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Portal Spring Regional Day at VISUAL Carlow on Saturday 17th May
Deadline Extended: 7th April, 5pm

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 is seeking submissions for presentations for the Portal Spring Regional Day 2025 with a focus on the South-East Region. This regional event will take place on Saturday 17th May in partnership with VISUAL Carlow, Co Carlow. 

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 Carlow, Kilkenny, Tipperary, Waterford and Wexford.

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 South-East, 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: 

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

Arts in Education Portal Spring Regional Day 2025 at VISUAL Carlow 
Saturday 17th May 2025

The Portal Team is delighted to invite teachers, artists and anyone with an interest in arts and creativity in education to save the date and join us for the 2025 Portal Spring Regional Day in the South-East. This year’s event will take place on Saturday, 17th May in Carlow in partnership with VISUAL Carlow.  The event will showcase arts in education projects and creative practice in counties Carlow, Kilkenny, Tipperary, Waterford and Wexford.

We invite regional audiences to connect with us during a series of events, where 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 welcome teachers, artists, arts managers and anyone with an interest in arts in education to join us for this free event. This event will have a focus on the South East region, counties Carlow, Kilkenny, Tipperary, Waterford and Wexford.

Stay tuned for the full schedule and booking details which will be announced in the coming weeks. Pre-booking will be essential.

Call for presentations and workshops for Spring Regional Day
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 2025. Extended Deadline for submissions is Monday 7th April. Read more here: call-for-presentations-and-workshops-portal-spring-regional-day-2025/

The Department of Education Ireland and Northern Ireland
Deadline: 27 February 2025

The Departments of Education in Ireland and Northern Ireland, invite schools and creative practitioners to participate in a new Shared Island pilot initiative funded by the Department of An Taoiseach. In Ireland, expressions of interest are welcomed for this pilot programme from creative practitioners and from schools in counties, Cavan, Monaghan, Donegal, Louth, and Leitrim.

Creative Connections is an exciting new pilot that gives children and young people the unique opportunity to work with professional creative practitioners in schools, bringing creativity and the arts directly into their learning.  It offers an opportunity to integrate creativity into education, supporting wellbeing, personal development, and learning. Rooted in the curriculum, this Shared Island project aims to strengthen connections between Northern Ireland and Ireland, in counties Donegal, Louth, Leitrim, Monaghan and Cavan through collaborative creative efforts.

The programme will run in two phases:

Phase 1: February to June 2025 – Professional learning events for teachers and Creatives, followed by in-school residencies and creative partnerships.

Phase 2: September 2025 to June 2026 – schools will form clusters with partner schools across the border to create cross-border creative learning communities.

Schools will be supported in Creative Connections through substitution cover for teachers to attend professional learning events and funded travel and materials budget for residencies with creative practitioners. There will be additional funding
for creativity in Phase 2.

Creative practitioners will receive funding and travel costs to attend professional learning events with teachers, in addition to two funded in-school residencies with young people and teachers during Creative Connections.

Ireland: 
In Ireland, expressions of Interest are welcomed for this pilot programme from creative practitioners and from schools in counties, Cavan, Monaghan, Donegal, Louth, and Leitrim.

For further information and to join this exciting initiative please click here:

Department of Education:
English version:  gov.ie/en/publication/131dd-creative-connections/  
Irish version: gov.ie/ga/foilsiuchan/ceangail-chruthaitheacha/  

Closing Date: 

The deadline for Expressions of Interest is the 27th of February.

Northern Ireland:
Expressions of Interest are welcomed for this pilot programme from creative practitioners of every discipline and all
Primary, Post-Primary, and Special Schools in Northern Ireland.

For further information and to join this exciting initiative please click here:
Department of Education NI: education-ni.gov.uk/publications/creative-connections 

 

The Ark, Dublin
Date: 1 March 2025

Join musician Dafe Orugbo for a practical CPD workshop for teachers at the Ark, Dublin where you’ll explore how music can strengthen cultural bonds and help students feel more in control of their learning.

In this hands-on session, teachers and educators will pick up a variety of practical skills to connect with their students through the creation and listening of new music. By using music as a tool for class participation, you’ll learn how to tap into the cultural touchstones that matter most to your students, helping them feel seen and heard. Plus, it gives students the chance to take the lead in the classroom, which can be empowering—especially when they might otherwise feel out of their comfort zone. This approach lets kids engage in an experience that resonates with their interests, while giving teachers a chance to connect with their students in a shared way.

It’s an opportunity to rethink how we use music as a tool for creativity, connection, and agency in the classroom. Suitable for all levels of experience.

In this CPD workshop for teachers, you will;

Dates & Times: 
1 March, 10.30am – 12.30pm

Tickets: 
€25 / €20(for ArkEd Members)

For more information, see ark.ie/events/view/teachers-music-to-my-ears

Deadline extended: 12 March 2025

The Arts in Education Portal editorial team is pleased to invite applications for a documentation award. Through the award, successful applicants will receive services to the value of €5,000 that will support them in the documentation of a current or upcoming project and a €500 stipend.

The purpose of the award is to support the development of documented outcomes from Arts in Education initiatives in Ireland, which can be shared with the arts in education community and give insights into different processes of engagement. This is part of the Arts in Education Portal Editorial Committee’s commitment to supporting and recognising the value of documentation and reflection as key components within arts in education initiatives.

To celebrate 10 years of the Arts in Education Portal (2015 – 2025) three awards will be offered in 2025 through this opportunity.

Outcomes of the documentation process will include: a project video, a project feature to be showcased on the Portal’s Projects/Partnerships, and the option of a critical essay, with a view to also presenting the work as part of the Arts in Education Portal National Day in 2025.

The process will involve meetings with the Portal Team and a schedule of up to 2 visits over the course of the project to capture video and photographic documentation and support reflective processes among participants.

The portal team will edit and produce a project video and will liaise closely with the project partners to develop the content for the project feature. The critical essay would be cited in the Portal’s Reading Room and is optional. The author and focus of the essay can be decided by the project organisers in collaboration with the Portal Team.

Criteria:

To be considered for this opportunity, projects must:

Additional Criteria for the Third Award:

For the third award opportunity being offered in 2025, the Arts in Education Portal editorial team is particularly interested in proposals from arts and creativity in education initiatives that reflect on the development of an arts in education practice and where it has become embedded in the education programme.

Additional criteria:

Successful applicants will be asked to ensure that relevant permissions/consent have been sought for the documentation of participants.
Please ensure your application has been approved by all project partners prior to submission.

How to make a submission:

Complete your application using this online form
Deadline for submission is 2pm, Wednesday 12 March 2025.

Department of Education
Deadline: Thursday 10 April 

The Department of Education is pleased to announce the opening of a new round of Creative Clusters for 2025 – 2027. The programme is open to primary and post-primary schools, including special education schools, as well as YouthReach organisations.

Each Creative Cluster will receive funding of €3,000 per school in each cluster over a two-year period to implement their project in the 2025–2027 school years.

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

Please see the following link for further details: Creative Clusters 2025 – Department of Education Guidelines 

Watch the following video about Creative Clusters:

Application Form Webinar – 26 February
Creative Clusters 2025/2027 Application Form Webinar hosted by Jennifer Buggie and Catherine Sheridan to assist schools with any queries they may have about completing the Creative Clusters 2025/2027 Application Form.
This webinar is being held on Wednesday 26th February at 7pm.
To register, please see the following registration link: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/f4fUgum3QA2k3_ZnWSoWUQ

Eligible Schools – The following schools are welcome to apply to participate in Creative Clusters:

Creative Clusters 2025 application form and guidelines:
The application process will be open from 27th January 2025 until 10th April 2025. Please find link to application form here: https://forms.office.com/e/Xxk81z4F62

Creative Clusters is an initiative of the Department of Education, led by and in partnership with the 21 full-time Education Centres (Education Support Centres Ireland – ESCI) and funded through the Schools Excellence Fund.

The National Museum of Ireland 
February 2025

The National Museum of Ireland has announced events and activities to celebrate St Brigid this February. A visit to one or more of the three Museum sites in Dublin and Mayo is a must to learn and discover more about the history and traditions associated with Brigid – the ancient goddess of Imbolc and the Christian patron saint of Ireland.

From shoe shrines to straw crosses, they have a full and varied programme of workshops, drop-in sessions and tours showcasing the many artefacts, traditions and rituals associated with and dedicated to St Brigid. Read more about St Brigid’s Day Traditions here

See full programme of workshops and events here: museum.ie/en-IE/News/St-Brigid-Events

Learn how to make a three-armed St Brigid’s Cross with Tom Doyle from the National Museum in Turlough Park in Co. Mayo.

2025 Funding Opportunities Schedule announced by the Arts Council

The Arts Council is the Irish government agency for developing the arts. They work in partnership with artists, arts organisations, public policy makers and others to build a central place for the arts in Irish life. They have released the current schedule for funding opportunities for 2025. The full listing is available here.

We have collated a list of funding opportunities including key dates that are relevant to artists with an arts and creativity in education practice and schools/education leaders.

Writers in Schools Scheme part-funds visits by writers and storytellers to schools throughout the island of Ireland. This scheme is administered by Poetry Ireland.
Opens: Ongoing

Young People, Children, and Education Bursary Award supports individual professional artists working with, and producing work for, children and young people across a range of artforms.
Opens: 7 January 2025
Deadline: 13 February 2025

Young Ensembles Scheme supports groups of young people between the ages of ten and twenty-four to create or actively engage with ambitious and original work together in any artform.
Opens: 28 January 2025
Deadline: 27 February 2025

Arts in Early Learning and Childcare Scheme provides opportunities for babies and young children to explore the arts with the support of artists, early-years educators, school-age practitioners, families and carers.
Deadline: 3 April 2025

Children and Young People’s Arts Residency is open to higher-education institutions that provide initial teacher education and/or a course leading to a Level 7 or 8 degree in early childhood education and care.
Deadline: 3 April 2025

Creative Schools/ Scoileanna Ildánacha initiative supports schools/centres to put the arts and creativity at the heart of children’s and young people’s lives.
Opens: 25 February 2025
Deadline: 8 May 2025
*Before applying, you must register your school / education centre as an ‘Organisation’ through Online Services. Please note that registration can take up to 5 business days to process.

Cork County Council Arts Service
Deadline: 9 January 2025

Cork County Council has announced details of its 2025 funding opportunities for the county’s Arts sector. The Council’s Library and Arts Service is inviting proposals for arts projects, activities and events taking place in the Cork County in 2025 that may be eligible for funding under a range of grant assistance schemes that are now open for applications.

Funds announced include the Arts Grants Scheme which will support arts organisations and the voluntary sector to deliver arts activity, a programme to support artists to work in schools, support for developing arts projects through the Irish Language, and bursary and residency opportunities for professional artists working in all disciplines.

Announcing the funding opportunities, Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr. Joe Carroll, said, “A total of €166,000 was awarded through our Arts Grants Schemes in 2024, providing vital support to 131 worthy recipients. Our Arts sector helps sustain communities, supports social cohesion and improves the quality of life of our citizens. Through these schemes, we would like to support artists and arts organisations, as well as providing assistance to local festivals, performances, exhibitions, and other publicly accessible cultural programmes, many of which are made possible through the hard work of local volunteers.”

Arts Grant Scheme

The Cork County Council Arts Grant Scheme provides grants for individuals and organisations to present and promote arts activities, projects, or events in Cork County. Grants may be awarded where applications meet the aims and objectives, and eligibility criteria as outlined in these guidelines. Applications will be evaluated on the artistic vision, ambition, potential impact on audiences and artists, and feasibility. Read more here: Arts Grant Scheme

Artist in Schools Scheme

The purpose of the Artist in Schools scheme is to enable primary and post-primary students and teaching staff to work collaboratively with an artist on a creative project over an extended period.

The scheme provides an opportunity for a school to carry out a project where the artistic and learning outcomes focus on nurturing the student’s creative imagination, critical thinking and collaborative skills, and the skills of the teaching staff involved. Read more here: Artists in Schools Scheme

Information Sessions

Two information sessions are scheduled for interested applicants. The first takes place on the 22nd of November and will cover the Arts Grant Scheme (arts activity, projects, and events by individuals or organisations). The second session on Friday the 29th of November will cover Artist Bursaries (Creative Artist Bursary Scheme, Artists in School Scheme, International Touring and Exhibition Bursary, Tyrone Guthrie Centre Bursary, Ballinglen Arts Foundation Bursary, Cork County Council Centre Culturel Irlandais Residency Bursary). Those interested should contact arts@corkcoco.ie to register for the information sessions.

To remove barriers for participation Cork County Council will also accept video or 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 from the 11th of November 2024 until the 9th of January 2025.

Guidelines are available on the Arts section of Cork County Council’s website www.corkcoco.ie
For queries on the schemes, email arts@corkcoco.ie or call 021- 4346210.

Minister O’Gorman publishes Guidelines Supporting Inclusion for Autistic Children in Early Learning, School & Childcare Settings

Roderic O’Gorman, Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, has published (11 October 2024) Introductory Guidelines to Support the Inclusion of Autistic Children in Early Learning and Care, School-Age Childcare and Childminding Settings.

The Guidelines are for early years educators, school-age childcare practitioners and childminders who are currently working to support the meaningful inclusion of autistic children in early learning and care, school-age childcare and childminding settings.

They form part of a wider suite of universal and targeted supports under the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) which have been designed to ensure children with a disability and additional needs can access and participate in the ECCE programme and early learning and care settings more broadly.

The Guidelines fulfil a commitment in the recently launched National Autism Innovation Strategy, which aims to address the bespoke challenges and barriers facing autistic people and to improve understanding and accommodation of autism within society and across the public system.

Each year 2,735 services benefit from AIM supports.

Speaking about the National Guidelines, Minister O’Gorman said:

“I am delighted to announce the publication of National Guidelines to Support the Inclusion of Autistic Children in Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare Settings.

Meaningful inclusion of neurodivergent children and their families in settings starts with the early years educators and school-age practitioners being fully informed of their role in active inclusion.

These Guidelines form part of the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) suite of supports and resources supporting the inclusion of children in the ECCE programme and beyond.

I hope the Guidelines assist early years educators and school-age childcare practitioners with the important role they play to support the inclusion of all children in their settings.”

Welcoming the publication of these guidelines, Minister of State with responsibility for Disability, Anne Rabbitte added:

“I warmly welcome these National Guidelines for those working with our youngest children. They deliver on an action of our Department’s Autism Innovation Strategy.

This Strategy will work hard to respond and enhance the lived experience of autistic people, their families and carers, so we can ensure that challenges and barriers currently being faced are being adequately addressed and to improve understanding and accommodation of autism within society and across the public system.

These guidelines for early learning and care, school-age childcare and childminding settings are an example of a clear action that can make a tangible difference to children’s lives.”

Click here to go to Introductory Guidelines to Support the Meaningful Inclusion of Autistic Children in Early Learning and Care & School Age Childcare.

To read full press release click here: www.gov.ie/en/press-release/27df1-minister-ogorman-publishes-introductory-guidelines/

Mother Tongues Festival 2025 – Open Call for Artists
Closing Date: Sunday, 27 October 2024

The Mother Tongues Festival, Ireland’s largest celebration of linguistic diversity through the arts, is calling upon artists like you to be a part of an unforgettable event in 2025. Get ready to make a difference, connect with diverse communities, and showcase your artistic practice like never before.

The Mother Tongues Festival is an inclusive platform that invites artists from all backgrounds to participate in workshops, performances and exhibitions that embrace the power of multilingualism.

The festival encourage everyone, regardless of their linguistic background, to explore new horizons, learn something new and most importantly, have a blast doing it. The festival is all about celebrating your mother tongue and the multitude of languages spoken in Ireland.

Your Chance to Shine
For the 2025 edition of the Mother Tongues Festival, they are searching for passionate artists to lead workshops that captivate, educate, and entertain. Whether your field is music, visual arts, dance, storytelling, traditional arts and crafts, or any form of performance, they want to hear from you.

The workshops must be designed for families (parents/carers will attend with children) catering for children in the following age groups: 2 to 3 years, 3 to 6 years and 6 to 8 years.

While all proposals are welcome, they are particularly interested in those which encourage active participation and link clearly to one of the following themes:

Each selected artist will receive a budget of €250 per workshop.

The festival is particularly interested in proposals that celebrate languages beyond English, with a special emphasis on those from Latin America, Asia, and Africa. Your unique perspective can enrich the festival and create a vibrant cultural exchange.

For more information about this open call and details on how to submit your proposal click here: mothertonguesfestival.com

The deadline is Sunday, October 27th 2024. The workshop will be held on February 22nd 2025 in Tallaght.

RTÉ’s ‘This is Art!’
Closing Date: 3rd November 2024, at Midnight

Exciting news! The “This is Art! 2024” competition is now open for entries, and they need your help to inspire the next generation of young artists.

RTÉ’s ‘This is Art!’ is a free-to-enter youth art competition celebrating the creative talents of young people of all abilities across the island of Ireland. Open to individuals and class groups aged 18 and under, the competition welcomes various art forms, including paintings, drawings, sculptures, and digital art.

The Judges this year, including artists Maser, Leah Hewson, and Aideen Barry, along with curators Tadhg Crowley from The Glucksman Cork and Sheena Barrett IMMA, will review submissions and award prizes worth €10,000 across five categories.

Student entries will be hosted on the RTÉ website www.rte.ie/thisisart as a digital gallery.

The theme for this years completion is “This is Imagination!”

Download the Teachers Pack here. 

How to Enter:

Categories:

Prizes:

Closing Date: 3rd November 2024, at Midnight

For further information go to rte.ie/thisisart.

Booking is now open for our eleventh National Arts in Education Portal Day which will take place on Saturday 9 November 2024 at East Quad, TU Dublin, in partnership with the School of Art and Design. This free full-day event aims to bring together arts and education professionals to share, learn, talk, network, get inspired, and discuss best practices in the arts and creativity in education.

The Programme will see a mix of presentations, smaller discussion-led sessions and creative workshops each addressing the special focus of ‘Amplifying All Voices’ and how the Amplification of All Voices in creativity and education can empower, build confidence, passion, and support.

As previously announced The Portal Team is delighted to welcome guest speakers, Leon Diop, Head of Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion at the Arts Council of Ireland, Francesca Hutchinson, a multidisciplinary artist and post-primary teacher, Dr. Padráig Kirk, Managing Director of Oide, and Dr. Hannagh McGinley, Assistant Professor in Education at MCI Thurles for a round table discussion moderated by Jennifer Buggie, Advisor for Arts & Creativity in Education with the Department of Education and The Education Centre, Tralee.

With a closing rapporteur address from Adam Stoneman, Creative Communities Engagement Officer at Galway City Council.

View the 2024 Programme HERE.

How to Book Tickets

Tickets for the 2024 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.

View transport and TU Dublin parking and transport  details here Travel and Parking 2024 National Portal Day

Create at The Dock Arts Centre

Dates: 6-7 November 2024

Create’s annual networking event brings together those working in or entering the field of collaborative, socially engaged arts. This year the event will form part of a two-day conference on socially engaged practice, taking place 6-7 November 2024 at The Dock Arts Centre, Carrick on Shannon, County Leitrim.

The conference is a partnership with Leitrim County Council Arts Office and Cork City Council Arts Office, and provides an opportunity to meet, learn, discuss, critique and engage with current concerns in social practice. Create is the National Development Agency for Collaborative Arts.

Who is this event for?
Artists, researchers, community group representatives, activists, arts managers and anyone working or interested in the field of collaborative arts.

The full programme will be announced in October.

For further information go to www.create-ireland.ie/activity/save-the-date-socially-engaged-practice-building-equity-in-a-divided-world/.

Irish Museum of Modern Art

Dates: 20 – 22 September 2024

EARTH RISING 2024, a dynamic three-day festival dedicated to addressing the climate crisis through art, creativity, and community.

EARTH RISING is where art meets activism and highlights the vital role of art and culture in driving environmental change and fostering a deep connection between people and the planet. EARTH RISING seeks to inspire collective action through creative expression, fostering a deep connection between individuals, communities, and our planet.

This year’s festival offers a rich programme of talks, exhibitions, workshops, outdoor screenings, music, live performances, and an Eco Fair—all free and open to the public. Programme highlights include an installation and talk by Sakiya, a progressive academy for experimental knowledge production and sharing around local farming in Ramallah, Palestine; a climate comedy workshop; speed dating to find your ‘Soil Mate’ to connect garden owners with gardenless growers; Project Dandelion workshops hosted by the Mary Robinson Centre; a climate-based  mixed reality experience by Andrew McSweeney; and a spoken word poetry event taking place on Culture Night, to name a few! Also back by popular demand Jennie Moran will host a convivial exchange of ideas, skills and knowledge around food where we will rethink our food practices over food demonstrations, talks and presentations.

Special collaborations include a Slow Tour Concert brought to IMMA by the Goethe Institut Ireland featuring musician LIE NING who is travelling across Europe by train and ferry, as part of a resource-efficient concert tour; Demolition Takedown, a large-scale installation, supported by Creative Ireland that aims to encourage action on reducing construction and demolition waste in Ireland

All events and experiences at EARTH RISING are free of charge. Some workshops require booking and ticket links and information can be found here.

EARTH RISING is supported by the Department of Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht.

 

Arts in Education Portal

Deadline: 5pm, Monday 9th September 

The ninth annual Arts in Education Portal National Day takes place on Saturday 9 November at TU Dublin, School of Art and Design.

The Arts in Education Portal Editorial Committee welcomes submissions of proposals for workshops and presentations that represent quality practice and thinking within the field of arts and creativity in education. This year, the Portal Day will have a special focus on ‘Amplifying All Voices’. 

The Committee particularly want to profile projects that represent children from diverse communities and children who are seldom heard.  The closing date for submissions is 5pm Monday 9th September 2024. 

Criteria for selection of proposals:

The Arts in Education Portal Editorial Committee welcomes submissions of proposals for workshops and presentations that represent:

 

Our selection of proposals will also be informed by a desire for:

 

How to apply:

Submissions should be made using the online form, please click the following link to access the form and read the full application guidelines.

Online application form

For further enquiries, contact events@artsineducation.ie.

 

 

The National Museum of Country Life

Dates: July and August

The National Museum of Country Life has lots of free family events during July and August, suitable for children of all ages. Every Saturday throughout the month of July from 2pm to 4pm,  you can make your own Paper Bee & Wildflowers at the Nature Craft Station. This is part of the ‘Visit the Murmur of Bees’ exhibition where you can learn all about bees in Ireland and then visit the Nature Craft Station in the Education Rooms in the Museum Galleries. This is a self-guided activity suitable for all ages. No booking is required.

Families are encouraged to pick up the new ‘Woodland Explorer’ activity booklet from Museum reception and explore a self-guided nature trail through the grounds of Turlough Park any time during opening hours.  Also during opening hours, families can participate in the  Gallery Trail: ‘Find Peadar and his Friends’! Peadar is a Pygmy Shrew who lives at the Museum with his seven friends. Can you find their hiding spots in the Museum galleries using a fun, self-guided activity sheet?

They Museum Music  Circle runs from 1pm to 2.30pm on the 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month and is suitable for all Ages. Dust down that fiddle and polish that whistle for the Museum’s Music Circle! Come along to learn, practice, share and play tunes and songs with other musicians.

All events are free and you can get more information here.

Music Generation

Music Generation recently released their Annual Report for 2023. In 2023, Music Generation reached 8% of children and young people in Ireland, a total of 115,936 programme participants. The year was full of collaborations across counties, vibrant youth-led festivals and young musicians creating new music with professional artists.

513 Musician Educators actively delivered programmes in 2023, a further  514 visits from 204 Professional Musicians/ Ensembles across twenty-five Local Music Education Programme (LMEP) Areas.

Many programmes offered a mix of sound and music forms including: Foundational or Pre-Instrumental Recording and Production, Singer-Songwriter, Creative Music Making, Composition, Music Technology, Spoken Word, Rap, Podcasting.

We have selected some programme highlights from Music Generation’s Annual Report:

The report also detailed national events where young musicians from Music Generation programmes were invited to bring their music to national and international audiences. Music Generation Laois performed at Child Summit 2023 hosted by The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. Young singers from Paddock National School, performed a segment of “Bicycles, Boomerangs and Blue Macaws”, a suite based on the United Nations Convention on the rights of the child. The Lundy Model of Participation (2007) was used to facilitate and empower the voice of the child throughout the songwriting process, the programme also encompassed pupils from Cloneyhurke and Rath National Schools.

To read the full report, please visit: https://www.musicgeneration.ie/news/music-generations-annual-report-2023

Arts in Education Portal

Deadline: 5pm, Monday 9th September 

The ninth annual Arts in Education Portal National Day takes place on Saturday 9 November at TU Dublin, School of Art and Design.

The Arts in Education Portal Editorial Committee welcomes submissions of proposals for workshops and presentations that represent quality practice and thinking within the field of arts and creativity in education. This year, the Portal Day will have a special focus on ‘Amplifying All Voices’. 

The Committee particularly want to profile projects that represent children from diverse communities and children who are seldom heard.  The closing date for submissions is 5pm Monday 9th September 2024. 

Criteria for selection of proposals:

The Arts in Education Portal Editorial Committee welcomes submissions of proposals for workshops and presentations that represent:

 

Our selection of proposals will also be informed by a desire for:

 

How to apply:

Submissions should be made using the online form, please click the following link to access the form and read the full application guidelines.

Online application form

For further enquiries, contact events@artsineducation.ie.

Baboró Internation Arts Festival for Children

Date: ongoing

Baboró offers a small Go See Fund to support artists and creatives to travel within Ireland to see work for children. The fund is designed for those who make or wish to make work for children and are looking for inspiration, new approaches to presentation, etc.  To ensure this small fund can benefit as many individuals as possible, it will support the cost of event tickets and travel within the island of Ireland only, up to a maximum of €100 per application.

If you wish to apply for this funding, you need to  please outline in 1-2 pages:

You can send completed applications to the Artist & Programme Coordinator at rachel@baboro.ie with the subject line ‘Go See Fund Application’. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis throughout the year. For further details, please visit: https://www.baboro.ie/artists/grow/go-see-fund.

The Arts Council of Ireland

Date: 10th July 

The Arts Council’s Arts Participation and the Young People Children and Education teams are hosting a joint information session on the Project Award 2025.

The purpose of the YPCE Project Award is to support artists to develop and deliver ambitious and original projects with and for children and young people. Projects may be interdisciplinary or focused on a specific artform.

You can join them online to learn more about the Project Award 2025 and how it can support your initiatives in the areas of Arts Participation and/or Young People, Children and Education.

The information session will take place on  Zoom and is an opportunity to learn more about the Project Award and how it can support your initiatives in the areas of Arts Participation and/or Young People, Children and Education.

This practical online clinic will support and guide new and returning applicants to the award. You can register your interest for this information clinic taking place online Wednesday 10 July at 11:00am. There will also be an opportunity for attendees to submit their questions in advance of the clinic. If you have a question relating to the Arts Participation Project Award or Young People, Children and Education Project Award, please send it in advance to caroline.magnani@artscouncil.ie by Friday 5 July.

For more information on the fund,  please visit https://www.artscouncil.ie/Funds/Young-People,-Children-and-Education-Project-Award

Performing Arts Forum

Members of the Portal team recently ventured out to meet with colleagues, artists, theatre-makers and arts professionals who had convened in Sligo for Performing Arts Forum’s Annual Gathering. This was the first event to occur under the new name having recently re-branded from Theatre Forum. Their fully booked annual conference touched down in Sligo on Tuesday 28th and Wednesday 29th May with several hundred in attendance.

This Portal is managed by Kids’ Own Publishing based in Sligo so it was only a stroll across town to join proceedings.

Over the two days, the gathering explored many themes under the concept Where Connection Creates Change including freedom of expression, career viability and sustainability, advocacy, audience research and lots more. For the Portal it was an opportunity to hear from associate groups Theatre For Young Audiences (TYAI) and the Young Curators / Lasta Festival.
We connected with many individual artists, theatre makers, venue managers who make and present work, run outreach programmes, participate in TAP+/BLAST/Creative Clusters with young people.

There was a fantastic buzz with lots of opportunities for discussion, entertainment and discovery. More information on https://performingartsforum.ie/

MTU Crawford College of Art and Design

Deadline: 10 June

The Eco Arts Practice course is a Level 9 certificate 10 credit programme. Through experiential learning, this course provides an opportunity to explore Eco Arts Practice theory and application within a group setting.  The aim of the course is to provide participants with approaches to Eco Art Practice that could be applied in a range of different contexts, making it attractive to teachers, therapists, youth and community workers or artists looking to broaden the scope of their practice.

Explore nature and the environment within an art context, from ethical use of materials, to eco literacy through to the natural environment as a classroom, a therapeutic space and a material that can be worked with.

The course is delivered part-time over one academic year.

For further information and to apply, please visit: https://www.mtu.ie/courses/craeapr9/

Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA)

IMMA invites teachers and tutors from pre-primary, primary, secondary schools and colleges to bring their student groups to IMMA any time during opening hours. Teachers and tutors can book bespoke guided tours and talks focused on specific exhibitions, and can access related digital resources, such as study notes and videos.

Before the school breaks for the summer holidays, why not come and see some exciting sculpture? In IMMA’s Garden Galleries, Hilary Heron: A Retrospective celebrates the pioneering work of modernist sculptor Hilary Heron (1923 – 1977). Hilary Heron was a Dublin born sculptor who co-represented Ireland at the 1956 Venice Biennale alongside painter Louis le Brocquy (1916 – 2012).

She was a courageous sculptor who travelled extensively, absorbing cultures whilst pursing new modern ideals. She created works in wood, terracotta, steel, bronze and with welding, in this practice she was ground breaking, as there were few women welders in the 1950s.

Also on exhibition are a selection of artworks by contemporary Irish female sculptors, who like Heron, have represented Ireland in the Venice Biennale.

Book a Tour and Workshop

You can book a guided tour with a member of the Visitor Engagement Team, who will explore and tease out the artworks with your class. The tour is followed by a workshop in the Matheson Creativity Hub. A combination of both will take approximately 2 hours. To make a booking, please visit: https://immatours.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/1173590867/events/428615079

ZOOM Presentation

If you cannot come to see this exhibition in person, IMMA can bring it directly onto your smartboard via Zoom presentation. A member of the Visitor Engagement Team can present and host a discussion with your class group.

If you would like some more information or to book a session then contact joan.walker@imma.ie

Arts in Education Portal 

Date: Saturday, 25th May 2024

The Arts in Education Portal team are delighted to announce the full programme for our Spring Regional Day on Saturday 25 May in Sligo at Sligo Education Centre. 

We invite teachers, artists, arts managers and anyone with an interest in arts in education in Donegal, Mayo, Leitrim, Roscommon and Sligo and beyond to join us for this free event.

The programme for the day includes a series of presentations in the morning; teacher Triona O’Dowd Hill, artist Andy Parson, together with Lorna Kavanagh of Kids’ Own Publishing,  will discuss the collaborative journey embarked with Triona’s class in St. Cecilia’s School, a school that caters for students with moderate to profound learning disabilities. Following this discussion, Karen Brogan, a teacher from the West Sligo Creative Cluster will share their cluster journey where they explored themes within ecology and heritage through sculpture, sound and visual art and how they developed new and innovative ways of working co-operatively.

In the afternoon sample some creative spark with the choice between two creative workshops. STEAM facilitator Kathleen Gallagher, will provide educators with comprehensive training on utilising Scratch, a visual programming language, and Makey Makey, a circuit building invention kit, to create interactive art projects. Alternatively join Maeve Pudney to explore colour and pattern through Donegal yarn using a small weaving loom invented through her creative business Pop Out Projects. 

How to Book
Tickets for the 2024 Portal Spring Regional Day are free.  It is essential to book in advance as capacity is limited.

Book your place at:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/890236971747

– – – – – – – –

Schedule 

10:15am — Registration & coffee  

10.45am — Welcome & Introduction – The Portal: a brief introduction by Edel Doherty, Kids’ Own Publishing Partnership (Portal Content Manager) 

11:00am — Presentation: “Collaborations in Abstract sculpture” with Triona O’Dowd Hill and Andy Parsons

11:30am — Presentation: “Dúlra agus Dúchas: The Ties that Bind Us”; A Creative Cluster Journey from Beach Foraging to Beach Installation with Karen Brogan and Leslie Ryan

12:00am — Bulletins from the Education and Arts sectors

12:15pm — Q & A: whole panel of presenters

12:30pm — Lunch & networking

1:30pm – 3:00pm — Parallel session: choice between two creative workshops:
“Engaging Minds: Interactive Art Workshop with Scratch and Makey Makey” with Kathleen Gallagher

Or 

“Learn to Weave Irish Tweed” with Maeve Pudney

– – – – Close – – – – 

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

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:

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

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: 

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

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:

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

Deadline extended: 6 March 2024

The Arts in Education Portal editorial team are pleased to invite applications for a documentation award. Through the award, successful applicants will receive services to the value of €5,000 that will support them in the documentation of a current or upcoming project and a €500 stipend.

The purpose of the award is to support the development of documented outcomes from Arts in Education initiatives in Ireland, which can be shared with the arts in education community and give insights into different processes of engagement. This is part of the Arts in Education Portal Editorial Committee’s commitment to supporting and recognising the value of documentation and reflection as key components within arts in education initiatives.

Two awards will be offered through this opportunity.

Outcomes of the documentation process will include: a project video, a project feature to be showcased on the Portal’s Projects/Partnerships, and the option of a critical essay, with a view to also presenting the work as part of the Arts in Education Portal National Day in 2024.

The process will involve meetings with the Portal Team and a schedule of up to 2 visits over the course of the project to capture video and photographic documentation and support reflective processes among participants. These visits and meetings can be conducted virtually if required.

The portal team will edit and produce a project video and will liaise closely with the project partners to develop the content for the project feature. The critical essay would be cited in the Portal’s Reading Room and is optional. The author and focus of the essay can be decided by the project organisers in collaboration with the Portal Team.

Criteria

To be considered for this opportunity, projects must:

Additional criteria

Successful applicants will be asked to ensure that relevant permissions/consent have been sought for the documentation of participants.
Please ensure your application has been approved by all project partners prior to submission.

How to make a submission:

Note: this article was amended on 29/02/24 to revise the deadline for submission from Friday 1 to Wednesday 6 March

The beginning of the year often signals the start of the funding cycle for artists and arts organisations, we have collated a number of upcoming webinars and sessions along with a selection grants of interest for artists working in the arts and creativity in education sector as well as school/education leaders.

Funding Opportunities from The Arts Council

The Arts Council is the national agency for funding, developing and promoting the arts in Ireland. They recently released the current schedule for funding opportunities for 2024. The full listing can be found here: https://www.artscouncil.ie/funding-opportunities-schedule/

For interest to school/education leaders and artists in the arts and creativity in education practice are a selection of relevant funding streams:

Young People, Children, and Education Bursary Award – currently open, deadline 15th Feb (open to individual artists)

Writers in Schools Scheme – Ongoing (open to individual artists, administered by Poetry Ireland)

Creative Schools Initiative – opens 27th Feb, deadline 2nd May (open to Department of Education-recognised primary and post-primary schools and Youthreach centres)

Young People, Children and Education Residencies – opens 5th Mar, deadline 4th Apr (open to higher-education institutions that provide initial teacher education in partnership with an artist / arts organisation)

Arts in Early Learning and Childcare Scheme – opens 5th Mar, deadline 4th April (open to individual artists and arts organisations)

Agility Award – opens 5th Mar, deadline 25th Apr (open to individual artists and arts workers)

Young People, Children and Education Project Award – opens 25th Jun, deadline 25th Jul (open to individual artists)

Events

Visual Arts Ireland (VAI)

Date: Thursday 25th January 2024
VAI are hosting a webinar ‘An Artist’s Guide to Accessing Funding’ on Thursday 25th January at 11am via zoom with curator and critic Marianne O’Kane Boal. This event is supported by Clare, Limerick and Tipperary County Council Arts Offices. 

The online session will consist of one 45 minute presentation that will take a closer look at all things ‘Funding and applications’ covering grants, bursaries, residencies, per cent for art commissions and project proposals. It is free to artists based in Counties Clare, Limerick and Tipperary and general admission is €10.

To register, visit the VAI website: https://visualartists.ie/professional-development-_/#!event/register/2024/1/25/webinar-an-artist-apos-s-guide-to-accessing-funding

The Arts Council

The Arts Council is also hosting a series of ‘Meet the Arts Council’ sessions in arts venues around the country in January/February.

These sessions are an opportunity to speak with Arts Council staff about funding opportunities and hear about what the Arts Council does.

Update: bookings have now closed for all events, but you are welcome to join the waiting list using the links below and the Arts Council will contact you if further places arise.

Schedule:

The Arts in Education Portal

“Do you know what I like about art..?
Is – it’s messy
You can do some things and it doesn’t turn out the way you think
It turns out better than you thought it would be”

– a participant on the Follow Your Nose project, presented by artist Julie Forrester

On November 11th the eighth annual National Arts in Education Portal Day took place at at Mary Immaculate College, Limerick in partnership with the Department of Arts Education & Physical Education. The national portal day has grown in significance as one of the key events in the arts and education calendar in Ireland, and this year through a very a inspiring set of presentations and workshops addressed the special focus of ‘Seldom Heard Voices’ reflecting diversity and inclusion across school communities..

With over 70 artists, teachers and arts in education professionals in attendance, this year’s conference was jointly opened by Helen O’Donoghue from the Arts in Education Portal Editorial Committee and Dr Gwen Moore of Mary Immaculate College. The day unfolded from there featuring a mix of lectures and workshops throughout the day providing insights into the breadth of practice across the sector. The keynote address was delivered by Dr Jill Goodwin, in a highly engaging talk entitled “Can you hear me? Creating space for listening – an artistic enquiry” delegates gained inspirational insights from Dr Goodwin’s practice working with children labelled as having profound and multiple learning disabilities, demystified many aspects of working in this space.

A set of resources that were referred to her in her presentation can be found at the end of this article.

The beautiful surrounds of Mary Immaculate College provided the space for a day filled with conversation, networking and connections. Thanks to all involved in making the day a huge success!

To view Dr Jill Goodwin’s resource set from the Portal Day click below:
References – ‘Can you hear me? Creating Space to Listen: An artistic enquiry’

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.

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:

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:

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:

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

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.

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, 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.

 

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

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

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/

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

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 10th 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 10th 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.

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

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 

Arts in Education Portal 

Date: Saturday, 6th May 2023

The Portal Team is delighted to announce the full programme for the Arts in Education Portal Spring Regional Day which takes place on Saturday 6th May in Cork City at MTU Crawford College of Art & Design in partnership with the Department of Arts in Health & Education and Department of Fine Art & Applied Art. We are also delighted to present, in collaboration with Sample-Studios in Cork, an exhibition of work from artists in the field of arts in education based in the South-West region. An exhibition viewing will be held at the Lord Mayor’s Pavilion to wrap up the day’s programme from 3:30pm; delegates are welcome to attend then or to visit the exhibition which will run until 27th May.

We invite teachers, artists, arts managers and anyone with an interest in arts in education in Cork, Kerry, Limerick and Tipperary to join us for these free events.

The programme for the day includes a series of presentations in the morning; artist Jane Hayes will discuss the challenges and opportunities that go with balancing a studio practice with collaborative arts projects, and her mission to make both child-centred. Following this discussion, composer Fiona Linnane will explore the activities which she has found to be the most effective in engaging students during her residencies through presentation, discussion and creative exercises.  

In the afternoon join West Cork based visual artist artist Julie O’Hea for a creative workshop in ink making and hapa-zome pigment printing, this session promises to be messy, fun and informative.


How to Book

Tickets for the 2023 Portal Spring Regional Day are free but pre booking is essential as capacity is limited.

Book your place at https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/arts-in-education-portal-regional-day-south-west-tickets-600696769207

Online Viewing:

For those who can’t join us in person on the day, the morning talks and presentations will be available to watch back online following the conference. Registration for viewing is available through the link here: https://forms.gle/MF4NLWcRWq8t15nk8.

Please note: ISL Interpretation will be available at the venue and on the video recordings.


Schedule

10:00am — Registration & coffee at MTU CCAD, Sharman Crawford Street

10.15am — Welcome Address

10:30am — The Portal: a brief introduction by Edel Doherty, Kids’ Own Publishing Partnership (Portal Content Managers) 

10:45am — Presentation ‘The Voice of the Child in Creative Decision-Making – The Early Years Context’ with Jane Hayes. Join early years artist Jane Hayes for an informal discussion about her socially engaged visual arts practice and her work with and for very young children.

11:30am — Presentation ‘Tutti – Exploring pathways to inclusivity for music composition in the classroom’ with Fiona Linnane. Composer Fiona Linnane will share her learnings, as an artist delivering schools residencies exploring music and sound, around what she has found to be the most inclusive approaches to music composition in the classroom.

12:15pm — Lunch & networking

1:15pm — Walk to MTU CCAD, Grand Parade

1:30pm – 3:00pm — Creative Workshop ‘Pigments from Nature’ with artist Julie O’Hea at MTU CCAD, Grand Parade. Visual artist Julie O’Hea will give a demonstration in ink making and hapa-zome pigment printing in a messy, fun and informative creative session.

– – – – – – – – – 

3:30pm — Exhibition viewing and reception at Lord Mayor’s Pavilion

5:00pm — wrap up

 

Collaborative Arts in Education exhibition with Sample-Studios at the Lord Mayor’s Pavilion

27th April – 27th May

Exhibition opening hours:

Tuesday – Saturday, 11am – 4pm

For further information on the Regional Day email events@artsineducation.ie.

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

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

Arts in Education Portal

Date: 27th April  – 27 May

As part of this year’s Arts in Education Portal Spring Regional Day, we are delighted to be partnering with Sample-Studios in Cork city for a collaborative exhibition which will run for the month of May in their gallery at the Lord Mayor’s Pavillion. The exhibition will showcase work from artists in the field of arts and creativity in education based in the South-West region.

The exhibition will be launched as part of the 2023 Spring Regional Day which will take place on Saturday 6th May at MTU Crawford College of Art & Design in partnership with the Department of Arts in Health & Education, showcasing arts in education projects and creative practice in the South-West.

In November 2021, Sample-Studios Artistic Director, Aoibhie McCarthy and member and lead Education Programme tutor Kate McElroy presented to the National Arts in Education Portal Annual Conference about our Cork Creative Careers Programme and Cork Young Curators and Critics Programme. Through this connection as speakers, Sample-Studios and the Arts in Education Portal began a dialogue about the need to offer profile to arts educational practitioners in Munster, to stimulate knowledge sharing amongst peers and collaborations, as well as awareness amongst wider audiences about the important role of arts education and arts educators in the community.

Collaborating with Sample-Studios on an exhibition to complement the programme will present both this audience and a wider public audience with an opportunity to delve deeper into the creative practice shared on the day adding another layer of engagement. The exhibition is co-curated by the Arts in Education Portal team with Sample-Studios and invites keynote speakers and presenters at the Portal Regional Day to exhibit documentation and artwork from best practice examples of their own work. An opening reception for delegates will be held as part of the Regional Day programme.

Stay tuned for the full Spring Regional Day programme and booking details which will be announced in the coming weeks. Pre booking will be essential for attendance.

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.

Arts in Education Portal Events

Date: 6 May 2023

The Portal Team is delighted to invite teachers, artists and anyone with an interest in arts and creativity in education to save the date and join us for the 2023 Portal Spring Regional Day. This year’s event will take place on Saturday, 6th May at MTU Crawford College of Art & Design in partnership with the Department of Arts in Health & Education, showcasing arts in education projects and creative practice in the South-West.

We invite regional audiences to connect with us during a series of events, where 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 welcome teachers, artists, arts managers and anyone with an interest in arts in education to join us for this free event.

For those who can’t join us in person on the day we will be recording the main talks and presentations which be available to watch back online following the event.

Stay tuned for the full schedule and booking details which will be announced in the coming weeks. Pre-booking will be essential.


!!!! Call for Presentations and Workshops: Portal Spring Regional Day 2025

Portal Spring Regional Day at VISUAL Carlow on Saturday 17th May
Deadline Extended: 7th April, 5pm

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 is seeking submissions for presentations for the Portal Spring Regional Day 2025 with a focus on the South-East Region. This regional event will take place on Saturday 17th May in partnership with VISUAL Carlow, Co Carlow. 

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 Carlow, Kilkenny, Tipperary, Waterford and Wexford.

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 South-East, 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: 

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

!!!! Date Announced for the Arts in Education Portal Spring Regional Day 2025

Arts in Education Portal Spring Regional Day 2025 at VISUAL Carlow 
Saturday 17th May 2025

The Portal Team is delighted to invite teachers, artists and anyone with an interest in arts and creativity in education to save the date and join us for the 2025 Portal Spring Regional Day in the South-East. This year’s event will take place on Saturday, 17th May in Carlow in partnership with VISUAL Carlow.  The event will showcase arts in education projects and creative practice in counties Carlow, Kilkenny, Tipperary, Waterford and Wexford.

We invite regional audiences to connect with us during a series of events, where 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 welcome teachers, artists, arts managers and anyone with an interest in arts in education to join us for this free event. This event will have a focus on the South East region, counties Carlow, Kilkenny, Tipperary, Waterford and Wexford.

Stay tuned for the full schedule and booking details which will be announced in the coming weeks. Pre-booking will be essential.

Call for presentations and workshops for Spring Regional Day
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 2025. Extended Deadline for submissions is Monday 7th April. Read more here: call-for-presentations-and-workshops-portal-spring-regional-day-2025/

!!!! Opportunity for Schools and Creative Practitioners: Creative Connections

The Department of Education Ireland and Northern Ireland
Deadline: 27 February 2025

The Departments of Education in Ireland and Northern Ireland, invite schools and creative practitioners to participate in a new Shared Island pilot initiative funded by the Department of An Taoiseach. In Ireland, expressions of interest are welcomed for this pilot programme from creative practitioners and from schools in counties, Cavan, Monaghan, Donegal, Louth, and Leitrim.

Creative Connections is an exciting new pilot that gives children and young people the unique opportunity to work with professional creative practitioners in schools, bringing creativity and the arts directly into their learning.  It offers an opportunity to integrate creativity into education, supporting wellbeing, personal development, and learning. Rooted in the curriculum, this Shared Island project aims to strengthen connections between Northern Ireland and Ireland, in counties Donegal, Louth, Leitrim, Monaghan and Cavan through collaborative creative efforts.

The programme will run in two phases:

Phase 1: February to June 2025 – Professional learning events for teachers and Creatives, followed by in-school residencies and creative partnerships.

Phase 2: September 2025 to June 2026 – schools will form clusters with partner schools across the border to create cross-border creative learning communities.

Schools will be supported in Creative Connections through substitution cover for teachers to attend professional learning events and funded travel and materials budget for residencies with creative practitioners. There will be additional funding
for creativity in Phase 2.

Creative practitioners will receive funding and travel costs to attend professional learning events with teachers, in addition to two funded in-school residencies with young people and teachers during Creative Connections.

Ireland: 
In Ireland, expressions of Interest are welcomed for this pilot programme from creative practitioners and from schools in counties, Cavan, Monaghan, Donegal, Louth, and Leitrim.

For further information and to join this exciting initiative please click here:

Department of Education:
English version:  gov.ie/en/publication/131dd-creative-connections/  
Irish version: gov.ie/ga/foilsiuchan/ceangail-chruthaitheacha/  

Closing Date: 

The deadline for Expressions of Interest is the 27th of February.

Northern Ireland:
Expressions of Interest are welcomed for this pilot programme from creative practitioners of every discipline and all
Primary, Post-Primary, and Special Schools in Northern Ireland.

For further information and to join this exciting initiative please click here:
Department of Education NI: education-ni.gov.uk/publications/creative-connections 

 

!!!! CPD for Teachers at The Ark: Music to My Ears

The Ark, Dublin
Date: 1 March 2025

Join musician Dafe Orugbo for a practical CPD workshop for teachers at the Ark, Dublin where you’ll explore how music can strengthen cultural bonds and help students feel more in control of their learning.

In this hands-on session, teachers and educators will pick up a variety of practical skills to connect with their students through the creation and listening of new music. By using music as a tool for class participation, you’ll learn how to tap into the cultural touchstones that matter most to your students, helping them feel seen and heard. Plus, it gives students the chance to take the lead in the classroom, which can be empowering—especially when they might otherwise feel out of their comfort zone. This approach lets kids engage in an experience that resonates with their interests, while giving teachers a chance to connect with their students in a shared way.

It’s an opportunity to rethink how we use music as a tool for creativity, connection, and agency in the classroom. Suitable for all levels of experience.

In this CPD workshop for teachers, you will;

Dates & Times: 
1 March, 10.30am – 12.30pm

Tickets: 
€25 / €20(for ArkEd Members)

For more information, see ark.ie/events/view/teachers-music-to-my-ears

!!!! Opportunity: Portal Documentation Award 2025

Deadline extended: 12 March 2025

The Arts in Education Portal editorial team is pleased to invite applications for a documentation award. Through the award, successful applicants will receive services to the value of €5,000 that will support them in the documentation of a current or upcoming project and a €500 stipend.

The purpose of the award is to support the development of documented outcomes from Arts in Education initiatives in Ireland, which can be shared with the arts in education community and give insights into different processes of engagement. This is part of the Arts in Education Portal Editorial Committee’s commitment to supporting and recognising the value of documentation and reflection as key components within arts in education initiatives.

To celebrate 10 years of the Arts in Education Portal (2015 – 2025) three awards will be offered in 2025 through this opportunity.

Outcomes of the documentation process will include: a project video, a project feature to be showcased on the Portal’s Projects/Partnerships, and the option of a critical essay, with a view to also presenting the work as part of the Arts in Education Portal National Day in 2025.

The process will involve meetings with the Portal Team and a schedule of up to 2 visits over the course of the project to capture video and photographic documentation and support reflective processes among participants.

The portal team will edit and produce a project video and will liaise closely with the project partners to develop the content for the project feature. The critical essay would be cited in the Portal’s Reading Room and is optional. The author and focus of the essay can be decided by the project organisers in collaboration with the Portal Team.

Criteria:

To be considered for this opportunity, projects must:

Additional Criteria for the Third Award:

For the third award opportunity being offered in 2025, the Arts in Education Portal editorial team is particularly interested in proposals from arts and creativity in education initiatives that reflect on the development of an arts in education practice and where it has become embedded in the education programme.

Additional criteria:

Successful applicants will be asked to ensure that relevant permissions/consent have been sought for the documentation of participants.
Please ensure your application has been approved by all project partners prior to submission.

How to make a submission:

Complete your application using this online form
Deadline for submission is 2pm, Wednesday 12 March 2025.

!!!! Opportunity for Schools: Creative Clusters 2025 – 2027

Department of Education
Deadline: Thursday 10 April 

The Department of Education is pleased to announce the opening of a new round of Creative Clusters for 2025 – 2027. The programme is open to primary and post-primary schools, including special education schools, as well as YouthReach organisations.

Each Creative Cluster will receive funding of €3,000 per school in each cluster over a two-year period to implement their project in the 2025–2027 school years.

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

Please see the following link for further details: Creative Clusters 2025 – Department of Education Guidelines 

Watch the following video about Creative Clusters:

Application Form Webinar – 26 February
Creative Clusters 2025/2027 Application Form Webinar hosted by Jennifer Buggie and Catherine Sheridan to assist schools with any queries they may have about completing the Creative Clusters 2025/2027 Application Form.
This webinar is being held on Wednesday 26th February at 7pm.
To register, please see the following registration link: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/f4fUgum3QA2k3_ZnWSoWUQ

Eligible Schools – The following schools are welcome to apply to participate in Creative Clusters:

Creative Clusters 2025 application form and guidelines:
The application process will be open from 27th January 2025 until 10th April 2025. Please find link to application form here: https://forms.office.com/e/Xxk81z4F62

Creative Clusters is an initiative of the Department of Education, led by and in partnership with the 21 full-time Education Centres (Education Support Centres Ireland – ESCI) and funded through the Schools Excellence Fund.

!!!! Activities to celebrate St Brigid at the National Museum of Ireland

The National Museum of Ireland 
February 2025

The National Museum of Ireland has announced events and activities to celebrate St Brigid this February. A visit to one or more of the three Museum sites in Dublin and Mayo is a must to learn and discover more about the history and traditions associated with Brigid – the ancient goddess of Imbolc and the Christian patron saint of Ireland.

From shoe shrines to straw crosses, they have a full and varied programme of workshops, drop-in sessions and tours showcasing the many artefacts, traditions and rituals associated with and dedicated to St Brigid. Read more about St Brigid’s Day Traditions here

See full programme of workshops and events here: museum.ie/en-IE/News/St-Brigid-Events

Learn how to make a three-armed St Brigid’s Cross with Tom Doyle from the National Museum in Turlough Park in Co. Mayo.

!!!! The Arts Council 2025 Funding Opportunities for Artists and Schools

2025 Funding Opportunities Schedule announced by the Arts Council

The Arts Council is the Irish government agency for developing the arts. They work in partnership with artists, arts organisations, public policy makers and others to build a central place for the arts in Irish life. They have released the current schedule for funding opportunities for 2025. The full listing is available here.

We have collated a list of funding opportunities including key dates that are relevant to artists with an arts and creativity in education practice and schools/education leaders.

Writers in Schools Scheme part-funds visits by writers and storytellers to schools throughout the island of Ireland. This scheme is administered by Poetry Ireland.
Opens: Ongoing

Young People, Children, and Education Bursary Award supports individual professional artists working with, and producing work for, children and young people across a range of artforms.
Opens: 7 January 2025
Deadline: 13 February 2025

Young Ensembles Scheme supports groups of young people between the ages of ten and twenty-four to create or actively engage with ambitious and original work together in any artform.
Opens: 28 January 2025
Deadline: 27 February 2025

Arts in Early Learning and Childcare Scheme provides opportunities for babies and young children to explore the arts with the support of artists, early-years educators, school-age practitioners, families and carers.
Deadline: 3 April 2025

Children and Young People’s Arts Residency is open to higher-education institutions that provide initial teacher education and/or a course leading to a Level 7 or 8 degree in early childhood education and care.
Deadline: 3 April 2025

Creative Schools/ Scoileanna Ildánacha initiative supports schools/centres to put the arts and creativity at the heart of children’s and young people’s lives.
Opens: 25 February 2025
Deadline: 8 May 2025
*Before applying, you must register your school / education centre as an ‘Organisation’ through Online Services. Please note that registration can take up to 5 business days to process.

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

Cork County Council Arts Service
Deadline: 9 January 2025

Cork County Council has announced details of its 2025 funding opportunities for the county’s Arts sector. The Council’s Library and Arts Service is inviting proposals for arts projects, activities and events taking place in the Cork County in 2025 that may be eligible for funding under a range of grant assistance schemes that are now open for applications.

Funds announced include the Arts Grants Scheme which will support arts organisations and the voluntary sector to deliver arts activity, a programme to support artists to work in schools, support for developing arts projects through the Irish Language, and bursary and residency opportunities for professional artists working in all disciplines.

Announcing the funding opportunities, Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr. Joe Carroll, said, “A total of €166,000 was awarded through our Arts Grants Schemes in 2024, providing vital support to 131 worthy recipients. Our Arts sector helps sustain communities, supports social cohesion and improves the quality of life of our citizens. Through these schemes, we would like to support artists and arts organisations, as well as providing assistance to local festivals, performances, exhibitions, and other publicly accessible cultural programmes, many of which are made possible through the hard work of local volunteers.”

Arts Grant Scheme

The Cork County Council Arts Grant Scheme provides grants for individuals and organisations to present and promote arts activities, projects, or events in Cork County. Grants may be awarded where applications meet the aims and objectives, and eligibility criteria as outlined in these guidelines. Applications will be evaluated on the artistic vision, ambition, potential impact on audiences and artists, and feasibility. Read more here: Arts Grant Scheme

Artist in Schools Scheme

The purpose of the Artist in Schools scheme is to enable primary and post-primary students and teaching staff to work collaboratively with an artist on a creative project over an extended period.

The scheme provides an opportunity for a school to carry out a project where the artistic and learning outcomes focus on nurturing the student’s creative imagination, critical thinking and collaborative skills, and the skills of the teaching staff involved. Read more here: Artists in Schools Scheme

Information Sessions

Two information sessions are scheduled for interested applicants. The first takes place on the 22nd of November and will cover the Arts Grant Scheme (arts activity, projects, and events by individuals or organisations). The second session on Friday the 29th of November will cover Artist Bursaries (Creative Artist Bursary Scheme, Artists in School Scheme, International Touring and Exhibition Bursary, Tyrone Guthrie Centre Bursary, Ballinglen Arts Foundation Bursary, Cork County Council Centre Culturel Irlandais Residency Bursary). Those interested should contact arts@corkcoco.ie to register for the information sessions.

To remove barriers for participation Cork County Council will also accept video or 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 from the 11th of November 2024 until the 9th of January 2025.

Guidelines are available on the Arts section of Cork County Council’s website www.corkcoco.ie
For queries on the schemes, email arts@corkcoco.ie or call 021- 4346210.

!!!! Guidelines Supporting Inclusion for Autistic Children in Early Learning, School & Childcare Settings Published

Minister O’Gorman publishes Guidelines Supporting Inclusion for Autistic Children in Early Learning, School & Childcare Settings

Roderic O’Gorman, Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, has published (11 October 2024) Introductory Guidelines to Support the Inclusion of Autistic Children in Early Learning and Care, School-Age Childcare and Childminding Settings.

The Guidelines are for early years educators, school-age childcare practitioners and childminders who are currently working to support the meaningful inclusion of autistic children in early learning and care, school-age childcare and childminding settings.

They form part of a wider suite of universal and targeted supports under the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) which have been designed to ensure children with a disability and additional needs can access and participate in the ECCE programme and early learning and care settings more broadly.

The Guidelines fulfil a commitment in the recently launched National Autism Innovation Strategy, which aims to address the bespoke challenges and barriers facing autistic people and to improve understanding and accommodation of autism within society and across the public system.

Each year 2,735 services benefit from AIM supports.

Speaking about the National Guidelines, Minister O’Gorman said:

“I am delighted to announce the publication of National Guidelines to Support the Inclusion of Autistic Children in Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare Settings.

Meaningful inclusion of neurodivergent children and their families in settings starts with the early years educators and school-age practitioners being fully informed of their role in active inclusion.

These Guidelines form part of the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) suite of supports and resources supporting the inclusion of children in the ECCE programme and beyond.

I hope the Guidelines assist early years educators and school-age childcare practitioners with the important role they play to support the inclusion of all children in their settings.”

Welcoming the publication of these guidelines, Minister of State with responsibility for Disability, Anne Rabbitte added:

“I warmly welcome these National Guidelines for those working with our youngest children. They deliver on an action of our Department’s Autism Innovation Strategy.

This Strategy will work hard to respond and enhance the lived experience of autistic people, their families and carers, so we can ensure that challenges and barriers currently being faced are being adequately addressed and to improve understanding and accommodation of autism within society and across the public system.

These guidelines for early learning and care, school-age childcare and childminding settings are an example of a clear action that can make a tangible difference to children’s lives.”

Click here to go to Introductory Guidelines to Support the Meaningful Inclusion of Autistic Children in Early Learning and Care & School Age Childcare.

To read full press release click here: www.gov.ie/en/press-release/27df1-minister-ogorman-publishes-introductory-guidelines/

!!!! Artist Opportunity: Open Call for Mother Tongues Festival 2025

Mother Tongues Festival 2025 – Open Call for Artists
Closing Date: Sunday, 27 October 2024

The Mother Tongues Festival, Ireland’s largest celebration of linguistic diversity through the arts, is calling upon artists like you to be a part of an unforgettable event in 2025. Get ready to make a difference, connect with diverse communities, and showcase your artistic practice like never before.

The Mother Tongues Festival is an inclusive platform that invites artists from all backgrounds to participate in workshops, performances and exhibitions that embrace the power of multilingualism.

The festival encourage everyone, regardless of their linguistic background, to explore new horizons, learn something new and most importantly, have a blast doing it. The festival is all about celebrating your mother tongue and the multitude of languages spoken in Ireland.

Your Chance to Shine
For the 2025 edition of the Mother Tongues Festival, they are searching for passionate artists to lead workshops that captivate, educate, and entertain. Whether your field is music, visual arts, dance, storytelling, traditional arts and crafts, or any form of performance, they want to hear from you.

The workshops must be designed for families (parents/carers will attend with children) catering for children in the following age groups: 2 to 3 years, 3 to 6 years and 6 to 8 years.

While all proposals are welcome, they are particularly interested in those which encourage active participation and link clearly to one of the following themes:

Each selected artist will receive a budget of €250 per workshop.

The festival is particularly interested in proposals that celebrate languages beyond English, with a special emphasis on those from Latin America, Asia, and Africa. Your unique perspective can enrich the festival and create a vibrant cultural exchange.

For more information about this open call and details on how to submit your proposal click here: mothertonguesfestival.com

The deadline is Sunday, October 27th 2024. The workshop will be held on February 22nd 2025 in Tallaght.

!!!! Opportunity For Schools: This is Art! 2024 Competition Now Open

RTÉ’s ‘This is Art!’
Closing Date: 3rd November 2024, at Midnight

Exciting news! The “This is Art! 2024” competition is now open for entries, and they need your help to inspire the next generation of young artists.

RTÉ’s ‘This is Art!’ is a free-to-enter youth art competition celebrating the creative talents of young people of all abilities across the island of Ireland. Open to individuals and class groups aged 18 and under, the competition welcomes various art forms, including paintings, drawings, sculptures, and digital art.

The Judges this year, including artists Maser, Leah Hewson, and Aideen Barry, along with curators Tadhg Crowley from The Glucksman Cork and Sheena Barrett IMMA, will review submissions and award prizes worth €10,000 across five categories.

Student entries will be hosted on the RTÉ website www.rte.ie/thisisart as a digital gallery.

The theme for this years completion is “This is Imagination!”

Download the Teachers Pack here. 

How to Enter:

Categories:

Prizes:

Closing Date: 3rd November 2024, at Midnight

For further information go to rte.ie/thisisart.

!!!! Ticket Booking Now Open! 2024 National Portal Day

Booking is now open for our eleventh National Arts in Education Portal Day which will take place on Saturday 9 November 2024 at East Quad, TU Dublin, in partnership with the School of Art and Design. This free full-day event aims to bring together arts and education professionals to share, learn, talk, network, get inspired, and discuss best practices in the arts and creativity in education.

The Programme will see a mix of presentations, smaller discussion-led sessions and creative workshops each addressing the special focus of ‘Amplifying All Voices’ and how the Amplification of All Voices in creativity and education can empower, build confidence, passion, and support.

As previously announced The Portal Team is delighted to welcome guest speakers, Leon Diop, Head of Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion at the Arts Council of Ireland, Francesca Hutchinson, a multidisciplinary artist and post-primary teacher, Dr. Padráig Kirk, Managing Director of Oide, and Dr. Hannagh McGinley, Assistant Professor in Education at MCI Thurles for a round table discussion moderated by Jennifer Buggie, Advisor for Arts & Creativity in Education with the Department of Education and The Education Centre, Tralee.

With a closing rapporteur address from Adam Stoneman, Creative Communities Engagement Officer at Galway City Council.

View the 2024 Programme HERE.

How to Book Tickets

Tickets for the 2024 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.

View transport and TU Dublin parking and transport  details here Travel and Parking 2024 National Portal Day

!!!! Save the Date! Socially Engaged Practice: Building Equity in a Divided World

Create at The Dock Arts Centre

Dates: 6-7 November 2024

Create’s annual networking event brings together those working in or entering the field of collaborative, socially engaged arts. This year the event will form part of a two-day conference on socially engaged practice, taking place 6-7 November 2024 at The Dock Arts Centre, Carrick on Shannon, County Leitrim.

The conference is a partnership with Leitrim County Council Arts Office and Cork City Council Arts Office, and provides an opportunity to meet, learn, discuss, critique and engage with current concerns in social practice. Create is the National Development Agency for Collaborative Arts.

Who is this event for?
Artists, researchers, community group representatives, activists, arts managers and anyone working or interested in the field of collaborative arts.

The full programme will be announced in October.

For further information go to www.create-ireland.ie/activity/save-the-date-socially-engaged-practice-building-equity-in-a-divided-world/.

!!!! EARTH RISING Festival at IMMA

Irish Museum of Modern Art

Dates: 20 – 22 September 2024

EARTH RISING 2024, a dynamic three-day festival dedicated to addressing the climate crisis through art, creativity, and community.

EARTH RISING is where art meets activism and highlights the vital role of art and culture in driving environmental change and fostering a deep connection between people and the planet. EARTH RISING seeks to inspire collective action through creative expression, fostering a deep connection between individuals, communities, and our planet.

This year’s festival offers a rich programme of talks, exhibitions, workshops, outdoor screenings, music, live performances, and an Eco Fair—all free and open to the public. Programme highlights include an installation and talk by Sakiya, a progressive academy for experimental knowledge production and sharing around local farming in Ramallah, Palestine; a climate comedy workshop; speed dating to find your ‘Soil Mate’ to connect garden owners with gardenless growers; Project Dandelion workshops hosted by the Mary Robinson Centre; a climate-based  mixed reality experience by Andrew McSweeney; and a spoken word poetry event taking place on Culture Night, to name a few! Also back by popular demand Jennie Moran will host a convivial exchange of ideas, skills and knowledge around food where we will rethink our food practices over food demonstrations, talks and presentations.

Special collaborations include a Slow Tour Concert brought to IMMA by the Goethe Institut Ireland featuring musician LIE NING who is travelling across Europe by train and ferry, as part of a resource-efficient concert tour; Demolition Takedown, a large-scale installation, supported by Creative Ireland that aims to encourage action on reducing construction and demolition waste in Ireland

All events and experiences at EARTH RISING are free of charge. Some workshops require booking and ticket links and information can be found here.

EARTH RISING is supported by the Department of Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht.

 

!!!! Reminder of Deadline: Call for Presentations and Workshops – National Portal Day 2024

Arts in Education Portal

Deadline: 5pm, Monday 9th September 

The ninth annual Arts in Education Portal National Day takes place on Saturday 9 November at TU Dublin, School of Art and Design.

The Arts in Education Portal Editorial Committee welcomes submissions of proposals for workshops and presentations that represent quality practice and thinking within the field of arts and creativity in education. This year, the Portal Day will have a special focus on ‘Amplifying All Voices’. 

The Committee particularly want to profile projects that represent children from diverse communities and children who are seldom heard.  The closing date for submissions is 5pm Monday 9th September 2024. 

Criteria for selection of proposals:

The Arts in Education Portal Editorial Committee welcomes submissions of proposals for workshops and presentations that represent:

 

Our selection of proposals will also be informed by a desire for:

 

How to apply:

Submissions should be made using the online form, please click the following link to access the form and read the full application guidelines.

Online application form

For further enquiries, contact events@artsineducation.ie.

 

 

!!!! Children and Family Events at the National Museum of Country Life

The National Museum of Country Life

Dates: July and August

The National Museum of Country Life has lots of free family events during July and August, suitable for children of all ages. Every Saturday throughout the month of July from 2pm to 4pm,  you can make your own Paper Bee & Wildflowers at the Nature Craft Station. This is part of the ‘Visit the Murmur of Bees’ exhibition where you can learn all about bees in Ireland and then visit the Nature Craft Station in the Education Rooms in the Museum Galleries. This is a self-guided activity suitable for all ages. No booking is required.

Families are encouraged to pick up the new ‘Woodland Explorer’ activity booklet from Museum reception and explore a self-guided nature trail through the grounds of Turlough Park any time during opening hours.  Also during opening hours, families can participate in the  Gallery Trail: ‘Find Peadar and his Friends’! Peadar is a Pygmy Shrew who lives at the Museum with his seven friends. Can you find their hiding spots in the Museum galleries using a fun, self-guided activity sheet?

They Museum Music  Circle runs from 1pm to 2.30pm on the 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month and is suitable for all Ages. Dust down that fiddle and polish that whistle for the Museum’s Music Circle! Come along to learn, practice, share and play tunes and songs with other musicians.

All events are free and you can get more information here.

!!!! Music Generation’s Annual Report 2023

Music Generation

Music Generation recently released their Annual Report for 2023. In 2023, Music Generation reached 8% of children and young people in Ireland, a total of 115,936 programme participants. The year was full of collaborations across counties, vibrant youth-led festivals and young musicians creating new music with professional artists.

513 Musician Educators actively delivered programmes in 2023, a further  514 visits from 204 Professional Musicians/ Ensembles across twenty-five Local Music Education Programme (LMEP) Areas.

Many programmes offered a mix of sound and music forms including: Foundational or Pre-Instrumental Recording and Production, Singer-Songwriter, Creative Music Making, Composition, Music Technology, Spoken Word, Rap, Podcasting.

We have selected some programme highlights from Music Generation’s Annual Report:

The report also detailed national events where young musicians from Music Generation programmes were invited to bring their music to national and international audiences. Music Generation Laois performed at Child Summit 2023 hosted by The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. Young singers from Paddock National School, performed a segment of “Bicycles, Boomerangs and Blue Macaws”, a suite based on the United Nations Convention on the rights of the child. The Lundy Model of Participation (2007) was used to facilitate and empower the voice of the child throughout the songwriting process, the programme also encompassed pupils from Cloneyhurke and Rath National Schools.

To read the full report, please visit: https://www.musicgeneration.ie/news/music-generations-annual-report-2023

!!!! Call for Presentations and Workshops – National Portal Day 2024

Arts in Education Portal

Deadline: 5pm, Monday 9th September 

The ninth annual Arts in Education Portal National Day takes place on Saturday 9 November at TU Dublin, School of Art and Design.

The Arts in Education Portal Editorial Committee welcomes submissions of proposals for workshops and presentations that represent quality practice and thinking within the field of arts and creativity in education. This year, the Portal Day will have a special focus on ‘Amplifying All Voices’. 

The Committee particularly want to profile projects that represent children from diverse communities and children who are seldom heard.  The closing date for submissions is 5pm Monday 9th September 2024. 

Criteria for selection of proposals:

The Arts in Education Portal Editorial Committee welcomes submissions of proposals for workshops and presentations that represent:

 

Our selection of proposals will also be informed by a desire for:

 

How to apply:

Submissions should be made using the online form, please click the following link to access the form and read the full application guidelines.

Online application form

For further enquiries, contact events@artsineducation.ie.

!!!! Baboró Go See Fund

Baboró Internation Arts Festival for Children

Date: ongoing

Baboró offers a small Go See Fund to support artists and creatives to travel within Ireland to see work for children. The fund is designed for those who make or wish to make work for children and are looking for inspiration, new approaches to presentation, etc.  To ensure this small fund can benefit as many individuals as possible, it will support the cost of event tickets and travel within the island of Ireland only, up to a maximum of €100 per application.

If you wish to apply for this funding, you need to  please outline in 1-2 pages:

You can send completed applications to the Artist & Programme Coordinator at rachel@baboro.ie with the subject line ‘Go See Fund Application’. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis throughout the year. For further details, please visit: https://www.baboro.ie/artists/grow/go-see-fund.

!!!! Arts Council Project Award information session : Arts Participation & Young People, Children and Education (YPCE)

The Arts Council of Ireland

Date: 10th July 

The Arts Council’s Arts Participation and the Young People Children and Education teams are hosting a joint information session on the Project Award 2025.

The purpose of the YPCE Project Award is to support artists to develop and deliver ambitious and original projects with and for children and young people. Projects may be interdisciplinary or focused on a specific artform.

You can join them online to learn more about the Project Award 2025 and how it can support your initiatives in the areas of Arts Participation and/or Young People, Children and Education.

The information session will take place on  Zoom and is an opportunity to learn more about the Project Award and how it can support your initiatives in the areas of Arts Participation and/or Young People, Children and Education.

This practical online clinic will support and guide new and returning applicants to the award. You can register your interest for this information clinic taking place online Wednesday 10 July at 11:00am. There will also be an opportunity for attendees to submit their questions in advance of the clinic. If you have a question relating to the Arts Participation Project Award or Young People, Children and Education Project Award, please send it in advance to caroline.magnani@artscouncil.ie by Friday 5 July.

For more information on the fund,  please visit https://www.artscouncil.ie/Funds/Young-People,-Children-and-Education-Project-Award

!!!! Performing Arts Forum Gathering 2024: a visit

Performing Arts Forum

Members of the Portal team recently ventured out to meet with colleagues, artists, theatre-makers and arts professionals who had convened in Sligo for Performing Arts Forum’s Annual Gathering. This was the first event to occur under the new name having recently re-branded from Theatre Forum. Their fully booked annual conference touched down in Sligo on Tuesday 28th and Wednesday 29th May with several hundred in attendance.

This Portal is managed by Kids’ Own Publishing based in Sligo so it was only a stroll across town to join proceedings.

Over the two days, the gathering explored many themes under the concept Where Connection Creates Change including freedom of expression, career viability and sustainability, advocacy, audience research and lots more. For the Portal it was an opportunity to hear from associate groups Theatre For Young Audiences (TYAI) and the Young Curators / Lasta Festival.
We connected with many individual artists, theatre makers, venue managers who make and present work, run outreach programmes, participate in TAP+/BLAST/Creative Clusters with young people.

There was a fantastic buzz with lots of opportunities for discussion, entertainment and discovery. More information on https://performingartsforum.ie/

!!!! Certificate in Eco Arts Practice

MTU Crawford College of Art and Design

Deadline: 10 June

The Eco Arts Practice course is a Level 9 certificate 10 credit programme. Through experiential learning, this course provides an opportunity to explore Eco Arts Practice theory and application within a group setting.  The aim of the course is to provide participants with approaches to Eco Art Practice that could be applied in a range of different contexts, making it attractive to teachers, therapists, youth and community workers or artists looking to broaden the scope of their practice.

Explore nature and the environment within an art context, from ethical use of materials, to eco literacy through to the natural environment as a classroom, a therapeutic space and a material that can be worked with.

The course is delivered part-time over one academic year.

For further information and to apply, please visit: https://www.mtu.ie/courses/craeapr9/

!!!! Hilary Heron at IMMA – free guided tours and workshops for schools

Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA)

IMMA invites teachers and tutors from pre-primary, primary, secondary schools and colleges to bring their student groups to IMMA any time during opening hours. Teachers and tutors can book bespoke guided tours and talks focused on specific exhibitions, and can access related digital resources, such as study notes and videos.

Before the school breaks for the summer holidays, why not come and see some exciting sculpture? In IMMA’s Garden Galleries, Hilary Heron: A Retrospective celebrates the pioneering work of modernist sculptor Hilary Heron (1923 – 1977). Hilary Heron was a Dublin born sculptor who co-represented Ireland at the 1956 Venice Biennale alongside painter Louis le Brocquy (1916 – 2012).

She was a courageous sculptor who travelled extensively, absorbing cultures whilst pursing new modern ideals. She created works in wood, terracotta, steel, bronze and with welding, in this practice she was ground breaking, as there were few women welders in the 1950s.

Also on exhibition are a selection of artworks by contemporary Irish female sculptors, who like Heron, have represented Ireland in the Venice Biennale.

Book a Tour and Workshop

You can book a guided tour with a member of the Visitor Engagement Team, who will explore and tease out the artworks with your class. The tour is followed by a workshop in the Matheson Creativity Hub. A combination of both will take approximately 2 hours. To make a booking, please visit: https://immatours.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/1173590867/events/428615079

ZOOM Presentation

If you cannot come to see this exhibition in person, IMMA can bring it directly onto your smartboard via Zoom presentation. A member of the Visitor Engagement Team can present and host a discussion with your class group.

If you would like some more information or to book a session then contact joan.walker@imma.ie

!!!! 2024 Portal Spring Regional Day – Programme Announced

Arts in Education Portal 

Date: Saturday, 25th May 2024

The Arts in Education Portal team are delighted to announce the full programme for our Spring Regional Day on Saturday 25 May in Sligo at Sligo Education Centre. 

We invite teachers, artists, arts managers and anyone with an interest in arts in education in Donegal, Mayo, Leitrim, Roscommon and Sligo and beyond to join us for this free event.

The programme for the day includes a series of presentations in the morning; teacher Triona O’Dowd Hill, artist Andy Parson, together with Lorna Kavanagh of Kids’ Own Publishing,  will discuss the collaborative journey embarked with Triona’s class in St. Cecilia’s School, a school that caters for students with moderate to profound learning disabilities. Following this discussion, Karen Brogan, a teacher from the West Sligo Creative Cluster will share their cluster journey where they explored themes within ecology and heritage through sculpture, sound and visual art and how they developed new and innovative ways of working co-operatively.

In the afternoon sample some creative spark with the choice between two creative workshops. STEAM facilitator Kathleen Gallagher, will provide educators with comprehensive training on utilising Scratch, a visual programming language, and Makey Makey, a circuit building invention kit, to create interactive art projects. Alternatively join Maeve Pudney to explore colour and pattern through Donegal yarn using a small weaving loom invented through her creative business Pop Out Projects. 

How to Book
Tickets for the 2024 Portal Spring Regional Day are free.  It is essential to book in advance as capacity is limited.

Book your place at:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/890236971747

– – – – – – – –

Schedule 

10:15am — Registration & coffee  

10.45am — Welcome & Introduction – The Portal: a brief introduction by Edel Doherty, Kids’ Own Publishing Partnership (Portal Content Manager) 

11:00am — Presentation: “Collaborations in Abstract sculpture” with Triona O’Dowd Hill and Andy Parsons

11:30am — Presentation: “Dúlra agus Dúchas: The Ties that Bind Us”; A Creative Cluster Journey from Beach Foraging to Beach Installation with Karen Brogan and Leslie Ryan

12:00am — Bulletins from the Education and Arts sectors

12:15pm — Q & A: whole panel of presenters

12:30pm — Lunch & networking

1:30pm – 3:00pm — Parallel session: choice between two creative workshops:
“Engaging Minds: Interactive Art Workshop with Scratch and Makey Makey” with Kathleen Gallagher

Or 

“Learn to Weave Irish Tweed” with Maeve Pudney

– – – – Close – – – – 

!!!! 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.

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

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

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:

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

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

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

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

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:

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

!!!! Opportunity: Portal Documentation Award 2024

Deadline extended: 6 March 2024

The Arts in Education Portal editorial team are pleased to invite applications for a documentation award. Through the award, successful applicants will receive services to the value of €5,000 that will support them in the documentation of a current or upcoming project and a €500 stipend.

The purpose of the award is to support the development of documented outcomes from Arts in Education initiatives in Ireland, which can be shared with the arts in education community and give insights into different processes of engagement. This is part of the Arts in Education Portal Editorial Committee’s commitment to supporting and recognising the value of documentation and reflection as key components within arts in education initiatives.

Two awards will be offered through this opportunity.

Outcomes of the documentation process will include: a project video, a project feature to be showcased on the Portal’s Projects/Partnerships, and the option of a critical essay, with a view to also presenting the work as part of the Arts in Education Portal National Day in 2024.

The process will involve meetings with the Portal Team and a schedule of up to 2 visits over the course of the project to capture video and photographic documentation and support reflective processes among participants. These visits and meetings can be conducted virtually if required.

The portal team will edit and produce a project video and will liaise closely with the project partners to develop the content for the project feature. The critical essay would be cited in the Portal’s Reading Room and is optional. The author and focus of the essay can be decided by the project organisers in collaboration with the Portal Team.

Criteria

To be considered for this opportunity, projects must:

Additional criteria

Successful applicants will be asked to ensure that relevant permissions/consent have been sought for the documentation of participants.
Please ensure your application has been approved by all project partners prior to submission.

How to make a submission:

Note: this article was amended on 29/02/24 to revise the deadline for submission from Friday 1 to Wednesday 6 March

!!!! Funding Opportunities and Events for Artists

The beginning of the year often signals the start of the funding cycle for artists and arts organisations, we have collated a number of upcoming webinars and sessions along with a selection grants of interest for artists working in the arts and creativity in education sector as well as school/education leaders.

Funding Opportunities from The Arts Council

The Arts Council is the national agency for funding, developing and promoting the arts in Ireland. They recently released the current schedule for funding opportunities for 2024. The full listing can be found here: https://www.artscouncil.ie/funding-opportunities-schedule/

For interest to school/education leaders and artists in the arts and creativity in education practice are a selection of relevant funding streams:

Young People, Children, and Education Bursary Award – currently open, deadline 15th Feb (open to individual artists)

Writers in Schools Scheme – Ongoing (open to individual artists, administered by Poetry Ireland)

Creative Schools Initiative – opens 27th Feb, deadline 2nd May (open to Department of Education-recognised primary and post-primary schools and Youthreach centres)

Young People, Children and Education Residencies – opens 5th Mar, deadline 4th Apr (open to higher-education institutions that provide initial teacher education in partnership with an artist / arts organisation)

Arts in Early Learning and Childcare Scheme – opens 5th Mar, deadline 4th April (open to individual artists and arts organisations)

Agility Award – opens 5th Mar, deadline 25th Apr (open to individual artists and arts workers)

Young People, Children and Education Project Award – opens 25th Jun, deadline 25th Jul (open to individual artists)

Events

Visual Arts Ireland (VAI)

Date: Thursday 25th January 2024
VAI are hosting a webinar ‘An Artist’s Guide to Accessing Funding’ on Thursday 25th January at 11am via zoom with curator and critic Marianne O’Kane Boal. This event is supported by Clare, Limerick and Tipperary County Council Arts Offices. 

The online session will consist of one 45 minute presentation that will take a closer look at all things ‘Funding and applications’ covering grants, bursaries, residencies, per cent for art commissions and project proposals. It is free to artists based in Counties Clare, Limerick and Tipperary and general admission is €10.

To register, visit the VAI website: https://visualartists.ie/professional-development-_/#!event/register/2024/1/25/webinar-an-artist-apos-s-guide-to-accessing-funding

The Arts Council

The Arts Council is also hosting a series of ‘Meet the Arts Council’ sessions in arts venues around the country in January/February.

These sessions are an opportunity to speak with Arts Council staff about funding opportunities and hear about what the Arts Council does.

Update: bookings have now closed for all events, but you are welcome to join the waiting list using the links below and the Arts Council will contact you if further places arise.

Schedule:

!!!! The 2023 National Arts in Education Portal Day – Roundup

The Arts in Education Portal

“Do you know what I like about art..?
Is – it’s messy
You can do some things and it doesn’t turn out the way you think
It turns out better than you thought it would be”

– a participant on the Follow Your Nose project, presented by artist Julie Forrester

On November 11th the eighth annual National Arts in Education Portal Day took place at at Mary Immaculate College, Limerick in partnership with the Department of Arts Education & Physical Education. The national portal day has grown in significance as one of the key events in the arts and education calendar in Ireland, and this year through a very a inspiring set of presentations and workshops addressed the special focus of ‘Seldom Heard Voices’ reflecting diversity and inclusion across school communities..

With over 70 artists, teachers and arts in education professionals in attendance, this year’s conference was jointly opened by Helen O’Donoghue from the Arts in Education Portal Editorial Committee and Dr Gwen Moore of Mary Immaculate College. The day unfolded from there featuring a mix of lectures and workshops throughout the day providing insights into the breadth of practice across the sector. The keynote address was delivered by Dr Jill Goodwin, in a highly engaging talk entitled “Can you hear me? Creating space for listening – an artistic enquiry” delegates gained inspirational insights from Dr Goodwin’s practice working with children labelled as having profound and multiple learning disabilities, demystified many aspects of working in this space.

A set of resources that were referred to her in her presentation can be found at the end of this article.

The beautiful surrounds of Mary Immaculate College provided the space for a day filled with conversation, networking and connections. Thanks to all involved in making the day a huge success!

To view Dr Jill Goodwin’s resource set from the Portal Day click below:
References – ‘Can you hear me? Creating Space to Listen: An artistic enquiry’

!!!! 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 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.

!!!! 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:

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:

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:

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

!!!! 2023 National Portal Day – Programme Announced

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

!!!! 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.

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.

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, 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.

 

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

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 Publish LEAP Report and Findings

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

!!!! 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.

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

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

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/

!!!! 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.

“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

 

 

 

 

!!!! 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.

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

!!!! Minister Catherine Martin launches Cruinniú na nÓg 2023

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 10th 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 10th 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/

 

!!!! 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

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.

!!!! Get ready for Creative Schools Week 2023!

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

!!!! Join The Erasmus+ Online eTwinning Schools Conference

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 

!!!! 2023 Portal Spring Regional Day – Programme Announced

Arts in Education Portal 

Date: Saturday, 6th May 2023

The Portal Team is delighted to announce the full programme for the Arts in Education Portal Spring Regional Day which takes place on Saturday 6th May in Cork City at MTU Crawford College of Art & Design in partnership with the Department of Arts in Health & Education and Department of Fine Art & Applied Art. We are also delighted to present, in collaboration with Sample-Studios in Cork, an exhibition of work from artists in the field of arts in education based in the South-West region. An exhibition viewing will be held at the Lord Mayor’s Pavilion to wrap up the day’s programme from 3:30pm; delegates are welcome to attend then or to visit the exhibition which will run until 27th May.

We invite teachers, artists, arts managers and anyone with an interest in arts in education in Cork, Kerry, Limerick and Tipperary to join us for these free events.

The programme for the day includes a series of presentations in the morning; artist Jane Hayes will discuss the challenges and opportunities that go with balancing a studio practice with collaborative arts projects, and her mission to make both child-centred. Following this discussion, composer Fiona Linnane will explore the activities which she has found to be the most effective in engaging students during her residencies through presentation, discussion and creative exercises.  

In the afternoon join West Cork based visual artist artist Julie O’Hea for a creative workshop in ink making and hapa-zome pigment printing, this session promises to be messy, fun and informative.


How to Book

Tickets for the 2023 Portal Spring Regional Day are free but pre booking is essential as capacity is limited.

Book your place at https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/arts-in-education-portal-regional-day-south-west-tickets-600696769207

Online Viewing:

For those who can’t join us in person on the day, the morning talks and presentations will be available to watch back online following the conference. Registration for viewing is available through the link here: https://forms.gle/MF4NLWcRWq8t15nk8.

Please note: ISL Interpretation will be available at the venue and on the video recordings.


Schedule

10:00am — Registration & coffee at MTU CCAD, Sharman Crawford Street

10.15am — Welcome Address

10:30am — The Portal: a brief introduction by Edel Doherty, Kids’ Own Publishing Partnership (Portal Content Managers) 

10:45am — Presentation ‘The Voice of the Child in Creative Decision-Making – The Early Years Context’ with Jane Hayes. Join early years artist Jane Hayes for an informal discussion about her socially engaged visual arts practice and her work with and for very young children.

11:30am — Presentation ‘Tutti – Exploring pathways to inclusivity for music composition in the classroom’ with Fiona Linnane. Composer Fiona Linnane will share her learnings, as an artist delivering schools residencies exploring music and sound, around what she has found to be the most inclusive approaches to music composition in the classroom.

12:15pm — Lunch & networking

1:15pm — Walk to MTU CCAD, Grand Parade

1:30pm – 3:00pm — Creative Workshop ‘Pigments from Nature’ with artist Julie O’Hea at MTU CCAD, Grand Parade. Visual artist Julie O’Hea will give a demonstration in ink making and hapa-zome pigment printing in a messy, fun and informative creative session.

– – – – – – – – – 

3:30pm — Exhibition viewing and reception at Lord Mayor’s Pavilion

5:00pm — wrap up

 

Collaborative Arts in Education exhibition with Sample-Studios at the Lord Mayor’s Pavilion

27th April – 27th May

Exhibition opening hours:

Tuesday – Saturday, 11am – 4pm

For further information on the Regional Day email events@artsineducation.ie.

!!!! 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

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 Day Ireland 2023 Events Programme Announced

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

!!!! Professional Development Opportunity: Social Practice Toolkit

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

!!!! Portal Spring Regional Day 2023: Collaborative Arts in Education exhibition with Sample-Studios

Arts in Education Portal

Date: 27th April  – 27 May

As part of this year’s Arts in Education Portal Spring Regional Day, we are delighted to be partnering with Sample-Studios in Cork city for a collaborative exhibition which will run for the month of May in their gallery at the Lord Mayor’s Pavillion. The exhibition will showcase work from artists in the field of arts and creativity in education based in the South-West region.

The exhibition will be launched as part of the 2023 Spring Regional Day which will take place on Saturday 6th May at MTU Crawford College of Art & Design in partnership with the Department of Arts in Health & Education, showcasing arts in education projects and creative practice in the South-West.

In November 2021, Sample-Studios Artistic Director, Aoibhie McCarthy and member and lead Education Programme tutor Kate McElroy presented to the National Arts in Education Portal Annual Conference about our Cork Creative Careers Programme and Cork Young Curators and Critics Programme. Through this connection as speakers, Sample-Studios and the Arts in Education Portal began a dialogue about the need to offer profile to arts educational practitioners in Munster, to stimulate knowledge sharing amongst peers and collaborations, as well as awareness amongst wider audiences about the important role of arts education and arts educators in the community.

Collaborating with Sample-Studios on an exhibition to complement the programme will present both this audience and a wider public audience with an opportunity to delve deeper into the creative practice shared on the day adding another layer of engagement. The exhibition is co-curated by the Arts in Education Portal team with Sample-Studios and invites keynote speakers and presenters at the Portal Regional Day to exhibit documentation and artwork from best practice examples of their own work. An opening reception for delegates will be held as part of the Regional Day programme.

Stay tuned for the full Spring Regional Day programme and booking details which will be announced in the coming weeks. Pre booking will be essential for attendance.

!!!! 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.

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.

!!!! Date Announced for the Arts in Education Portal Spring Regional Day 2023

Arts in Education Portal Events

Date: 6 May 2023

The Portal Team is delighted to invite teachers, artists and anyone with an interest in arts and creativity in education to save the date and join us for the 2023 Portal Spring Regional Day. This year’s event will take place on Saturday, 6th May at MTU Crawford College of Art & Design in partnership with the Department of Arts in Health & Education, showcasing arts in education projects and creative practice in the South-West.

We invite regional audiences to connect with us during a series of events, where 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 welcome teachers, artists, arts managers and anyone with an interest in arts in education to join us for this free event.

For those who can’t join us in person on the day we will be recording the main talks and presentations which be available to watch back online following the event.

Stay tuned for the full schedule and booking details which will be announced in the coming weeks. Pre-booking will be essential.