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Arts in Education Portal

Teachers, artists and arts in eduction professionals gathered in Sligo Education Centre on Saturday last for a day of sharing experience, gathering new ideas and networking with colleagues. This, the eighth of our Portal Regional Days, focused on best arts and creativity in education practice in the Northwest. This year’s gathering also saw attendees travel from Galway and Dublin.

The morning session saw two highly engaging presentations which demonstrated excellent Teacher Creative Practitioner/Artist partnerships.  The first was from artist Andy Parsons and teacher Triona O’Dowd Hill who brought to life  their process-based, abstract art project undertaken by Triona’s class at St Cecilia’s School, Sligo; a school that caters for students with moderate to profound learning disabilities.⠀The project, facilitated by Kids’ Own Publishing, focused on the partnerships between teacher and artist, and between artist and students. Triona and Andy spoke of the many ways the students asserted their creative voice and the sense of equality brought to the project by inviting TY students from the Ursuline College to participate in a collaborative session. The second presentation was delivered by teacher Karen Brogan and arts professional Leslie Ryan on their Creative Cluster project involving a group of five rural schools in West Sligo. Karen started by describing their project as an adventure, in which they took creativity and the creative arts as a lens in which to explore their local heritage, ecology and environment. They highlighted the benefits and the opportunities that came from working as a Creative Cluster and the impact it had within their schools and wider local communities.

Image: Artist Andy Parsons and teacher Triona O’Dowd Hill (left) and teacher Karen Brogan and arts professsional Leslie Ryan (right) speaking at the 2024 Regional Day

Before breaking for lunch, practical advice was provided through two sector bulletins where attendees heard from Daragh McDaid, Director Sligo Education Centre and Rhona McGrath of Roscommon County Council Arts Office who provide an overview of the supports and initiatives available through ESCI and the Local Authority Arts Offices.

After a morning of sharing practice, the group enjoyed a fab lunch catered by Blend Cafe.

Two creative workshops were available in the afternoon session, these offered attendees fun, stimulating, hands-on activities. Kathleen Gallagher led an interactive art workshop with Scratch and Makey Makey. Participants were encouraged to think outside the box and transform everyday objects into touchpads that interact with computers, bringing the worlds of coding and art together. Meanwhile Maeve Pudney, co-owner of artisan design studio Pop Out Projects immersed participants into the traditional craft of weaving using a bespoke table-top loom and genuine Donegal tweed wool yarn. Participants tried their hand at creating colourful bookmarks and coasters, seeing enormous possibilities for application within the classroom.

Thank you to everyone who joined us on the day. For those who missed the mornings discussions, we recorded both of the main talks and these will be available below:

Episode 01: Collaborations in Abstract Sculpture with Triona O’Dowd Hill, Andy Parsons and Lorna Kavanagh | 2024 Regional Day

A transcript of this recording is available to download – click here

Episode 02: Dúlra agus Dúchas – The Ties that Bind Us; A Creative Cluster Journey from Beach Foraging to Beach Installation with Karen Brogan and Leslie Ryan | 2024 Regional Day

A transcript of this recording is available to download – click here

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 – – – – 

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.

The Abbey Theatre: Tartuffe – Text to Performance

Dates:  Various

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

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

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

Tartuffe: Text to Performance offers opportunities to:

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

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

Participants will register for ONE of these locations.

DONEGAL : 

Saturday 6th May 2023:

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

 An Grianán Theatre, Letterkenny

Monday 8th May 2023: 

Online Workshop: 6:00pm – 7:00pm

 

CORK : 

Saturday 13th May 2023:

Workshop 10.30am – 1:00pm

Cork Education Support Centre

Performance 2.30pm

Cork Opera House

Monday 15th May 2023:

Online Workshop: 6:00pm – 7:00pm

 

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

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

Tell us the story of your project – What was the impetus? What was it about? Who was involved? How did you begin?

CRAFTed aims to provide skills for life through positive, collaborative and joyful engagement with craft and design processes. By emphasising the making journey rather than finished products, CRAFTed allows space for experimentation, active learning and personal growth. It focuses on harnessing the creativity of every child, valuing individual creative expression.

Inspired by their chosen theme of Irish Myths & Legends, 3rd class children of Scoil Bhríde explored the fabric of storytelling with fashion designer Aoife Thomas and arts enthusiast-teacher Mandi Mc Daid. In project development, the group explored processes of weaving, wet felt making, block printing, applique and relief casting within the classroom. In discovering new processes, the group had new means of illustrating and bringing to life elements from the Irish Myths & legends they were covering in other subjects on the curriculum.

Aoife Thomas, Designer:

Our approach to the CRAFTed project at Scoil Bhríde was to explore the children’s chosen theme through the fabric of storytelling. As designer/ maker, I would share knowledge of design and craft processes. Through first developing thematic, cross curricular work in class with teacher Mandi Mc Daid, the group was equipped with the stimulus to generate authentic, creative work. They would illustrate their individual thoughts and ideas around the chosen theme in process led classes.

Mandi Mc Daid, Teacher:

The students collaborated with Aoife and I at the initial meeting stage and offered their ideas as to what theme they would like to work on for their CRAFTed project over the term. There were many similarities in their suggestions and they tied in well with Irish Legends, three of which I planned to cover during the term. So, the theme was set. We embarked on class trips to Glenveagh and Drumboe woods to back up class lessons, collecting natural woodland materials for learning about in class and for use in various art, craft and design activities.

How were the ideas developed and how did the young people, artist and teacher work together?

Aoife Thomas, Designer:

The group compiled visual research, visiting Glenveagh Castle and Drumboe Woods in Donegal as inspiration for our project. Like Finn Mac Cumhaill the group foraged, collecting items of interesting shape, texture and colour: leaves, cones and bark. Alongside studies of three Myths and Legends, the class created drawings, rubbings and studies of their visual research. We incorporated the items collected at a later stage, adding as surface decoration to a large scale group-weaving piece developed by the children. The group imagined the woven piece to represent the cape worn by Finn Mac Cumhaill, hunter gatherer and leader of the Fianna. The project grew and developed in ongoing discussions and through a reflective process, focused around the theme of Myths and Legends. Each child could choose what element of the theme they wished to focus on whilst actively learning a new process.

Mandi Mc Daid, Teacher :

The children studied a selection of Irish Legends in preparation for our work with Aoife. These included Setanta – CúChulainn, Oisin and Niamh in Tír na nÓg and Fionn MacCumhaill.

Aoife supplied materials for each visit and for learning a new process. Aoife explained the creative processes involved, in steps. As teacher, I clarified these instructions where necessary and together, Aoife and I supported the children as necessary in their work.

What was your personal experience of the project in terms of successes and challenges?

Aoife Thomas, Designer :

The success of this project for the collaborators lay in the group’s exposure to a number of new ways of sharing and illustrating individual ideas. The children could see that there were new and interesting ways to create work by hand in fabric and fibre through learning a new process in a supportive and encouraging environment. The teacher had a great relationship with the children which I think laid the foundation for the child led development of the project.

Meeting the children and teacher Mandi Mc Daid prior to commencing our project in order to have a group brainstorming session, allowed the children to direct the project from the outset. It offered a chance for each voice to be heard with support from the designer and teacher when setting the aims of the collaborative project with the children.

Having created initial work on the theme through complimentary studies, the children had many ideas for what they wanted to create or illustrate when learning a new process. As a group, we moved forward together in steps in active learning. This method allowed time for the teacher, classroom assistant and myself as craftsperson, to support individual children as needed when working on the ‘next step’ in the process. This approach gave the children an opportunity to help and support each other as equal collaborators and contributors on this project.

Documentation of the process led approach was challenging at times. The approach was child centred with a focus on each participant being happy, content and engaged in their process led work within a supportive environment. Due to this, at an opportune moment we would capture elements of the process led environment through photography.

Mandi Mc Daid, Teacher :

It was lovely to see the children expressing their knowledge of the Irish Legends in such a unique way, exploring textures, fabrics and fibers; experimenting with skills that were new to them. I have gained knowledge and confidence in new art techniques that I will be able to use in my own future teaching also. It was lovely to work with Aoife, an expert in the area of fabric and fiber, which is an area of the arts curriculum that sometimes feels neglected due to lack of resources, ideas or expertise.

What was significant for you about the project that is worth sharing?

Aoife Thomas, Designer :

As an arts and craft enthusiast in the classroom, Mandi was interested in gaining knowledge and inspiration for the Fabric and Fibre strand as it was an area she wanted to build upon personally. For this reason, our aims and objectives for the project included that each child would explore a number of different processes, and that teacher Mandi would gain inspiration for delivering future lesson plans in fabric and fibre.

The children were familiar with voicing their ideas and were familiar with creating their own individual work. They could question and suggest ideas with confidence. This allowed for us to explore many different processes in an authentic and meaningful way.

Due to Mandi’s cross curricular approach in the classroom, the children could bring together knowledge, ideas and creative process to illustrate their thoughts using new found methods within a process led environment.

Mandi Mc Daid, Teacher :

Following the showcase for CRAFTed along with other schools and artists in the Regional Cultural Centre in Letterkenny, Co. Donegal, the children have since displayed their project work in our own school to share the project with other classes and teachers. In this way, the ideas and skills developed in our classroom were made accessible to all other classes. It gave the children a chance to review their work and explain about how their work was created and the processes involved, to the other children in the school.

The CRAFTed experience was very enjoyable and educational for all involved in our school.

Has anything changed in your work as a result of the project?

Aoife Thomas, Designer :

Each interaction in a learning environment has an impact on my personal practice as I am constantly learning regarding methods and approaches to take forward.

From gaining newfound inspiration in working with a new group on a particular process or gaining inspiration from the sheer enthusiasm from participants when discovering the output as they learn a new craft or design process; working on creative collaborations has a profound impact on my professional practice and continuing professional development.

Each collaborator shares their own experience and approach when working on a project, meaning there are resounding benefits in every new collaboration.

In particular, with this collaboration I benefited personally from working with Teacher, Mandi and her 3rd class group. Teacher Mandi Mc Daid had a child-centred focus established within the classroom and this aligned with the aims of CRAFTed in enabling each child to develop their natural abilities in a supportive and fun environment. Providing all those who engaged with the project with skills for life through positive, collaborative engagement.


!!!! Arts in Education Portal Regional Day 2024 Roundup

Arts in Education Portal

Teachers, artists and arts in eduction professionals gathered in Sligo Education Centre on Saturday last for a day of sharing experience, gathering new ideas and networking with colleagues. This, the eighth of our Portal Regional Days, focused on best arts and creativity in education practice in the Northwest. This year’s gathering also saw attendees travel from Galway and Dublin.

The morning session saw two highly engaging presentations which demonstrated excellent Teacher Creative Practitioner/Artist partnerships.  The first was from artist Andy Parsons and teacher Triona O’Dowd Hill who brought to life  their process-based, abstract art project undertaken by Triona’s class at St Cecilia’s School, Sligo; a school that caters for students with moderate to profound learning disabilities.⠀The project, facilitated by Kids’ Own Publishing, focused on the partnerships between teacher and artist, and between artist and students. Triona and Andy spoke of the many ways the students asserted their creative voice and the sense of equality brought to the project by inviting TY students from the Ursuline College to participate in a collaborative session. The second presentation was delivered by teacher Karen Brogan and arts professional Leslie Ryan on their Creative Cluster project involving a group of five rural schools in West Sligo. Karen started by describing their project as an adventure, in which they took creativity and the creative arts as a lens in which to explore their local heritage, ecology and environment. They highlighted the benefits and the opportunities that came from working as a Creative Cluster and the impact it had within their schools and wider local communities.

Image: Artist Andy Parsons and teacher Triona O’Dowd Hill (left) and teacher Karen Brogan and arts professsional Leslie Ryan (right) speaking at the 2024 Regional Day

Before breaking for lunch, practical advice was provided through two sector bulletins where attendees heard from Daragh McDaid, Director Sligo Education Centre and Rhona McGrath of Roscommon County Council Arts Office who provide an overview of the supports and initiatives available through ESCI and the Local Authority Arts Offices.

After a morning of sharing practice, the group enjoyed a fab lunch catered by Blend Cafe.

Two creative workshops were available in the afternoon session, these offered attendees fun, stimulating, hands-on activities. Kathleen Gallagher led an interactive art workshop with Scratch and Makey Makey. Participants were encouraged to think outside the box and transform everyday objects into touchpads that interact with computers, bringing the worlds of coding and art together. Meanwhile Maeve Pudney, co-owner of artisan design studio Pop Out Projects immersed participants into the traditional craft of weaving using a bespoke table-top loom and genuine Donegal tweed wool yarn. Participants tried their hand at creating colourful bookmarks and coasters, seeing enormous possibilities for application within the classroom.

Thank you to everyone who joined us on the day. For those who missed the mornings discussions, we recorded both of the main talks and these will be available below:

Episode 01: Collaborations in Abstract Sculpture with Triona O’Dowd Hill, Andy Parsons and Lorna Kavanagh | 2024 Regional Day

A transcript of this recording is available to download – click here

Episode 02: Dúlra agus Dúchas – The Ties that Bind Us; A Creative Cluster Journey from Beach Foraging to Beach Installation with Karen Brogan and Leslie Ryan | 2024 Regional Day

A transcript of this recording is available to download – click here

!!!! 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 – – – – 

!!!! 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.

!!!! Opportunity for Teachers: Tartuffe – Text to Performance

The Abbey Theatre: Tartuffe – Text to Performance

Dates:  Various

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

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

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

Tartuffe: Text to Performance offers opportunities to:

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

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

Participants will register for ONE of these locations.

DONEGAL : 

Saturday 6th May 2023:

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

 An Grianán Theatre, Letterkenny

Monday 8th May 2023: 

Online Workshop: 6:00pm – 7:00pm

 

CORK : 

Saturday 13th May 2023:

Workshop 10.30am – 1:00pm

Cork Education Support Centre

Performance 2.30pm

Cork Opera House

Monday 15th May 2023:

Online Workshop: 6:00pm – 7:00pm

 

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

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

!!!! Irish Myths & Legends

Tell us the story of your project – What was the impetus? What was it about? Who was involved? How did you begin?

CRAFTed aims to provide skills for life through positive, collaborative and joyful engagement with craft and design processes. By emphasising the making journey rather than finished products, CRAFTed allows space for experimentation, active learning and personal growth. It focuses on harnessing the creativity of every child, valuing individual creative expression.

Inspired by their chosen theme of Irish Myths & Legends, 3rd class children of Scoil Bhríde explored the fabric of storytelling with fashion designer Aoife Thomas and arts enthusiast-teacher Mandi Mc Daid. In project development, the group explored processes of weaving, wet felt making, block printing, applique and relief casting within the classroom. In discovering new processes, the group had new means of illustrating and bringing to life elements from the Irish Myths & legends they were covering in other subjects on the curriculum.

Aoife Thomas, Designer:

Our approach to the CRAFTed project at Scoil Bhríde was to explore the children’s chosen theme through the fabric of storytelling. As designer/ maker, I would share knowledge of design and craft processes. Through first developing thematic, cross curricular work in class with teacher Mandi Mc Daid, the group was equipped with the stimulus to generate authentic, creative work. They would illustrate their individual thoughts and ideas around the chosen theme in process led classes.

Mandi Mc Daid, Teacher:

The students collaborated with Aoife and I at the initial meeting stage and offered their ideas as to what theme they would like to work on for their CRAFTed project over the term. There were many similarities in their suggestions and they tied in well with Irish Legends, three of which I planned to cover during the term. So, the theme was set. We embarked on class trips to Glenveagh and Drumboe woods to back up class lessons, collecting natural woodland materials for learning about in class and for use in various art, craft and design activities.

How were the ideas developed and how did the young people, artist and teacher work together?

Aoife Thomas, Designer:

The group compiled visual research, visiting Glenveagh Castle and Drumboe Woods in Donegal as inspiration for our project. Like Finn Mac Cumhaill the group foraged, collecting items of interesting shape, texture and colour: leaves, cones and bark. Alongside studies of three Myths and Legends, the class created drawings, rubbings and studies of their visual research. We incorporated the items collected at a later stage, adding as surface decoration to a large scale group-weaving piece developed by the children. The group imagined the woven piece to represent the cape worn by Finn Mac Cumhaill, hunter gatherer and leader of the Fianna. The project grew and developed in ongoing discussions and through a reflective process, focused around the theme of Myths and Legends. Each child could choose what element of the theme they wished to focus on whilst actively learning a new process.

Mandi Mc Daid, Teacher :

The children studied a selection of Irish Legends in preparation for our work with Aoife. These included Setanta – CúChulainn, Oisin and Niamh in Tír na nÓg and Fionn MacCumhaill.

Aoife supplied materials for each visit and for learning a new process. Aoife explained the creative processes involved, in steps. As teacher, I clarified these instructions where necessary and together, Aoife and I supported the children as necessary in their work.

What was your personal experience of the project in terms of successes and challenges?

Aoife Thomas, Designer :

The success of this project for the collaborators lay in the group’s exposure to a number of new ways of sharing and illustrating individual ideas. The children could see that there were new and interesting ways to create work by hand in fabric and fibre through learning a new process in a supportive and encouraging environment. The teacher had a great relationship with the children which I think laid the foundation for the child led development of the project.

Meeting the children and teacher Mandi Mc Daid prior to commencing our project in order to have a group brainstorming session, allowed the children to direct the project from the outset. It offered a chance for each voice to be heard with support from the designer and teacher when setting the aims of the collaborative project with the children.

Having created initial work on the theme through complimentary studies, the children had many ideas for what they wanted to create or illustrate when learning a new process. As a group, we moved forward together in steps in active learning. This method allowed time for the teacher, classroom assistant and myself as craftsperson, to support individual children as needed when working on the ‘next step’ in the process. This approach gave the children an opportunity to help and support each other as equal collaborators and contributors on this project.

Documentation of the process led approach was challenging at times. The approach was child centred with a focus on each participant being happy, content and engaged in their process led work within a supportive environment. Due to this, at an opportune moment we would capture elements of the process led environment through photography.

Mandi Mc Daid, Teacher :

It was lovely to see the children expressing their knowledge of the Irish Legends in such a unique way, exploring textures, fabrics and fibers; experimenting with skills that were new to them. I have gained knowledge and confidence in new art techniques that I will be able to use in my own future teaching also. It was lovely to work with Aoife, an expert in the area of fabric and fiber, which is an area of the arts curriculum that sometimes feels neglected due to lack of resources, ideas or expertise.

What was significant for you about the project that is worth sharing?

Aoife Thomas, Designer :

As an arts and craft enthusiast in the classroom, Mandi was interested in gaining knowledge and inspiration for the Fabric and Fibre strand as it was an area she wanted to build upon personally. For this reason, our aims and objectives for the project included that each child would explore a number of different processes, and that teacher Mandi would gain inspiration for delivering future lesson plans in fabric and fibre.

The children were familiar with voicing their ideas and were familiar with creating their own individual work. They could question and suggest ideas with confidence. This allowed for us to explore many different processes in an authentic and meaningful way.

Due to Mandi’s cross curricular approach in the classroom, the children could bring together knowledge, ideas and creative process to illustrate their thoughts using new found methods within a process led environment.

Mandi Mc Daid, Teacher :

Following the showcase for CRAFTed along with other schools and artists in the Regional Cultural Centre in Letterkenny, Co. Donegal, the children have since displayed their project work in our own school to share the project with other classes and teachers. In this way, the ideas and skills developed in our classroom were made accessible to all other classes. It gave the children a chance to review their work and explain about how their work was created and the processes involved, to the other children in the school.

The CRAFTed experience was very enjoyable and educational for all involved in our school.

Has anything changed in your work as a result of the project?

Aoife Thomas, Designer :

Each interaction in a learning environment has an impact on my personal practice as I am constantly learning regarding methods and approaches to take forward.

From gaining newfound inspiration in working with a new group on a particular process or gaining inspiration from the sheer enthusiasm from participants when discovering the output as they learn a new craft or design process; working on creative collaborations has a profound impact on my professional practice and continuing professional development.

Each collaborator shares their own experience and approach when working on a project, meaning there are resounding benefits in every new collaboration.

In particular, with this collaboration I benefited personally from working with Teacher, Mandi and her 3rd class group. Teacher Mandi Mc Daid had a child-centred focus established within the classroom and this aligned with the aims of CRAFTed in enabling each child to develop their natural abilities in a supportive and fun environment. Providing all those who engaged with the project with skills for life through positive, collaborative engagement.