers go free.

Suitable For: 1st – 6th Classes

For more information on the workshop and to book visit: https://ark.ie/events/view/schools-my-own-folktale

!!!! Join Creative Futures Webinar on Creative Uses for Immersive Technology

Creative Futures Academy

Date: Wednesday, 10th May 2023

Creative Futures Academy at IADT invites you to join their upcoming webinar on creative uses for immersive technology.

Are you looking to explore how immersive technologies can be used to enhance learning and creativity? Join their upcoming webinar, Immersive Technologies Use Cases for Learning and Creativity.

Book your place now via Eventbrite or by emailing iadt@creativefutures.ie

Find out more about the speakers here: https://creativefuturesacademy.ie/events/webinar-immersive-technologies-use-cases-for-learning-and-creativity/

!!!! Join The Erasmus+ Online eTwinning Schools Conference

Erasmus+

The Online eTwinning Schools Conference

Date: 24th-26th May 2023.

The overall goal of the conference is to identify, highlight, share, promote, disseminate and further establish the practices of eTwinning Schools that focus on creativity and well-being.

Days 2 and 3 will be closed only to eTwinning registered participants.

!!!! Mayo Education Centre: Creative Arts Session for Teachers

Mayo Education Centre

Date: 30th May 2023

Participants will work with a variety of materials including; clay, inks, paint, card and materials from nature.

It is aimed at teachers of all levels of experience and is suitable for teachers in junior and senior classes.

Learning outcomes

• Learn new and easy ways to incorporate natural materials into the classroom.

• Gain knowledge on contemporary artists who explore their environment and use natural materials in their work.

• Explore hands on craft processes that will promote wellbeing and encourage the classroom to respond, explore and interpret the season in a visual and creative way.

Date: 30th May, 7pm – 9pm

Fee: Free

To Book: https://mayoeducationcentre.ie/

!!!! Creative Writing Workshops for Teachers with Arts in Junior Cycle

Arts In Junior Cycle

Date: Wed 3 May 2023

Time: 5:00pm – 6:30pm

Venue: Zoom

Arts in Junior Cycle are hosting a creative writing workshop for Teachers. Knights of the Borrowed Dark: Approaches to Story writing with award-winning author Dave Rudden.

During this workshop participants will:

use the Knights of the Borrowed Dark as a starting point, learn how to, craft ideas into stories and develop sustainable writing practices
explore how to create and describe the characters and structure of a story
develop a plan to write a ‘draft zero’ of your own novel or short story
collaborate, share ideas, and reflect in a safe, supportive workshop space
experience practical and creative methodologies that can be used / put to use in professional classroom practice.

Spaces are limited. A waiting list will apply. Register on www.artsinjuniorcycle.ie

!!!! Irish Architecture Foundation Open Call for Schools

Irish Architecture Foundation (IAF)

Application Deadline: 9 June 2023 – 6 pm

The Irish Architecture Foundation has opened a call for schools to participate in their TY Architects in Schools Programme 2023/24.

Dates, times and workshop duration will be arranged directly between the designated teacher / TY coordinator and the assigned architect.

Workshops must take place between 1 September 2023 and 22 March 2024.

There are two options for participation:

Option A: Full Programme

30 schools can participate in the full programme (12 hours of workshops per school, with an architect / architectural graduate).

Option B: Introductory Programme

40 additional schools can avail of introductory workshops (1 x 3 hour workshop per school, with an architect / architectural graduate).

To apply and find out more visit: https://architecturefoundation.ie/news/architects-in-schools-open-call-for-schools-2023-24/

!!!! The Ark is hosting CPD Courses for Teachers

The Ark

Dates: Saturday 13 May 10.30am – 12.30pm

Tickets: €20 (€18 for ArkEd Members)

In this CPD workshop for primary teachers, textile artist and educator Gabi McGrath will introduce participants to the art of felting and explore ways to bring their learning into their classroom.

A designer, craft teacher, maker and curator, Gabi will introduce her textile practice to participants and share a selection of projects that she has undertaken with schools.

Over the course of this two-hour workshop, Gabi will help you develop skills, techniques and processes that can be integrated into your lesson plans and adapted for students of all ages.

To Book https://ark.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/873635778

!!!! National Gallery of Ireland Schools Programme 2023

National Gallery of Ireland (NGI)

The National Gallery of Ireland have released their spring programme for schools. Some highlights include:

ONSITE:

School Tour: Collection highlights (free)

Term Time. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays at 10am, 11am, 12pm and 1pm

The school tours are free but booking is essential. Book your tour here

Sketching Tour (€35)

Term Time. Thursdays at 12.30pm

Booking is essential. Book your sketching tour online

ONLINE:

Gallery in the Classroom (free)

Term Time. Monday- Friday at 12pm.

Book an online Gallery in the Classroom session

For more information on all on offer this spring at NGI please visit https://www.nationalgallery.ie/explore-and-learn/schools/schools-programme

!!!! Poetry Day Ireland 2023 Events Programme Announced

Poetry Ireland – Day of Poetry 2023

Date: Thursday 27th April

Submission Deadline: 20th April

https://www.poetryireland.ie/content/files/Poetry_Day_Resource-2023.pdf

The programme of events is now live on their website. This all-island celebration of poetry takes place on Thursday 27 April and the theme is ‘Message in a Bottle’.

Submissions are still being taken up to Thursday 20th April. Register your Poetry event here: https://www.poetryireland.ie/poetry-day/join-in/registration

You can see the entire programme here https://www.poetryireland.ie/poetry-day/whats-on

!!!! Minister Foley announces call for applications from schools for BLAST 2023 and Creative Clusters initiatives

Department of Education: BLAST and Creative Clusters

Deadlines:

BLAST: 19th May 2023

Creative Clusters: 12th May 2023

BLAST – Bringing Live Arts to Students and Teaches

BLAST will be running in 2023 for the third time. The 2023 programme will enable 425 new arts in education residencies in schools over the course of the year.

The aim of BLAST is to provide pupils in schools all over the country, time and the space to work with a professional artist on creative, imaginative and fun projects.

For Applications in English and Irish, please visit: https://www.edcentretralee.ie/blast.html

The deadline for receipt of applications is 19^th May 2023.

Watch the promotional video for the TAP+ and BLAST initiatives: https://vimeo.com/825074868

Creative Clusters

For Applications in English and Irish please visit: https://www.edcentretralee.ie/creative-clusters.html

The deadline for receipt of applications is 12^th May 2023.

Watch the promotional video for theCreative Clusters initiative: https://vimeo.com/825072944

!!!! Professional Development Opportunity: Social Practice Toolkit

Cork City Council & Leitrim County Council

Deadline: Monday 10th April

The deadline for applications is midnight on Monday 10th April. Please contact sptoolkit2023@gmail.com with any queries.

For more information and to apply, visit:

http://www.leitrimcoco.ie/eng/community-culture/arts/grants-opportunities/social-practice-toolkit-children-youth/social-practice-toolkit-children-youth.html

!!!! Opportunity for Teachers: Tartuffe – Text to Performance

The Abbey Theatre: Tartuffe – Text to Performance

Dates: Various

A key part of Tartuffe: Text to Performance includes attending a performance of the Abbey Theatre’s production of Tartuffe, directed by Abbey Theatre artistic director, Caitríona McLaughlin.

Tartuffe: Text to Performance offers opportunities to:

explore how a play in performance communicates its message to an audience.
collaborate, share ideas and reflect in a safe, supportive environment.
experience practical and creative methodologies that may be used in professional classroom practice.

As Tartuffe is an Abbey Theatre touring production, Tartuffe: Text to Performance is being they offered in Donegal and Cork.

Participants will register for ONE of these locations.

DONEGAL :

Saturday 6th May 2023:

Workshop: 10.30am – 1:00pm, Perfomance: 2:30pm

An Grianán Theatre, Letterkenny

Monday 8th May 2023:

Online Workshop: 6:00pm – 7:00pm

CORK :

Saturday 13th May 2023:

Workshop 10.30am – 1:00pm

Cork Education Support Centre

Performance 2.30pm

Cork Opera House

Monday 15th May 2023:

Online Workshop: 6:00pm – 7:00pm

Spaces are limited to a maximum of 20 participants for each workshop venue. A waiting list will apply. Register on www.artsinjuniorcycle.ie

CLOSING DATES FOR REGISTRATIONS: Friday 28 April at 4.30pm (Donegal) and Friday 5 May (Cork) or prior to these dates if the workshops have reached capacity.

!!!! Schools are invited to The Race – a new theatre show at The Ark

The Ark

Dates: Thursday 18th May and Friday 19th May

An exciting new dance piece for children aged 4+ inspired by Aesop’s Fables, presented by The Ark, Dublin Dance Festival and Arts & Disability Ireland.

From acclaimed international choreographer, Marc Brew, The Race entwines three of Aesop’s Fables to create a fun, interactive and colourful world of animals, puppets, theatre and movement.

School Day Performances
Previews – Thursday 18th May, 10.15am & 12.15pm and Friday 19th May, 10.15am

Fri 19 May, 12.15pm

Schools’ Tickets: €6.50 (€5 Early Bird** if booked by 21 April). Teachers go free.

Book your tickets here: https://ark.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/873634148

!!!! Creative Ireland – A Creative Future Progress Report

Creative Ireland

Catherine Martin TD, Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, was delighted to announce the project will be extended until 2027.

Other highlights include :

153 new schools joined 42 Creative Clusters around the country.
629 new school artist residencies were awarded under BLAST (Bringing Live Arts to Students and Teachers) for the 2022/2023 school year

To read the progress report in full see : https://report2022.creativeireland.gov.ie/

To read more about the first 5 years of Creative Youth, see https://www.creativeireland.gov.ie/app/uploads/2022/08/Creative-Youth-Plan-2017-2022.pdf

!!!! Creative Associate Opportunities with Creative Schools

The Arts Council’s Creative Associates

Deadline: 12 mid-day, Tuesday 18th April 2023

Creative Schools is delighted to announce an exciting opportunity for artists, creative practitioners and individuals working in organisations in the arts and cultural sector.

Full details on the services and how to apply are available https://www.artscouncil.ie/creative-associate-opportunities/

Applications must be completed and submitted by 12 mid-day on Tuesday 18 April 2023.

!!!! Opportunity for Schools: The Safer Internet Day Awards Art Competition

Webwise / PDST Technology in Education

Deadline: Friday, 21st April

The Safer Internet Day Awards are back and this year a special new category has been added for budding creatives.

Entries will be judged by International Irish Artist Maser.
Open to Primary and Post-Primary Schools.
Closing date March 31st.

Categories for Primary:

1st and 2nd Class | 3rd and 4th Class | 5th and 6th Class

Categories for Post-Primary:

1st and 2nd Year | Transition Year | 5th and 6th Year

How to submit your entry:

Post your entry to: Webwise / PDST Technology in Education, Innovation House DCU Alpha, Old Finglas Rd, Dublin 11, D11 KXN4

Include the following information: Name, school, teacher’s contact details, category you are entering, and a brief description of the poster.

For full details on the competition see https://www.webwise.ie/saferinternetday/competition/art-competition/

!!!! Artist Opportunity: Baboró International Arts Festival for Children

Baboró International Arts Festival for Children

Deadline: Midnight, Monday 10th April

The deadline to apply is Monday 10 April.

To make an application, please visit: https://www.baboro.ie/news-events/creating-space-artist-open-call

!!!! The FÍS Film Project Awards 2023 – Winners Announced

FÍS Film Awards 2023

Cappawhite National School in Tipperary have been crowned winners of ‘FÍS Film of the Year’ at the FÍS Film Awards 2023, which have taken place at The Helix, DCU, Dublin.

Some other 2023 winners include :

Lackamore NS, Tipperary – Outstanding Achievement in Filmmaking – Adaptation – Na Trí Mhuc
Carrig N.S, Offaly – Award for Best Comedy – The Villains
Strawberry Hill NS, Cork – Outstanding Achievement in Filmmaking – Production Design – The Normans
Gaelscoil Riabhach, Galway – An Scannán Is Fearr as Gaeilge – Fáilte go dtí An Córas Díleá

A montage of all finalists can also be viewed by clicking https://youtu.be/tSNFo0SqLI8

!!!! Early Insights Review of the Junior Cycle Visual Art

National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA)

Deadline: 31st March, 5pm

Via an Online Survey
Make a written submission, using our template, Visual Art Written Submission” in the subject line.
Register to attend a regional focus group:
Dublin: Ashling Hotel – 21st March
Limerick: Strand Hotel – 14th March
Galway city: Harbour Hotel – 28th March

These focus groups will take place during the day from 10:30am – 1:00pm. Places are limited and registration remains open until one week in advance of each focus group.

This review process will close on Friday, 31st March at 5pm.

For more information see : https://ncca.ie/en/junior-cycle/curriculum-developments/visual-art/

!!!! National Museum of Ireland: Schools Spring 2023 Programme

National Museum of Ireland (NMI)

The curriculum-linked programme aims to spark curiosity, stimulate discussion and encourage cultural and heritage engagement through our national collections.

All schools visits are free but must be booked in advance as capacity is limited and varies from site to site.

Primary level: Browse the full spring 2023 programme
Post Primary level: Browse the full spring 2023 programme

Here are some of the highlights of the upcoming schedule.

Orienteering Workshop / Post Primary

PRIMARY / Classroom activity: Ice Age Ireland – Cool Fossils

For the full programme of activities go to https://www.museum.ie/en-IE/News/Schools-programme-2023

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