The Fresh International Film Festival
Deadline for entries: 10 January 2025

Calling All Young Filmmakers: Submissions Now Open! The Fresh International Film Festival Returns for 2025, opening doors for aspiring filmmakers.

Could you be the next Fresh Film alumnus to reach global acclaim?

The countdown is on for submissions to the Fresh International Film Festival 2025 and the coveted Ireland’s Young Filmmaker of the Year Awards!

The Fresh International Film Festival 2025 is now open for submissions, inviting Ireland’s most promising young filmmakers to showcase their talents. Celebrating 29 years of championing young filmmakers, Fresh Film continues to provide an inspiring platform for creativity and storytelling. Many past participants have achieved international success, including Oscar nominations and major industry accolades. This year, the spotlight could be on you.

The deadline for entries is fast approaching on Tuesday, January 10, 2025. Whether you’re an independent filmmaker, part of a school group, or part of a collective, this is your chance to showcase your talents. From heartfelt dramas to thought-provoking documentaries and eye-catching animations, your work could take centre stage in this dynamic celebration of youth filmmaking.

One of the highlights of the festival remains the regional screenings, held at Omniplex cinemas across the country from 10th – 21st March 2025. Every filmmaker who enters will have their work shown on the silver screen – an unforgettable experience for creators and audiences alike.

For submission details, visit: Fresh International Film Festival Submission 2025 freshfilm.ie

Ireland’s Young Filmmaker of the Year, shines a spotlight on the best in youth filmmaking across three categories: Junior (ages 7–12), Senior (ages 13–18), and International (ages 7–18, for non-residents of Ireland). Winners are rewarded with exciting prizes, including monetary awards, filmmaking equipment, mentoring sessions with industry professionals, and the rare thrill of seeing their work screened theatrically.

In addition to these categories, the festival also features specialist awards, such as the Animation Ireland Award, the SPI – Sustainability Award, and the Bow Street Performance Award, alongside audience-voted prizes, documentary honours, and more, ensuring every facet of filmmaking excellence is celebrated.

Ireland’s Young Filmmaker Awards are open to films in both English and Irish (or with English subtitles) and welcomes submissions from: Independent young filmmakers, Groups and collectives, Primary and Secondary Schools

Mark Your Calendar

Submission Deadline: Tuesday, January 10, 2025

Regional Screenings: March 10–21, 2025, in Omniplex Cinemas Nationwide

Festival Week: April 7–13, 2025

Watch the trailer here:

Emma O’Kane Bursary
Deadline: 10 January 2025, 12noon

The Emma O’Kane Bursary is an award for independent artists who want to think beyond the boundaries of their art form and practice and to explore dance or a physical language in their work. It honours the exceptional ethos and artistic practice of artist Emma O’Kane who died in 2021.

The Emma O’Kane Bursary is open to artists working in any artform and at any stage in their career. Whatever your background, lived experience or artistic practice, if you have the curiosity to explore and integrate dance, movement or other forms of physical language in your work, the courage to push art form boundaries and to challenge norms and the ambition to be the best that you can be as an artist, we would love to hear from you.

Over the course of the year, successful bursary recipients will receive a six-week residency at the Atrium at 42 Fairview Strand, Dublin along with a stipend for the duration of the residency and a research and materials budget. There will also be opportunities to avail of bespoke mentorships sessions and to attend professional morning dance classes.

To learn more about the opportunity and the application process, please visit: https://www.emmaokanebursary.ie/applynow.

The Emma O’Kane Bursary was created by Anu Productions, CoisCéim Dance Theatre, Crash Ensemble, Dublin Dance Festival, Fishamble: The New Play Company, Pavilion Theatre, Project Arts Centre The Ark, Dublin and a number of independent professionals. It was set up with a Collaborative Capacity Building Award from the The Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon in 2021 and is funded entirely by donation.

Kerry County Council
Closing date for applications: 15 January 2025 at 1pm

Kerry County Council has announced funding opportunities for 2025 including Artists in Schools Scheme and Youth Theatre Grant Scheme.

Artists in Schools Scheme 2025

Kerry County Council intends to provide funding for a number of projects in Primary and Post-Primary Schools in County Kerry under its Artists in Schools Scheme in 2025.

The purpose of the scheme is to enable students and teaching staff to work collaboratively with a professional artist on a creative project over an extended period.

The scheme is designed to provide an opportunity for a school to carry out a project that nurtures both the child’s creative imagination and the skills of the teachers involved. For this reason, it is important that a school making an application under this scheme considers especially the opportunities of working in partnership with an artist in a ‘process led’ approach rather than setting out with a pre-determined end product as the primary goal of the project.

Projects can be in any art form, for example, dance, music, composition, drama etc. It is also possible for a project to include different disciplines, (for instance writing and film) provided the overall aim justifies such an approach.

A school awarded a bursary in previous years, must allow a lapse of 1 year before being eligible to apply again (e.g. successful in 2023, apply again for 2025).

Youth Theatre Grant Scheme 2025

Grant funding is available through the Kerry County Council (KCC) Arts Office in 2025 for the development of youth theatres in Kerry. The fund is intended to support the growth of youth theatres and youth theatre practice through a collaboration between the KCC Arts Office (co-funded by the Arts Council of Ireland) and Kerry Local Creative Youth Partnership (LCYP). This collaboration advocates that joining a youth theatre in Kerry should be accessible to all young people within a 45-minute drive from their residential location.

Youth Theatre, under the scheme, is considered as a place where young people can express themselves creatively, and in doing so, develop their interpersonal and communication skills. Applicants must outline an annual programme of activity which facilitates the creative interaction of their young membership.

The Youth Theatre Grant Scheme has an intended target focus of young people from the ages of 12-24, who are willing to take part in group supported drama and theatre practice in a fun and safe environment, and where they are supported by a not-for-profit organisation.

For more information on both funding opportunities, guidelines and application forms, see consult.kerrycoco.ie/en/applications

VISUAL Carlow
Application deadline: 24 January 2025

VISUAL Collective is a work experience program for transition year students who are interested in exploring and learning more about the creative industries.

Taking place at VISUAL Centre for Contemporary Arts & the George Bernard Shaw Theatre in Carlow, this program gives students the opportunity to learn about what happens behind the scenes at an arts centre and find out more about how galleries and theatres work.

Led by VISUAL’s team of experienced facilitators, students will develop an understanding of how to pursue further education and a career in the arts by learning from people who work in the arts.

Students will meet with artists, theatre makers, performers, technicians and more. By meeting with and learning from invited guest speakers in a range of practice-led workshops, students will learn about how to develop a career in the arts, gaining first-hand information relevant to real-world work experience. They will also gain experience as artists in making their own art across a range of different approaches (visual art, performance, music, etc.).

As well as this, students will assist the team at VISUAL with their programmed events and festivals and become familiar with the artworks in the current exhibitions and explore the processes involved in their making.

The program culminates with an event at the end of the program (to take place in May 2025) that students work together as a collective to co-create. This event is self-directed and will showcase work students make throughout the programme and will give them the opportunity to become a part of the cultural programming at VISUAL Carlow.

Interested students must apply directly to the program themselves, by following these instructions:

Write to VISUAL, or send a video telling them three sentences about yourself and three sentences about why you would like to join the programme.
Show your creative side: Send a video, photo of your art, music, poetry, creative writing, anything that you feel shows your best creative self! You can send more than one example of your creative work if you are skilled in more than one area.
Include your full name, school name, email address and phone number in your application.
Send your application to Arlene Caffrey learning@visualcarlow.ie before midnight on 24th January 2025

Other details:

The programme will begin on Friday 7th February and continue each Friday for 10 consecutive weeks, finishing on Friday 2nd May (no sessions take place during midterm and Easter).
Weekly sessions will last from 9.00 – 13:00 with 30 minutes for break.
Students should bring their own lunch every week and wear something they feel comfortable in (school uniform is not required).
There are up to 15 places available on this programme for TY students. Applications are competitive so students are encouraged to be as creative as possible in their application to show us their creativity and enthusiasm for the arts.

Need help? No problem, just ask! Email Arlene Caffrey at learning@visualcarlow.ie
For more information see link to VISUAL website: visualcarlow.ie/whats-on/visual-collective

The Arts in Education Portal National Day 2024

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

Minima Moralia, Theodor Adorno 1951

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

StreetArt Ink Creative Workshop

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

Young performer, Marino College band and guitar club performance

Creative Schools publishes ‘Youth Voice in Creative Schools – Reflections on Practice’
October 2024

Youth Voice in Creative Schools: Reflections on Practice is a collection of practice documenting and celebrating the work of children, Creative Associates and schools across the country, offering insights, case studies and reflections on their work elevating youth voice in the Creative Schools process. Creative Schools is particularly proud of the contribution made by participating young people to the design and visual language of the publication.

The intention of this publication is to:

Collect, preserve and celebrate innovative practice in creative youth consultation in the Creative Schools Programme.
Share this practice to a wider audience.
Surface and document trends, patterns, challenges encountered to inform future training and research needs.

Creative Schools is a flagship of the Creative Youth plan – led by the Arts Council in partnership with the Departments of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports and Media , Education & Skills and Children & Youth Affairs. Since its inception in 2018, 462 schools including primary, post primary schools, DEIS and special schools have joined the initiative.

Creative Schools aims to give our children and young people the opportunity to experience creativity as an integral part of their education placing the arts and creativity at the centre of school life. The two year programme in each school develops as a three way partnership between teachers, creative associates and children and young people and places young people’s voices at the centre of the processes.

The programme has, in the words of an independent evaluation undertaken last year, ‘… been collaborating meaningfully with learners and educators to shift the focus of arts education from child-centred to child-led creative participatory practice’.

Youth Voice in Creative Schools – Reflections on Practice is available to download here

How to engage children in the climate crisis through understanding ecology through an art practice.

Looking at the climate crisis is a challenge that all educators are having to learn very quickly to navigate. In the fourth and last blog in the series from artist Jo Lewis, Jo looks at how art and ecology can help to tackle this issue, minimising fear by harnessing positivity through a connection with nature.

Climate crisis is not something to be denied or even questioned anymore. As the terminology is bandied about and used on a daily basis educators are having to incorporate it into their teachings and find a balance between acknowledging the fear we have for the future and finding strategies to cope and cultivate hope.

Art offers a unique way to engage children with nature, allowing them to observe and connect with their environment on a deeper level. Whether it’s drawing, photography, or collecting specimens, art practices can help children “read” their surroundings and develop a sense of belonging to the land they inhabit. When students can identify plants or recognize patterns in the landscape, they form a more intimate understanding of the environment, which nurtures both curiosity and responsibility.

Art can give us an ‘in’ to ecology, through running art workshops in the landscape children can engage more readily with nature. It is not necessary for the art teacher to have an ecological background. This is where student and teacher can experience and learn together. The teacher will need to guide the class but does not need to have all the answers.

Here are a few ways to integrate art and ecology in the lesson:

Drawing: Encourage students to sketch plants, trees, or other elements in the landscape. Whether detailed or quick sketches, this practice helps them notice the finer details of their environment.
Photography: Use photography to capture the beauty of nature. This method encourages attention to detail and allows children to document plants and insects they might otherwise overlook.
Collecting and Pressing: For non-protected plants, collecting and pressing specimens offers a tangible way to engage with nature. Pressed plants can also be used for art projects, enhancing their connection to the environment.

By engaging children through art and ecology, we not only help them understand the world around them but also empower them to take action. Art fosters creativity, observation, and a sense of responsibility, while ecology teaches children the importance of preserving and protecting the planet. Together, these practices can inspire hope and equip the next generation to face the climate crisis with resilience and a renewed connection to nature.

Some useful resources:

An Taisce run summer courses to give teachers resources: greenschoolsireland.org/an-taisce-summer-courses-2024/
Take positive Action: NASA Citizen Science program
Jess Farraday Teach Your Kids About Climate Change Art

A special thanks to the Arts Council for their YPCE grant, which enabled me to research and document the intersection of art and ecology in the classroom. This work has been both inspiring and enlightening, and I hope it encourages educators to incorporate creative environmental practices into their teaching. If anyone would like more information on this research, please feel free to get in touch.

Strands of seaweed hang from a rock for Mermaid's part project with Rathlee National School, Co Sligo and Jo Lewis artist

Image 1: Mermaid’s path project with Rathlee National School, Co Sligo

Students from Geevagh National School in the distance on a field trip to Clooneen bog on a winters day

Image 2: Field trip to Clooneen bog, Geevagh National School with Jo Lewis artist.

Colourful artwork of trees, leaves and seeds on tiles at the Dock studio, Co Leitrim

Image 3: Art and ecology at Saturday studio at The Dock, Co Leitrim. Artwork on tiles of trees, leaves and seeds.

A group of three images showing beach art and a bog field trip with primary school students with Jo Lewis artist

Images left to right: Beach art at Mullaghmore, Ballinatrillick NS, Sphagnum moss at Clooneen Bog, Geevagh NS and Mermaid’s path project, Rathlee NS

All photographs courtesy of Jo Lewis

UCD School of Music: The UCD Composition Prize 2025
Deadline: 10 January 2025 at 3pm

Calling young composers! The UCD School of Music has officially launched the second year of the UCD Composition Prize.

The competition offers secondary school students across Ireland the opportunity to have their music performed in the National Concert Hall, with cash prizes awarded to the top three winning pieces.

Last year’s overall winner was 17-year old Cody Grove from ETSS, Wicklow, with further prizes awarded to Laszlo Varga (Celbridge Community School, Kildare), Amy Tyson (Aquinas Diocesan Grammar School, Belfast), and Johnny Blake (Gonzaga College SJ, Dublin)

The competition is open to Transition Year and Leaving Cert / A-Level students studying anywhere on the island of Ireland.

Students are invited to submit an original composition for any combination of 1-4 instruments. Compositions should be submitted as pdf files with an accompanying MIDI realisation (e.g. using notation software such as MuseScore, Sibelius, Finale, etc.)

Compositions will be judged on both their creative achievements (originality, strength of the creative ideas, etc.) and on their technical standard (clearly notated, well-written for the instruments, etc.), with additional consideration given to feasibility of performance. FAQs are answered on the website www.ucd.ie/music/ensembles/ucdcompositionensemble

A panel of UCD composition teachers and student members of the UCD Composition Ensemble will select three winning pieces to be awarded cash prizes. Additionally, the first-place winner will have their work performed by the UCD Composition Ensemble in the National Concert Hall’s Kevin Barry Room on Friday April 25th 2025.

Entry is free to all. Email your submissions to composition@ucd.ie.

Deadline: 3pm Friday January 10th 2025.

If you would like to receive a poster for your school or any further information on the competition, please email Dr. Peter Moran at composition@ucd.ie or visit our website www.ucd.ie/music/ensembles/ucdcompositionensemble/

Mary Immaculate College and the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, University of Limerick.
Deadline: 16 December 2024

Call for Proposals
The 17th Cultural Diversity in Music Education (CDIME) conference will take place in Limerick, 30th September – 2nd October, 2025. The CDIME conference has provided a platform for the exchange of practices and research related to cultural diversity in music education since 1992. The conference is co-hosted by Mary Immaculate College and the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, University of Limerick.

The CDIME 2025 Conference invites presenters to reflect on ‘Living Diversity, Imagining Inclusivity: Practicing (Non-)belongings in Music Education’. The conference will explore the multifaceted, everyday experiences and expressions of diversity, and the factors that determine its plurality in terms of cultures/cultural repertories, i.e. race, class, religion, (dis)ability, gender, among others.

They invite proposals, panels, or arts practice presentations that consider the conference themes and questions posed. The conference welcomes from a wide range of academic disciplines and community collaborators, with intersections between music education and other disciplines such as ethnomusicology, community music, musicology, music therapy and performance studies, as well as broader transdisciplinary perspectives drawing on disciplines such as philosophy, sociology, psychology, anthropology, history, politics, or geography.

Proposals should be submitted via the conference Call for Proposals online form before 16 December, 2024.

For more information, submission guidelines and online application form see www.mic.ul.ie/CDIME2025

Poetry Ireland
Deadline: Ongoing

Call for Applications: Writers in Schools Scheme

The Writers in Schools Scheme part-funds visits by writers and storytellers to primary and post-primary schools throughout the island of Ireland. This scheme is co-funded by the Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and administered by Poetry Ireland.

Applications are open on an ongoing basis from poets, novelists, storytellers, teen fiction writers, children’s writers, playwrights and screenwriters to join the Writers in Schools directory.

Prospective applicants can find out more information on the scheme, including eligibility criteria and the online application form from the following link: poetryireland.ie/education/information-for-writers/

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.

2025 Waltons RTÉ lyric fm Music for Schools Competition
Closing date: 12 February 2025 at 5pm

Waltons New School of Music and RTÉ lyric fm are delighted to announce the 2025 Waltons RTÉ lyric fm Music for Schools Competition!

About the Competition

Founded in 2012, the Waltons RTÉ lyric fm Music for Schools Competition is a non-profit national event celebrating and supporting music in Irish schools.

All primary and post-primary schools in the Republic of Ireland are eligible to enter the Competition, and schools from all 26 counties have participated in previous years.

The Competition’s objective is to promote the enormous benefits of creative music making for young people. Its open nature offers schools the opportunity to think and work creatively in any genre (or genres) of music and with any combination of students, developing an original musical project that has learning potential at every stage of the process.

Each year’s Competition culminates in a gala Finalists Concert in the National Concert Hall, in which twelve Finalist school music groups (six primary and six post-primary) perform before their peers and a panel of distinguished adjudicators. The entire concert is streamed live by RTÉ lyric fm and can be watched from anywhere in Ireland or around the world.

At the end of the Finalists Concert, the adjudicators announce six winning groups (three primary and three post-primary), which receive trophies and awards totalling €7,000 worth of vouchers for musical instruments and equipment from Waltons Music Ireland for their schools, including two First Prizes of €2,000 vouchers, two Second Prizes of €1,000 vouchers and two Third Prizes of €500 vouchers.

How It Works

Primary and post-primary schools put together instrumental, vocal or mixed student music groups (between 10 and 40 performers), which create ensemble pieces or songs that respond in some way to the year’s Competition theme. A group can be made up of any combination of singers or instrumentalists you choose. And this year’s theme is The Key of Life.
Schools submit an online entry form and send a video of the group’s performance as well as a jpeg photograph of the group.
The initial entries are judged by a team of first-round adjudicators, and twelve Finalist groups (six primary and six post-primary) are selected.
The Finalists are announced on RTÉ lyric fm. Groups not selected as Finalists but displaying real merit are designated as either Commended or Highly Commended. Certificates are produced for the schools and all student performers, and the groups are listed on the Waltons New School of Music website. Finalists’ entry videos are added to the Music for Schools Competition YouTube channel.
The twelve Finalist groups perform in a gala Finalists Concert at the National Concert Hall. Their performances are assessed by a panel of distinguished adjudicators, who announce the six winning groups at the end of the concert. Finalists Concert videos are later added to the Music for Schools Competition YouTube channel, and both videos and photos are added to the Waltons New School of Music website.

2025 Competition Calendar:

Wednesday, 12 February 2025, 5 pm
Deadline for schools to submit their entries.

Friday, 28 February 2025
The twelve Finalist schools are announced on RTÉ lyric fm.

Monday, 24 March 2025
Finalists Concert

For more information and entry forms, go to newschool.ie/musicforschools.

Art practice as a means of understanding your landscape and sense of belonging

Through identifying and recognising elements that make up the landscape that surrounds us, we can begin to form a deeper understanding of the ground we are standing on, as well as the landscape we see in the distance. This recognition and ability to ‘read’ some of the environment that you are traveling, walking, driving through can deepen our connection and sense of belonging.

How to do this ourselves and with children and young people in an engaging way can be a challenge. An alternative to painting the landscape that we see in the distance is to go into the environment and examine some of the details that make up that view. Going outside to a woodland, a local park, the beach, a bog and to examine the various elements that form part of that landscape, using a range of art practices is a fun and different way to connect with ecology; it is an interface that offers many possibilities for creativity and learning.

Collecting, identifying, pressing, labelling, drawing, printing, casting are all creative practices that can bring us in close to nature. There are a few processes that I have used successfully with pupils as creative workshop ideas:

Show how plants were collected and labelled for herbariums – ask them to pick the plant they find most interesting – press it and label it for use back in the classroom / studio (see image one below) (click here for Botanical Society for Britain and Ireland – Code of Conduct for picking, collecting, photographing and enjoying wild plants)
Draw the plant in situ, include some of the surrounds and make notes on the location, date and weather.
Back in the studio/ classroom identify the plant using guides or apps taking note of the Latin and common name – think how you might be able to remember it.
Draw the plant in detail – collaborate with others to make a landscape of the plants (see image two below)
Use the pressed plant to print using inks or make a 3D print using clay – make sure to remember the name – label the work with your name and the plants’ names (see image three below)

To stand in one spot and to recognise and maybe name some of the plants and habitats that we see around us will (subconsciously or not) give us a confidence as to where we are in the world.

Bog plants pressed and ID'd - Jo Lewis blog series

Image 1: Bog plants pressed and ID’d

Calry NS using Plant ID references for their drawings - Jo Lewis Blog Series

Image 2: Calry National School using Plant ID references for their drawings

Printing and casting Rathlee NS seashore workshop - Jo Lewis Blog Series

Image 3: Printing and casting by Rathlee National School seashore workshop

Rathlee NS plaster-casts - Jo Lewis Blog Series

Image 4: Rathlee National School plaster-casts

Rathlee NS board notes - Jo Lewis Blog Series

Image 5: Final piece with a legend identifying the seashore ecology and the artist

Image of students identifying plants in Carrick-on-shannon

Image 6: Students identifying plants in Carrick-on-Shannon

All photographs courtesy of Jo Lewis – students from Rathlee National School and Calry National School, Co Sligo using plant references to identify, draw and make plaster castings from plant and seashore ecology.

Clare County Arts Office – Artists in Schools
Closing Date: 8 November, 5pm

Clare Arts Office are inviting Primary and Secondary schools to submit their applications for the Artist in Schools Residencies Scheme 2024-2025. This year Clare Arts Office are awarding residencies to the value of €1,340.

Schools can select the following artists from the Artist in Schools 2023-2026 panel (External for the purpose of making the application). Application must be co developed and written JOINTLY with the artist of choice.

Aims of the Scheme
The Clare Arts Office Artists in Schools Programme is designed to create opportunities for artists and schools to work together over a specific duration of time. We favour projects that are innovative, unique and that foster creativity, skills development and an introduction to the language used in art making. We also encourage projects that allow children to experience the cross disciplinary nature of the arts as well as projects which connect ideas and art making to other subjects e.g. history, science, the environment, local, national and global cultures and traditions.

Projects can be collaborative and involve other creative practitioners and organisations but must be developed with the input of both the artist and the school.

Assessment Criteria
Projects will be assessed according to the following criteria

Quality and innovation of the concept/idea for the proposal. (30)
Quality of the artists work and track record as demonstrated by the support documentation submitted with the application, including the Artists CV. (30)
Feasibility of the proposed project, budget, time frame, number of students etc. (30)
Potential for the project to leave a creative impact on the school. (10)

For further information, Terms and Conditions and Application Forms, please visit: yoursay.clarecoco.ie/artists-in-schools-residency-award-2024-2025

Oide Creativity
Dates: various November 2024

The Creative Ireland Programme and Oide are delighted to present their Autumn/Winter 2024 series of professional development workshops for teachers to support engagement with the arts and learning.

The courses include:

STE(A)M SEAI Workshop
Making Connections: Energy within and across junior cycle specifications
Dates: Saturday 9 November 2024 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Location: Mount Lucas, Daingean, Co Offaly, R35 XW10
Online via Zoom: Tuesday 19 November 2024 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Online via Zoom

Oide Creativity, in collaboration with Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), presents a one-day or online STE(A)M elective workshop, open to teachers from all subject disciplines. For full details go here.

Crafting Connections
A creative writing workshop
Dates: Saturday 16 November 2024 10:30 a.m. – 3:30 p. m.
Location: Museum of Literature Ireland (MoLI), 86 St. Stephen’s Green, D02 XY43

Oide Creativity, in collaboration with poet and writer Colm Keegan, presents a one-day workshop, open to all teachers. This workshop will take place in the Museum of Literature Ireland (MoLI). For full details go here.

This workshop offers participants an opportunity to:

explore the Museum of Literature Ireland (MoLI) and use it as a stimulus and source of inspiration,
engage in an active listening process as a means to discussing the relationship between teachers and students in the classroom,
consider the written word and Joyce’s use of language,
discuss how words are mediated through multi-modal texts in the world today,
enjoy time and space to develop their own writing.

Introduction to Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS): Learning to look
Dates: Saturday 16 November and Saturday 30 November 2024
Location: Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA)

Oide Creativity in collaboration with artist Claire Halpin and the Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA), presents a two-day elective workshop, open to all teachers. For full details go here.

This workshop offers participants an opportunity to:

look at and respond to a range of images utilising the VTS method of looking,
practice the VTS method of looking in a collaborative and supportive environment,
discuss how thoughtful and responsible image selection supports aesthetic development and critical thinking skills,
reflect on how the VTS method can be utilised to engage students in analysing imagery.

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

For more information on full list of Oide Creativity workshops, dates and to book your place, please visit: www.creativity.oide.ie/

Good Vibes Project
Deadline: 15 December 2024

The Good Vibes Arts Calendar Project, associated with the Open Science Scenario Project at University College Cork, invites anyone with an interest in the arts, to get involved in the pilot 2025 Art Calendar Project. The project is open to individuals but is also an ideal project for primary or secondary school class groups to participate in.

You are invited to develop creative ideas in response to the question:

Have you perhaps come across a piece of art (song, poem, play, novel, painting, drawing, photograph, film, sculpture etc.) that resonates strongly with you? A piece of art that in the currently overwhelmingly crisis-ridden world might reassure people, give them hope and strengthen their sense that humans can do better?

The 2025 Arts Calendar Project pilot aims to inspire with a weekly online calendar featuring a selection of 52 pieces of art from submissions.

Individuals or groups who are interested in getting involved, please share your selected piece as follows:

In English, briefly introduce the piece of art you have selected (max. 150 words), explain why it has touched you personally and might have an uplifting impact also on others,
add any additional information (image, link, source/copyright etc.) that helps to convey a vivid impression of the selected piece of art,
submit and send your proposal by 15 December 2024 to: goodvibesproject@protonmail.com

Please also note:

You are welcome to send up to three proposals if you wish.
As cultural and linguistic diversity is valued in this project, contributors with a first language other than English are encouraged to provide a first language version of their proposal(s).
You can download a PDF with a few examples of the (bilingual) format in which the contributions can be submitted: Contributions to Project – Some Examples

For further information please email Project Coordinator (Manfred Schewe) at: goodvibesproject@protonmail.com

See full information about The Good Vibes Calendar Project here: www.ucc.ie/en/scenario/scenarioforum/specificprojects/goodvibesartscalendarproject/

Featured image: Street Art in Müllerstraße, Berlin, by HERA. Photo: MS streetartmankind.org/artists/hera/

Cork International Film Festival
Dates: 7 – 17 November 2024

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

Cork International Film Festivals 2024 Schools Programme includes seven feature films, suitable for Junior Cert, Transition Year and Leaving Cert students.

The Schools programme is available at:

Locations:
Arc Cinema (Cork City) and the Gate Cinema (Midleton and Mallow), Monday 11th to 15th November 2024
The Reel Picture (Ballincollig), Monday 11th and 13th – 15th November 2024 (no screenings on Tuesday 12th)

Schools Programme Feature Films:

Senior French : The Fantastic Three (Les Trois Fantastiques)

Director: Michaël Dichter | 2023 | France | Fiction | 95 mins | Language: French (subtitled).
Three friends, Max, Tom and Vivian, spend all their time together as the Fantastic Three, supporting each other in and out of school. When Max’s brother returns from prison seemingly reformed, he has one last scheme to tie up. Led by Max, the Fantastic Three try to intervene in the hope of saving his brother. A gripping tale of conflicting ties of friendship and family.

Junior French : Neneh Superstar

Director: Ramzi Ben Sliman | 2022 | France | Fiction | 95 mins | Language: French (subtitled).
Neneh loves to dance and perform, and fulfils her dreams of joining the prestigious Paris Opera Ballet School, despite her parents’ concerns that it’s not a welcoming place for a young black girl. She gets through the auditions but at the school, Neneh finds herself at odds with the traditionalist school director Marianne, who singles her out, making her feel on the outside. Despite the barriers, Neneh’s bubbling energy endures in this charming film which is a celebration of talent and perseverance in the face of prejudice.

Senior German : The Teachers’ Lounge (Das Lehrerzimmer)

Director: Ilker Çatak | 2023 | Germany | Fiction | 98 mins | Language: German (subtitled).
Shortlisted for an Academy Award® in 2024, Das Lehrerzimmer follows Carla, a new teacher at a German junior high school. When a series of thefts occur in the school, accusations bounce around the classroom and staff room, and Carla finds herself right in the middle of the drama. As student and teacher suspicions grow, a tense battle of wills occurs between young student Oskar and the young teacher. This thrilling drama set in everyday surroundings is unlike any other school-based film.

Junior German : Greetings From Mars (Grüsse vom Mars)

Director: Sarah Winkenstette | 2024 | Germany | Fiction | 85 mins | Language: German (subtitled).
When his mother moves to China for work, Tom and his siblings must go and stay with their grandparents. This is a daunting prospect for Tom, a 10-year-old who sticks to a strict routine – avoiding loud noises and the colour red. To persuade him to go, he is encouraged to view this stay as training for his ultimate goal – to be the first person to visit Mars. Equipped with his spacesuit and his mission logbook, Tom must navigate life in Lunau with the help of his family, in this engaging drama from the director of Zu Weit Weg.

Senior Spanish : Love & Revolution

Director: Alejandro Marin | 2023 | Spain | Fiction | 106 mins | Language: Spanish (subtitled).
Seville, 1977. Single mother Reme lives with her son Miguel, a wannabe torch singer and performer. Through his love of the stage, he befriends a group involved in the growing LGBT rights movement. Initially, Reme struggles to accept her son’s friends and lifestyle but eventually she does everything she can to support him. Set during a time of repressive laws including the criminality of homosexuality, this film is ultimately a heartwarming drama of a mother’s love for her son, and the struggle for personal freedom.

Junior Spanish : La Suprema

Directors: Felipe Holguín | 2023 | Colombia | Fiction | 83 mins | Language: Spanish (subtitled).
Welcome to the town of La Suprema, a tiny and remote Columbian village in the Caribbean region, where teenager Laureana finds out her estranged uncle will be boxing for the world championship. She is determined to watch the fight, but the town has no electricity and no television. Against the odds, and her grandmother’s expectations of her, Laureana enlists her friends and her uncle’s former trainer, Efraim, to bring the fight, and electricity, to her community. A wonderful insight into rural life in Columbia, with a terrific lead performance.

Green Screen (focusing on sustainability): Once Upon a Time in a Forest

Directors: Virpi Suutari | 2024 | Finland | Documentary | 93 mins | Language: Finnish (subtitled) | Recommended for TY.
In this modern fairy tale set in the enchanting embrace of the Finnish forest, we witness young people seamlessly woven into the fabric of nature, swimming in crystalline lakes and revelling in the calm presence of the ancient trees. This idyllic harmony is imperilled as the forest faces man-made extinction. Driven by her love for the forest, 22-year-old Ida becomes the leader of the new Forest Movement, coming face to face with Finnish forest industry giants and confronting generational bias. Breathtaking visuals take viewers into the heart of the forest and the centre of the conflict. Not only is it a hopeful ode to nature and its protectors, but the words “once upon a time” also conjure up the great westerns of a bygone century, with the welcome replacement of former ideals of manliness by a generation of actual superheroes, whose greatest weapon is sensitivity.

Tickets:
Each student ticket is €7.50 (€7 DEIS school discount), accompanying teachers can attend free of charge.

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

Note: Study Guides will be available from 1st November at ifi.ie/studyguides

The Ark, Dublin
Dates: 7 – 9 November 2024

Come along to The Ark, Dublin and enjoy a fun-filled creative imagination workshop with author and facilitator Jen Wallace inspired by her hilarious new book Dinosaur Pie.

In the book, there’s a boy called Rory. He and his mum have ADHD, but the book isn’t about that. It’s about way weirder stuff like being turned into a ridiculous little dinosaur and still having to go to school. It’s about not eating your friends and taking lots of selfies and having huge claws that make gaming difficult. It’s about friendship and family and coping when things get tough.

In the workshop, you’ll get to think about some of Rory’s adventures. Then we can explore together how to:

Start an imagination explosion.
Release awesome ideas.
Create our own characters.
Build amazing worlds.
Use curiosity to weave stories.

Tickets
Tickets are free thanks to the support of UNESCO Dublin City of Literature

Schools: To make a booking for schools workshops, please use The Ark schools booking form or call 01 6707788.

Dates & Times
Public: Sat 9 November @ 11am & 2pm
Schools: Thurs 7 Nov & Fri 8 Nov @ 10.15am and 12.15pm

Ages
For Ages 5-8 (Senior to 2nd Class)

For further information go to ark.ie/events/view/school-public-workshops-dinosaur-pie-creative-writing

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/

Roscommon Arts Centre
Dates: 4, 5 and 6 November 2024

Roscommon Arts Centre are bringing creative experiences to the youngest of audiences this November with Selma Daniel Dance.

Moving Words is a storytelling and dance experience especially designed for early years. Selma will bring you into an immersive storytelling experience along with a dancer, using picture books. They will be bringing And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell to preschools and toddler groups in Roscommon. This book invites us to enter the world of imagination and embody the animals of the zoo. Get ready to spread your wings, shake off snow, walk, and swim like penguins, and take a ‘pretend penguin egg’ to continue the fun at home. And Tango Makes Three is on the list of inclusive picture books to support the implementation of Aistear in various contexts.

Tickets: Booking through Box Office 0906 625824

Dates: 4, 5 and 6 November 2024

*These performances are offsite in Roscommon pre-schools*

Please register your interest by contacting the box office on 0906 625824 or boxoffice@roscommoncoco.ie

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:

Creativity and multilingualism
an activity that promotes creativity and language, that fosters an understanding of linguistic diversity or an appreciation of all languages
Languages from shared heritage
an activity that promotes a single language by showing the relevance of the links between language and heritage

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.

Branar
Closing Date: 31st October 2024

Branar is accepting applications from schools for their Acorn Digital Arts Flag programme.

Branar’s Acorn Digital Arts Flag is a whole school initiative designed to promote and reward arts engagement in schools. Branar is proud to be partnering with Acorn Life Group to make this happen each year.

The Acorn Digital Arts Flag programme includes:

A series of 6 arts workshops in video format that teachers and pupils can do in the classroom (there is a version for junior classrooms and one for senior classrooms)
Suggestions for extending the workshop activities in the classroom
Documentation to support engagement with the workshops and to build on them afterward in the classroom

Completion of the Acorn Digital Arts Flag is intended to be a statement of achievement and intent with regard to the prominence and status of the arts in the school. It will be a visible beacon that indicates a commitment to the importance of participation in the arts for the students of the school, both within and outside their classrooms.

Further details about what’s involved, see Branar’s website branar.ie/en/schools or watch this introduction video:

This programme is free to apply for schools in Ireland so please share with any teachers/schools you think may be interested.

There is no cost to schools to participate.

To apply please complete and submit the form at this link: form.jotform.com/231153125616346

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:

CREATE!Encourage your students to craft artwork reflecting the theme “This is Imagination!”
SNAP!Have them take a high-quality digital image of their masterpiece.
UPLOAD!Submit their artwork at rte.ie/thisisart.

Categories:

7 & Under
8–11 years
12–15 years
16–18 years
Groups (schools and community groups)

Prizes:

Unique TIA! Grand Prix Winners trophy for first place in each category
Prize fund of €10,000 for art materials, art-related learning experiences, and vouchers

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

Bruiser Theatre Company, Northern Ireland

Deadline: 6pm on 4 October 2024

Bruiser Theatre Company is hiring an Education Officer on a fixed-term contract until 30 September 2026, based in Belfast.

The role involves coordinating the Vital Connect programme, focusing on arts education and community engagement. Key responsibilities include delivering educational workshops, developing digital resources, managing budgets, and fundraising for education projects. Applicants should have a third-level qualification in arts management or relevant experience, with a minimum of five years in arts education or community engagement. Excellent communication, organisational, and IT skills are essential. The position offers a salary between £28,000 and £30,000 per annum.

Applications must be submitted via email to info@bruisertheatrecompany.com by 6pm on 4 October 2024.

For further information go to – bruisertheatrecompany.com/news/job-opportunity-education-officer

Save the date! The 2024 National Arts in Education Portal Day will be hosted at TU Dublin, School of Art and Design on Saturday, November 9, 2024, in collaboration with the School of Art and Design.

The day will kick off with a welcome address from Dr. Orla McDonagh, Dean of the Faculty of Arts & Humanities at TU Dublin, and Kate Delaney, Arts in Education Portal Editorial Committee Member and Assistant Principal in the Creative Ireland Programme.

Following the welcome address, there will be a panel discussion featuring guest speakers including Leon Diop, Head of Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion at the Arts Council of Ireland, Francesca Hutchinson, a multidisciplinary artist and educator, Dr. Padráig Kirk, Managing Director of Oide, and Dr. Hannagh McGinley, Assistant Professor in Education at MCI Thurles. The panel, moderated by Jennifer Buggie, Arts in Education Portal Editorial Committee member Advisor for Arts & Creativity in Education with the Department of Education and The Education Centre, Tralee, will explore this year’s theme “Amplifying All Voices” and discuss how the Amplification of All Voices in creativity and education can empower, build confidence, passion, and support.

The event will conclude with a closing address from Adam Stoneman, Creative Communities Engagement Officer at Galway City Council, and a performance from the Marino College Guitar and Band Club with music teacher, Arjun Desai.

The full lineup for the national day will be announced on Tuesday, October 8, when ticket booking will open online. 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.

For further inquiries, please contact events@artsineducation.ie.

Using Art to explore and learn about Ecology

Interface Def: a surface forming a common boundary of two bodies, spaces, or phases.

Through time, the interface between art and science has been explored by many artists; it is that space where the two disciplines rub up against each other and inform each other’s thinking. Think of Leonardo da Vinci (engineering and art) 1500’s through to Grace Weir (physics and art) 2024.

It is an exciting dialogue that can offer numerous pathways into a science or a work of art. It connects the analytical brain to our emotions. Through visualisation the creative can be drawn into science and through imagery the scientist can be drawn into the emotional. In a time of increasing separation from nature it is important to find ways to link back in and gain a better understanding of our environment. By exploring facts about ecology through art, a deeper understanding and connection can be made. It is this that I hope to bring to my school workshops, I want the children to learn about the ecology that surrounds them through fun and creative art making processes.

Using this interface between art and science is a fantastic approach for teachers teaching at primary level under pressure to deliver so many subjects within their weekly class plans. By using one subject, art, to make sense of sciences means several subjects can be covered simultaneously.

Children love being creative – it is how most will connect with the world. Bringing science into an art class can help children to remember facts and, in terms of ecology, it can help them to explore elements of plant life such as plant structure and habitats that they may not have engaged with otherwise. The simple act of drawing a plant can give time to contemplate what its purpose in the landscape is, how it might reproduce, why it has certain properties. Well directed art projects can help children discover the answers to these questions through creative processes. This is the subject of my current research and I hope to disseminate this in future articles.

Photographs of Geevagh NS Co Leitrim. Bogland project. From IDing plants and fauna, through to drawing and plaster casting them.

International conference on creativity in education, organized in Stockholm by Berättarministeriet in association with Karolinska Institutet.

Dates: 20 – 21 November 2024

Welcome to this international conference on creativity in education, organized in Stockholm by Berättarministeriet in association with Karolinska Institutet.

The education system is currently undergoing a structural crisis both in Sweden and in many other countries. Globalization and new technology have driven a paradigm shift that has changed our view of the outside world and our way of life. But every challenge also brings an opportunity for innovation and necessary changes. You are warmly welcome to participate in the Norwegian Ministry of Storytelling’s conference, where we ask ourselves the question: How can we strengthen teaching that is characterized by creativity and innovation in order to promote students’ conditions to face the future?

The conference is addressed to academia, school leadership, teaching professionals and stakeholders in education. Participants in the programme have extensive expertise in the areas of creativity and critical thinking, encompassing both theory and practical application.

Speakers include Minister of Education Mats Persson , Ronald A. Beghetto , Arizona State University and Yulia Kova , professor at Goldsmiths, Jennifer Buggie, Teacher and Advisor for the Integration of Creativity and the Arts in Education, Ireland and Kenneth Nally, Curriculum and Assessment Policy Unit, Ministry of Education, Ireland.

Due to the limited availability of seats, early registration is strongly recommended to ensure your participation.

The conference is free of charge.

Time and date: 20 – 21 November 2024, 9.00 – 16.00 / 9 AM – 4 PM CET

Location: Aula Medica, Karolinska Institutet, Nobels väg 6, Stockholm, Sweden

For further information and to register go to – info.berattarministeriet.se/conference-rethinking-creativity-in-education-solution

Cork County Council Children’s Book Festival

Date: 7 October 2024

Cork County Council are delighted to announce a free online event for primary schools as part of the Cork Children’s Book Festival. Pupils ages 8 to 10 years are invited to join The Brothers McLeod, the award winning, sibling duo creators of the Knight Sir Louis series.

This online event is free and will take place at 11am on Monday 7^th October on Zoom. There will be multiple schools in attendance. There will be an opportunity for pupils to ask Greg and Myles McLeod questions.

BAFTA winning brothers, Greg and Myles McLeod are the illustrator and author of the Knight Sir Louis series.

Greg has worked on Shaun the Sheep for Aardman Animations. Myles has written for TV shows like Hey Duggee. Together they’ve produced animations for Disney, the Royal Shakespeare Company and the BBC.

The first Knight Sir Louis book was written for Greg’s son… Louis! The books can be read in any order and are perfect Reading for Pleasure stories.

Cork Children’s Book Festival are delighted to have secured a visit by Myles and Greg who will be talking to the children to provide inspiration for their own writing and also enthusing them about the joy of reading. This will support the literacy work that you do in schools and we hope it will prove a stimulating experience for your pupils.

For more information contact schools.library@corkcoco.ie

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/.

Baboró International Festival for Children

Closing Date: 6 November 2024
Opportunity for artists passionate about developing performances for young audiences
Baboró seeks two artists to participate in professional development workshops hosted by international European festivals.

Selected artists will:

Participate in two 5-day practical sessions in 2025 with a cohort of 11 other professional artists from across Europe;
Experience two European children’s arts festivals with their workshop cohort;
Receive a daily fee of €200 to cover workshop and travel days. The cost of all travel, accommodation and festival tickets will be covered.

This opportunity is made possible through Baboró’s partnership with BABEL, a 4-year Creative Europe project emphasising communication and multilingualism in Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA).

Is this opportunity for you?

Baboró strives to make sure that all children in Ireland see themselves and their stories reflected in the arts. They endeavour to deliver projects and present performances which reflect the diversity of the Ireland we live in today. They strongly encourage artists from currently underrepresented backgrounds to apply.

Information Session
If you would like to know more about this opportunity or the application process, please join the Baboró team at their online info session on Monday, 16 September at 2:30pm on Zoom.

RSVP here

Key Dates

Applications Open Wednesday, 11 September 2024
Information Session Monday, 16 September 2024
Applications Close end of day Wednesday, 6 November 2024 at midnight
All participants will be notified by Friday, 20 December 2024

For full details on he application criteria and how to apply go to www.baboro.ie/news-events/artist-opportunity-apply-for-babel-round-4.

Burrenbeo Trust : Heritage Keepers

Closing Date: 4 October

Burrenbeo Trust has opened the latest round of the National Heritage Keepers Programme. Over 150 groups and schools have completed the free programme to date. Heritage Keepers are now looking for community groups and senior classes of primary schools to take part in its highly anticipated fourth round. Through a series of online workshops Heritage Keepers empowers groups and schools to delve into their local heritage and provides funding to allow them to take positive action. Rather than seeking to separate built, cultural and natural heritage the programme works on the principle that all aspects of heritage are very closely inter-linked and that these aspects work together to create our distinctive Places. Last year, 70 schools and communities participated in the programme, with the majority successfully completing local funded projects and actions. These actions included exhibitions, heritage trails, tree planting, podcast creation, booklets, wildlife ponds, oral history projects and ‘Place Celebration’ days. Funding for fieldtrips is also provided meaning participants get to visit local heritage sites in person rather than just learning about them online.

The programme consists of five two-hour online workshops, followed by dedicated support while completing the funded action. It is open for expressions of interest, with options to begin this autumn or in the New Year.

For further information go to www.heritagekeepers.ie.

The National Museum Of Ireland

Dates: Autumn / Winter 2024

The National Museum of Ireland has launched its latest programme of guided tours, workshops and resources for primary and post primary schools for the autumn/winter 2024 term.

Available from September 2024, the programme offers students an opportunity to explore priceless treasures, Ireland’s military past, traditional rural life, natural history and more through guided tours, workshops and classroom resources.

All of the activities are designed to complement the primary and post primary curricula and are offered free of charge to schools.

Schools can visit three Museum sites in Dublin and Co Mayo this year. Click on a location below to see what is on offer at each Museum.

The NMI – Natural History, also known as the ‘Dead Zoo’, closed on 2 September 2024, so a school visit is not possible at this location. However, teachers can still book a virtual session for your school and explore the fascinating Natural History Collections through a range of classroom activities and resources.

The Ark
1 Dec 2024 – 12 Jan 2025

This festive season, following its hugely successful run in 2023, The Ark is proud to present The  Giggler  Treatment, a marvellous, mischievous new musical based on the novel by Roddy Doyle.

If adults are mean to children, they get The  Giggler  Treatment. It’s smelly. It’s squishy. And it sticks to your shoe. But sometimes, just sometimes, the  Gigglers make a mistake… Can Robbie, Kayla, Jimmy and Rover the dog come to Mr Mack’s rescue before the poo hits the shoe?

Written and composed by Fionn Foley (Tonic, Fierce Notions), this glorious adaptation of the much-loved novel is teeming with Dublin wit, memorable melodies and belly laughs for children and grown-ups alike.

Jam-packed with big songs and even bigger PONGS, it’s the funniest, cheekiest, silliest show in town!

There will be relaxed performances of The Giggler Treatment on Friday 13 December @ 10.15am & 12.15pm, Saturday 14 December @ 2pm and Monday 30 December @ 4pm. Relaxed performances are aimed at families or school groups with children who are on the autism spectrum or those who have sensory sensitivities and will be tailored for the comfort of your child. The sound will be at a lower volume and the lights will be dimmed rather than completely dark, we will warn you of any loud noises and we will have a special chill-out area where your child can relax.

Tickets

€17.50/€12.50* per person. (20% off for Members)
Early Bird: €15 if booked by 23 August 2024
Schools Tickets: €7 or €5 Early Bird for ArkEd members if booked by 25 October 2024. Teachers go free!
Previews: €12.50 per person / €4.50 for schools
To make a school booking, please use the schools booking form or call 01 6707788.

For further information go to the ark.ie/events/view/the-giggler-treatment-2024.

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.

Creative Schools

The Arts Council announced this week that 184 new schools and Youthreach centres across Ireland will join its Creative Schools programme. This brings to 1,100 the number of Irish schools who have participated since the programme began in 2018. One in four Irish schools will have now been part of the Creative Schools programme.

This is a critical development for the arts and young people in Ireland and helps to fulfil the Arts Council’s aim for all children to have the opportunity to participate fully in a range of art forms within our education system. The Arts Council works to ensure that all children can fully enjoy their right to arts and culture.

There were 300 applications to the programmme this year, a significant increase on 2023 numbers. This year’s Creative Schools intake includes 53 DEIS schools and 23 Irish language schools as well as seven youthreach centres and eight special schools. The 184 schools chosen will each receive a €4,000 grant and will work with a professional Creative Associate for two years who will support them to develop and implement their own bespoke Creative School Plan.

Participating in the Creative School programme empowers children and young people to develop, implement and evaluate arts and creative activity throughout their schools and Youthreach centres. The initiative also enables schools to discover additional ways of working and uncover the impact of creativity on children and young people’s learning, development and well-being. Schools who take part explore creativity in all its forms and embrace how it can be celebrated in so many ways. From baking to creating and designing gardens, from photography to performance, from working with other community groups to transforming areas of their own schools, the impact of Creative Schools is already felt in every county.

Minister for Education Norma Foley TD said: “It is wonderful to welcome the 186 schools to the Creative Schools initiative 2024. I would like to personally welcome these new schools into this unique programme. I’m very excited to see how these creative and captivating projects will develop over the coming two years.”

Also speaking today, Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media Catherine Martin TD said: “I would like to congratulate the 186 schools and Youthreach centres that have successfully applied to become a Creative School. This new cohort of schools and school communities have the opportunity to embark on a unique two-year journey of creativity and discovery. With this additional set of schools, it now means that, since inception in 2018, 1 in 4 schools in Ireland will have experienced Creative Schools. Again, this year sees a continuous increase in the diversity of settings in receipt of support. This is a testament to its impact and the strength of the partnership between the Art Council, the Department of Education and the all-of-government Creative Ireland Programme.”

Speaking about today’s announcement Director of the Arts Council Maureen Kennelly said: “We warmly welcome our new cohort of 186 schools to Creative Schools. Following the wonderful success of Creative February for schools this year, we are heartened to see a clear increase in applications for this incredible resource. By this stage of the programme, we’re delighted to say that 25% of all schools in Ireland have connected with us. We know that arts experiences with, for and by children can be transformative. Working with our partners in the Department of Education, and in the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and in Creative Ireland, we are looking forward to another school year full of exploration, creative thinking, discovery and most importantly fun”.

For further information on the Creative Schools initiative go to artscouncil.ie/creative-schools.

Kids’ Own Publishing Partnership

Deadline: Thursday the 12th of September at 5pm

Reporting to the Kids’ Own CEO, the Project Manager will work very closely with other members of the Kids’ Own team and the Arts in Education Portal Editorial Committee to manage the Arts In Education Portal (www.artsineducation.ie)

This is a very exciting opportunity for a dynamic, community-minded individual with excellent digital skills and event management skills combined to lead the management of the Arts in Education Portal.Launched in 2015, the Arts in Education Portal is the key national digital resource of arts and education practice in Ireland. The ethos for the Portal is about building a community of practice within arts and creativity in education, and providing a space—both online and offline—where artists and teachers can be supported and inspired. It provides a platform through which good collaboration practice in arts-in-education and arts education will be supported, developed and enhanced.The specifications of the role are set out below.

Key Responsibilities

The Project Manager for the Arts in Education Portal will be responsible for managing all aspects of the Arts in Education Portal, including but not limited to:

• Ongoing management of all aspects of the Arts in Education Portal website including regular content updates of project features, guest blogs, critical essays, videos, and resources.

• Liaise with, and report regularly to, the Portal Editorial Committee; and attend and lead quarterly meetings.

• Liaison with the Portal web developers to ensure the site is fully maintained and up to date with the latest software.

• Implementation of AiE Portal Digital Marketing Strategy, including web, SEO/SEM, email marketing, social media and digital advertising.

• Manage content across all platforms including email and social media in collaboration with Kids’ Own’s Digital Marketing Officer.

• Managing metrics such as Google Analytics and Webmaster Tools.

• Leading on website and social media channel optimisation for SEO as well as usability.

• Providing editorial, creative and technical support to team members and content contributors.

• Measuring, reporting and recommending on the performance of all activities both online and off.

• Creating and implementing editorial calendars in collaboration with content contributors.

• Delivering effective, cohesive, and engaging brand messaging.

• Development of and implantation of aspects of the annual Portal Commissioning Plan.

• Coordination of all Portal events: the annual National Arts in Education Portal Day and Spring Regional Day, including pre-event planning, audience engagement, organising guest speakers and management of all event logistics.

• Collaborating with the broader Kids’ Own team to ensure that the AiE Portal activities and content aligns with the ethos and remit of the Portal.

• Briefing and managing third-party suppliers, freelancers, videographers and designers to ensure on-time delivery of assets.

• Manage project budgets, in collaboration with the Creative Director and Finance Officer.

The successful applicant will have:

• A third level qualification in an area relevant to the arts in education, communications, marketing, or similar.

• A minimum of 4 years’ experience in a digital marketing with examples of visual and written content.

• An excellent understanding of the Arts in Education sector and collaborative arts practice.

• High-level, versatile writing abilities with strong attention to detail and editorial experience.

• Proficiency in designing, managing and delivering broad, multi-angle projects.

• Proven track record in creating and publishing online and offline content.

• Proficiency with popular content management systems.

• Adept at SEO best practices.

• In-depth knowledge of various social media platforms, best practices, and website analytics.

• Experience in event management ideally both online and offline.

Desirable:

• Experience in working with non-profit or charitable organisations.

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

• Excellent organisational and time-management skills.

• The ability to work well as part of a small team.

• Highly creative with excellent analytical abilities.

• Ability to travel when required for meetings, events etc. Full drivers licence preferable.

Terms of contract:

This is a part-time post (initially 3 days per week, with a possibility of 4 days per week in 2025). An initial contract of 9 months will be offered, subject to extension. There will be a probationary period of 6 weeks.

Annual remuneration: €33,000–35,000 DOE. (pro-rata)

There is potential for this position to be hybrid (remote and office-based). However, the successful candidate will need to be able to attend the office regularly.

Applications:

Candidates should send a detailed CV and cover letter to Kids’ Own Creative Director,

Ciara Gallagher at: ciara@kidsown.ie by Thursday the 12th of September at 5pm.

For more information see here.

Education Support Centres Ireland (ESCI)

Dates: various

We have gathered together a selection of CPD courses for teachers offered through the Education Support Centres Ireland network. Highlights of courses available are as follows:

Collaborative Play with LEGO for Children with ASD & ADHD

Location & Dates:
Sligo EC, 2nd Sep, 7-8pm
Wexford ESC, 1 Oct, 7-8pm
Drumcondra EC, 2nd Oct, 7-8pm
Laois ESC, 7th Oct, 7-8pm

Collaborative Play, using Lego, is an effective form of therapy for children with a wide range of emotional and behavioural difficulties including depression, anxiety, aggression and social issues. The purpose of this course is to pique your interest in the process of setting up a Collaborative Play group in your classroom and/or a room in the school.

Establishing a School Library : Practical Tips to get Started

Location & Date: Wexford Education Centre, 5th September, 2024, 7-8pm

Raise literacy standards and promote reading for pleasure among the whole school community! This course will provide practical tips such as setting up a student leadership team, using a catalogue system, shelving, ordering and labelling. How to create a welcoming, diverse and safe space for students while giving them leadership roles and enhance their collaborative and organisational skills.

Local Voices

Location & Dates:
Dublin West EC, Laois ESC, Kildare ESC and Drumcondra EC, 9th September, 2024, 7-8pm

Local Voices is a bright new initiative in the teaching of history and geography with an emphasis on children’s voice/agency and citizenship-education. Through a process of interviewing interesting people from the locality, recording/transcribing the interviews, selecting excerpts from the interviews and taking photographs the children and teachers collect a rich and colourful snapshot-in-time of the recent-history and current-geography of their locality.

For futher information on these courses and to book, contact the relevant Education Support Centre or visit: https://www.esci.ie/cpd-courses.html

The Ark: Autumn Drama CPD for Teachers

Date: 19 Oct 2024

Let’s plan to have fun! This workshop will explore play, humour and movement in a drama lesson using content from ‘The Giggler Treatment’ by Roddy Doyle. It will provide a step by step approach to teaching an extended drama lesson. The session will also explore drama’s potential to be integrated with other areas of the curriculum and how planning for integration can reduce your workload.

Suitable for all levels of experience.

This CPD will support you if you wish to bring your class to see The Giggler Treatment, but will also stand alone and provide you with lots of ideas to bring drama into the classroom.

Tickets: €20/€18 (For ArkEd Members)*

Dates & Times: 19 Oct @ 10.30am-12.30pm

Priority Booking for ArkEd members opens 19 August. General booking opens on 26 August.

Duration: 2 hours

Facilitated by Dave Flynn

*ArkEd is free membership scheme for teachers, principals and parents homeschooling their children which enables you to enjoy a range of benefits throughout the year. Click here for more information and booking link: https://ark.ie/events/view/teachers-summer-course-visual-arts-2024-2.

Fighting Words

Dates: Workshops run throughout academic year

‘Tales to Scale’ is a project run by Fighting Words focused on engaging with DEIS schools across Ireland. It offers creative workshops for DEIS primary and post-primary schools free of charge. They can run between 90 mins to 2 hours.

The workshops are in two parts: group work and individual writing time. The first part of the workshop focuses on the group creating the beginning of a story together. A facilitator works with the class to develop characters, incorporating the many ideas that pop up around the room into the plot.

The second part of the workshop allows each student to explore individual creation. Armed with paper, pencils and colours, students can either finish the group story or create something new – they can draw, write, sing – it’s completely up to them!

At the very end, there will be time to share work if the students wish, followed by positive feedback from the volunteer mentors.

After the facilitators says goodbye to the wonderful writers (the students), teachers are welcome to adopt the structures in the classroom and continue to encourage creativity.

Tales to Scale Officer, Pierina Campbell, will work with the teacher to discuss workshops that might work best for their class. For more information click: https://www.fightingwords.ie/what-we-do/tales-scale-scaling-education-deis-schools .

Citywest and Saggart CNS Public Art Working Group

Closing date: 12 noon, Monday 23^rd September 2024

Citywest and Saggart CNS Public Art Working Group are seeking expressions of interest from artists whose practice focuses on permanent visual artwork(s) for their exterior or interior of their school building in a visual medium.

The Working Group are open to the idea of the artworks travelling throughout the interior of the building, sites can discussed with shortlisted artists at Stage 2. They seek Artwork(s) that will embrace the school in it’s special location, it’s values and focus on their community of children, teachers and parents, biodiversity and local natural environment. They also require the artwork / artworks proposed at Stage 2 be low maintenance, adhere to health and safety standards and will stand the test of time in their relevance and materials. The would like an engagement process with as many of their 435 students as is possible without significantly impacting the budget for permanent artwork(s). This engagement process could be supported by teachers and parents as volunteers so not to impact the budget significantly, although creative input must be led by the artist. It is expected that artwork(s) will be imaginatively interactive for the children in this age group – 5 – 12 years. Any religious imagery should encapsulate all of the belief systems in the school and must not focus upon one belief system.

The selection process will take the form of a Two Stage Open Competition. It is open to all interested professional artists at any stage of their career or experience. The total budget for the project is €19,500.

For more information see here.

Barnstorm Theatre Company: The Bus

Dates: 8th – 22nd October 2024

Imagine being a ten-year-old starting at a new school. The school bus becomes a minefield of shifting allegiances, where you must learn the rules for survival and acceptance. ‘The Bus’, a play written by Maeve Ingoldsby and Barnstorm’s Artistic Director, Philip Hardy, and updated in 2024 by John Morton. It is suitable for children aged 6 to 12 years. Set aboard the school bus, the play explores the challenges faced by children in attempting to fit in with a new peer group. This is an explosive, highly physical production, incorporating elements of music, song and slapstick, combined with moments of emotional truth, to create an exuberant, insightful and highly entertaining piece of children’s theatre.

“Using drama to air some of the complexities of children’s lives is what Barnstorm Theatre Company does best…” The Irish Times

“The Barnstorm Company is one of the best things in Irish Theatre.” The Irish Mail on Sunday

Performances of the Bus will take place on:

Tue 8th October – Fri 11th October 2024 – 10:00 & 12:30 in axis, Ballymun. See here for details and booking.

Tue 15th October – Tue 22 October 2024 – Mon – Fri at 10:00 & 12:30 in the Watergate Theatre, Kilkenny. See here for details and booking.

Tickets: €10 (One/two teachers free per class)

Running time is 65 minutes approx.

YPCE Bursary – Art and Ecology for Children and Young People

I have been drawn to using natural materials in my own art work for some time now so, when I was given a series of schools to work with on the BLAST initiative, I hoped I could start to use more natural materials in the work we would do in class.

I began by bringing willow whips into the classroom to make structures with. We would use the willow to bend into shapes that we could then cover in tissue paper and paint – these made colourful kite-like sculptures. I also brought in clay and collections of stones and bits of wood to make make their fantasy landscapes with.

The next year I wanted to go further and to engage the pupils more directly in their local landscapes. So, with the support of the schools, I was able to start each residency with a field trip. In 2022-2023 I was resident in three schools next to three very different landscapes: a bog, a beach and a woodland. So, I decided to carry out the same series of workshops with each school, this resulted in an amazing collection of art works depicting a whole range of Co Sligo’s ecology.

During these fieldtrips the children were firstly given the chance to explore and play in the landscape. Then they were asked to create a piece of land art (this had been previously explained in the classroom) so that the play began to become more focused. Then they were invited to concentrate on one aspect of the landscape, a plant, an insect, a bird, a rock and to document it either through drawing, collecting and pressing or photographing.

All of this experience was taken back to the classroom where, using references, we named and labelled the plants/insects/trees birds they had documented. This then went on to inform the follow up ecology-based workshops in the classroom.

At the end of the term, I wanted to take this further and examine the outcomes of these workshops in more detail and find a way of disseminating this knowledge. The Arts Council’s YPCE (Young people children and education) bursary made this possible for me and my following blogs will look a few of the themes that have come out of it.

Baboró International Arts Festival for Children

Dates: 11 – 20 October 2024

Baboró International Arts Festival for Children returns to Galway this 11 – 20 October. Ahead of the September programme launch, organisers have revealed three exciting events for families and schools to look forward to. Festival highlights include a madcap musical from the Netherlands, a hilarious take on ‘grown-up’ life from Belgium, and Laura Angell’s colourful installation of textile tapestries and crochet.

“While we at Baboró prepare to share the full festival programme soon, I couldn’t wait to tell you about a few of my favourite events including two wryly comic theatre shows from Europe called BullyBully and Grown Ups. Alongside a beautiful and thought provoking exhibition of needlework and tapestries by local artist Laura Angell in Galway Arts Centre. Expect a host of stunning shows and participatory creative workshops for all ages and abilities across Galway city and county in October,” 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 festival programme has dedicated performances for schools, with subsidised tickets for students, and free tickets for teachers and SNAs. A dedicated Schools Box Office is provided to assist schools groups with their booking and festival experience.

How to Book Tickets

All schools and group bookings must be made via the Online Booking Request, available from Monday 26 August. Contact Schools Box Office Liaison Mars on schools@baboro.ie or 091 532 985 for assistance with show selection, online booking, bus subsidies and any other queries.

For further information see https://www.baboro.ie/plan-your-festival/festival-schools.

ASSITEJ Germany – OPEN CALL FOR DIRECTORS IN TYA GERMANY

22-29 June 2025

Every two years, ASSITEJ Germany organises the International Directors’ Seminar for Children’s and Youth Theatre, which has been known as “DIRECTORS IN TYA – An International Exchange” since 2018. The next edition of DIRECTORS IN TYA will take place from the 22nd to the 29th June 2025, at the FUNDUS THEATER | Forschungstheater in Hamburg.

About 25 directors from all over the world will come to Hamburg for an exchange on how intergenerational and international alliances can inspire TYA practice. Working in small groups will provide enough space and time to explore practically and from different perspectives. Theatre performances by the host theatre and other companies in Hamburg as well as leisure activities will complete the week’s schedule. The working language of the seminar will be English.

The theme is : ‘Reassembling the world: Intergenerational and international alliances in TYA’. The event will explore:

How can artistic practices connect audiences from around the world?
What message would the children from your local community send to a group of adult artists?
How can our audiences share our connections and benefit from them?
How can intergenerational and international alliances inspire our TYA practice?
How can TYA reassemble the world – one project at a time?

ASSITEJ Germany and FUNDUS THEATER will cover the costs for accommodation, catering, theatre tickets and leisure activities for all participants.

For more information see here.

Fighting Words

Deadline: Friday 30th August 2024

Fighting Words is looking for an Irish Language Project Coordinator who will be responsible for organising and providing workshops, projects, and more through Irish outside the Gaeltacht.

Fighting Words offers free creative writing workshops through Irish for children, young people and other groups throughout the country.

Workshops are held through Irish with Irish schools, other schools, youth groups and communities.

The vast majority of demand is in Dublin with the majority of workshops being delivered at the centre on Russell Street. Travel to another location is required from time to time.

This is a full-time position on a temporary contract – September 2024 to June 2025 – with the possibility of an extension depending on funding.

€3,141.17 will be paid per month, which is €37,694 pro rata as a gross salary per year.

If you are interested in this position, and the chance to work with a great team and an exciting organisation, send a CV to info@fightingwords.ie by Friday 30th August.

Further information can be found here: https://www.fightingwords.ie/news/taimid-ag-fostu/we-are-hiring-comhordaitheoir-tionscadail-gaeilge

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:

Dynamic approaches
New ways of working
Work that represents a commitment to excellence
Strong aesthetic and/or educational outcomes
Presentations/ workshops that include children’s voices

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

Good geographic national spread
A range of art forms
Early years, primary post-primary and Youthreach representation
Equal representation of both arts in education and creative sectors
A balance of practical and theoretical approaches

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.

Solstice Arts Centre

Winter Programme: September – December 2024

Solstice Arts Centre Autumn-Winter Visual Arts Schools Programme is now available. Workshops, tours and talks for Primary and Secondary level students, educators and artists explore two very different exhibitions between September and December.

Thresholds to the Unseen (7 Sept. – 1 Nov) a group exhibition featuring sculptural works by five inspiring Irish based artists Fiona Kerbey, Christopher McMullan, Joanne Reid, Katherine Sankey, Emily Waszak

SURVEYOR 2024 (16 Nov. – 21 Dec.) presents an overview of contemporary visual arts practice throughout Meath with over 50 artists working in all disciplines.

Visual Think Strategies School Tours run throughout exhibitions allowing students to investigate and reflect on multiple perspectives, using cross-curricular links to artistic processes. Junior/Senior Cycle students receive information and resources supporting Content Area 3: Today’s World.

Sensory Connections experience for small groups with additional need are pupil-led, relaxed tours with multi-disciplinary activities connected to artworks in each exhibition.

Coral-ations (Tue 17 Sept & Tue 8 Oct.) designed for small class or youth group aged between 9-17 years, is a two-day ceramic workshop with Thresholds to the Unseen exhibiting artist Katherine Sankey.

Introduction to the Gallery for Educators & Artists (4pm Thu 19 Sept.) is a networking opportunity to experience their spaces, and how to use them as a rich learning environment with students.

Construct (Thurs 26 Sept.) workshop for primary class groups takes a closer look at artworks and materials in Thresholds to the Unseen, responding through sculpture with exhibiting artist Joanne Reid.

Material Narratives (Fri. 4 Oct.) for second level class groups, explores the artists multi-layered themes, processes, theory and thinking within Thresholds to the Unseen, with visual artist Joanna Hopkins. Working collaboratively through interpretation and hands-on experimentation this workshop links to Content Area 3 – Today’s World.

For further information contact, the Learning & Engagement Coordinator Deirdre on 0469092300 or email Deirdre.rogers@solsticeartscentre.ie or see here.

Arts in Education Portal

The Portal team has had an exciting few months on the road visiting the recipients of the 2024 Portal Documentation Awards. It has been such a pleasure to meet and collaborate with the artists, teachers and students of Marino College and St Vincent’s GNS in Dublin and Streetwise, Co. Clare in documenting their projects.

‘Marino 100: Back to the Future’ Creative Cluster

In May we visited two Dublin based schools, Marino College Second Level and St. Vincent’s Girls NS which along with St. Kevin’s Boys NS and St. Joseph’s Boys NS have been collaborating as part of a Creative Cluster Project ‘Marino 100: Back to the Future‘ a festival highlighting 100 years since construction started on the Marino housing development – known as the Garden City. This is the third year of the student led festival which was conceived through the Creative Schools programme in 2021 and has evolved into an inclusive collaboration involving the 4 schools, Marino Residents Association, local artists and community groups to celebrate unity and diversity in their inner-city neighbourhood. The festival which took place on Friday 19th May included a packed programme of music, dance, a food fair and as the centre-piece, a parade.

The Portal team dropped in on the students and staff of Marino College on our first visit where they were crafting large papier-mâché floats working closely with lead artist Heather Gray. Also that day, 1st Year students and members of the local community participated in a joint pottery workshop with artist Stephan Doody and we listened in on another group of students on guitar and drums as they prepared to perform as part of the festival with musician Peter O’Toole.

Painting a giant ladybird – ‘Marino 100: Back to the Future’, Creative Clusters project, St. Vincent’s Girls National School, Dublin

On our second visit, we returned once again to Marino College. On this occasion we got to see students working with artist Sinéad Lynch to make Slavic inspired felt flower crowns which would be donned during the parade. We then made the short trip to St. Vincent’s NS where 1st Year students from Marino College joined 5th Class pupils in putting the final touches to super-sized arthropod floats and immersed themselves in mask-making activities.

‘Let’s Get Real’

In May also, we made two visits to Ennis, Co. Clare where we met five learners on the Streetwise programme together with their tutor Ruth O’Keeffe and support worker Patricia Dooley working in partnership with artist Ana Colomer. The Streetwise programme supports young adults with intellectual disabilities & autism to achieve their goals through training & education. Through the Local Creative Youth Partnership initiative the learners were being guided by Ana to develop and produce their own advocacy multimedia film entitled ‘Let’s Get Real’. Working through animation the focus of the project is to share their ideas of home life, work life, relationships, health, and education and explore how laws and society is changing to make these human rights more possible.

Editing green screen footage – Lets Get Real, LCYP project, Streetwise, Brothers of Charity, Ennis, Co. Clare

When we arrived for our first visit of two visits in mid-May, we entered into a welcoming and fun-filled environment with creativity at the centre. A session packed with activities awaited us from storyboarding, prop creation, stop-motion animation, green screen filming and editing. The collaborative nature of the project was evident throughout, the Streetwise animators, moved seamlessly through different processes, working at their own pace, shifting between different production roles supporting each other to draw out their own personal stories.

On our second visit, we joined the animators as they switched focus to the music and sound design for their film. For this element of the project the group were able to make use of the nearby Music Generation recording studio for a collaborative session with musician educator Oisín Ó Cualáin. This was the third session the group were undertaking with Oisín to develop the film’s soundtrack. The preliminary sessions were conversation and ideas based, providing a space for the learners to become accustomed to the new environment of the recording studio and to build a relationship with Oisin. There was great excitement though in embarking on the musical process and they set about creating and recording sound designs and creating musical loops to add another dimension to their visual vignettes.

Over the coming months the Portal team will be working on editing the documentation footage captured during the project visits. We look forward to sharing the Documentation video’s for both project’s in the Autumn. Stay tuned!

Fingal County, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County, South Dublin County and Dublin City Council.

Closing date for proposals: 2pm, 12 August 2024.

A fully funded two-day residential for artists has been announced by the Exploring & Thinking Partnership – Fingal County, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County, South Dublin County and Dublin City Council. The residential is planned for 9 and 10 October 2024, in Balbriggan. The organisers are looking for 12 artists that currently work in or are interested in working in Early Childhood Arts.

Exploring & Thinking Partnership is a collaborative framework for early childhood arts in the Dublin region. Initiated in 2016 by the four Dublin Local Authority Arts Offices to collectively consider Early Childhood Arts. Since this time, the Partnership has collectively supported commissions, bursaries, research, and sector sharing days all with a view to supporting artists, the wider early years sector and developing this area of arts practice with a direct impact on the Dublin region.

The focus of the Mentorship Programme for artists is to create greater access to the arts in communities and neighbourhoods across the Dublin region that may traditionally not have these opportunities. The priority is in the capacity building of artists that work in, or are interested in working in, contexts that are an intersection of arts and health, community, and/or integration.

The Programme will include group work, workshops, and mentoring facilitated by Professor Zeedyk. The content will be tailored by Professor Zeedyk in response to the selected artists proposals and experience. Artists do not have to be based in the Dublin region, but their application should articulate how this opportunity will impact existing early childhood arts practice in the Dublin region.

For further information and details on how to submit a proposal, see here.

Clare County Council Arts Service

Closing Date: Friday August 9

Following a review of their artists’ panel, Clare County Arts Office has issued a call for applications for Music, Dance and Drama/Theatre artists/facilitators for their Panel of Artists 2024 – 2026

Clare Arts Office is seeking applications from artists (Clare based and national) who are interested in delivering and facilitating projects as part of their:

Artists in Schools Residency programme
Embrace for Arts and People with a Disability Residency programme
Youth Theatre
Creative Places Shannon (and other socially engaged arts programmes that may arise over this period)

To this end Clare Arts Office is seeking applications from artists under the following categories only:
• Music (singer/musician/song writing/choir leader)
• Drama/theatre
• Dance

Applications can be found on Clare County Council Your Say Website .Deadline for applications is Friday August 9 at 5pm

For further information and link to application form see here:

Not so Happy Birthday by Clare Youth Theatre

Department of Education

Minister for Education Norma Foley TD has announced details of the 425 schools selected to take part in the innovative 2024 BLAST Arts in Education Residencies programme, as well as of 42 new Creative Clusters involving 138 schools nationwide. Both initiatives are part of the Creative Youth Plan 2023 – 2027. BLAST residency projects are creative collaborations between the artist/creative practitioner, teacher, children and young people in and with the school under the coordination of the 21 full-time Education Support Centres of Ireland (ESCI). Each residency is worth €1,100 which is fully funded by the Department of Education with the local ESC managing the administration of the Artist/Creative Practitioner’s 20-hour residency. BLAST residencies can be delivered throughout the academic year 2024/25.

The 42 new Creative Clusters announced will see schools come together over two years to work on a project of their choice. A Cluster may receive up to €15,000 in funding to help them bring their plans and ideas around a project of their choice to fruition, with support from a local facilitator and their local ESC, between 2024 and 2026. The programme is designed to help schools build a project of learning and activities which is tailor-made for their students.

Minister Foley said: “I am pleased to announce today details of the 425 schools which will take part in the 2024 BLAST Arts in Education Residencies Programme, as well as the schools to take part in 42 new Creative Clusters. The Government’s investment of nearly €1.2 million in these initiatives for 2024 represents the extent of its commitment to providing access to the arts for children and young people. We know the very positive benefits which can be reaped from opportunities to be creative and that is at the heart of BLAST and Creative Clusters. These programmes will support children and young people by equipping them with skills such as the ability to connect and collaborate with others, engage in creative and critical thinking, and practice inclusivity at every level.”

For further information see here.

The Irish Architecture Foundation

Closing date: Wednesday 7 August, 18:00

Inspire the next generation of architects and creative problem solvers by leading collaborative design workshops for TY students. The Irish Architecture Foundation invites applications from architects and architectural graduates to participate in the 12th cycle of the national Architects in Schools programme. This is a great opportunity to share your knowledge of architecture with young people and teachers in a fun and engaging way. If you have good communication skills and are looking for exciting ways to expand your practice, they would love to hear from you.

You will work directly with Transition Year students in their school, supporting them as they learn how to explore, research, design and communicate their ideas about architecture and the built environment. You will also collaborate with students and teachers to select work for the annual Architects in Schools exhibition event in May 2025.

Architects in Schools is supported by the Arts Council of Ireland, the Department of Education and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

How to apply: Complete the application form ( see link below)

Closing date: Wednesday 7 August, 18:00

How it works:
– The time commitment is 20 hours or more per year, it’s up to you!
– Work with 1, 2, 3 or 4 schools
– The Irish Architecture Foundation will match you with schools in the county/counties you request
– Flexible schedule, agreed between you and your assigned school(s)
– Share your own creativity, experience and unique perspectives with young people!
– 20 CPD points offered for each school programme

Hours:

20 hours per school (consisting of 12 hours of workshop facilitation & 8 hours of preparation time). This can be divided into 4 x 3 hours, 3 x 4 hours, 2 x 6 hours etc. of workshop delivery time.

Key dates 2024/25:

Complete the application form by Wednesday 7 August, 18:00.

Late August 2024: Offer of places. Complete acceptance form.

2024/25 Programme Delivery: Workshops can take place anytime between 15 September 2024 and 11 April 2025. Dates, times and workshop duration will be arranged directly between the designated teacher / TY coordinator and the assigned architect.

By Friday 28 March 2025: Submission of exhibition material (5 photographs, short text) by architects, via an online portal.

May 2025: Architects in Schools exhibition event.

For more information see here.

Mayo Education Support Centre
Dates and Deadlines: Registration open. Last date for registration is Wednesday 14th August. Access to the course closes at 5pm on 16th August for all participants

The Explorers Education Programme online course aims to provide engaging activities, resources, and support for teachers to incorporate Marine Content through Science, Maths, English, Geography, and the Arts into the class curriculum. Launched in 2006, the Explorers Education Programme, funded and supported by the Marine Institute promotes ocean awareness, knowledge, and engagement, as well as supports ocean literacy and marine education in primary schools in Ireland.
By learning about the ocean literacy concepts; enabling us to understand the influence of the ocean on us and our influence on the ocean; as well as supporting engagement with the UN Sustainable Development Goals 12 and 14, teachers will be able to incorporate marine themes with a range of primary subjects and learning methodologies. Through a series of seashore focuses videos and activities participants will explore
• Biodiversity, and adaptation to the life on the shore,
• Sustainability fisheries and future of our coastal ecosystems
• Environmental awareness and care, and design and make
• Outdoor learning and planning fieldwork
• Using ICT to bring the Ocean into the classroom
• Methods for SSE and exploring work samples and self-reflection tools

The course provides teachers the opportunity to develop their individual and collective skills through the delivery of ocean literacy concepts and learning about the seashore online as well as through nature. The teachers will become proactive in:
• Assessing their own abilities as well as positively contributing to understanding the importance of the ocean
• Being able to communicate about the ocean in a meaningful way
• Using these skills to make informed and responsible decisions regarding the ocean and its resources in line with SDG14

Based over 5 modules, participants will use a range of pre-recorded video content, teacher resources, workbooks, and lesson plans to complete tasks. On completion participants can request a pack of Explorers Educational Resources to be sent to their school. This course is approved for E.P.V. certification by the Department of Education
For more information see here.

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:

Music Generation Leitrim ran pop-up bucket drumming and percussion workshops at primary and secondary schools throughout the county. During these workshops, children and young people learned the basics of bucket drumming and other percussion instruments, as well as singing songs.
Music Generation Louth curated a series of guest workshops with Berlin-based digital artist Æ Mak. The series was designed to build a progression route from the technology programme TY Trax. It aimed to inspire participants to continue as creative musicians beyond the school experience.
Music Generation Offaly participated in the official opening of the new Esker Arts Centre in Tullamore. A choir of children from two local primary schools performed with local musician Tolü Makay, with accompaniment from musicians Donal Lunny and Graham Henderson. President Michael D. Higgins and his wife Sabina attended the event along with local dignitaries and guests from the community
Music Generation Tipperary hosted the “Big Sing Along” performance workshop at the Source Arts Centre, Thurles. Three workshops were delivered over one day and attended by more than 600 children and young people from local primary school programmes including “Primary Beats” and “Tune Up Tipp”. These programmes focus on early years and instrumental performance music education.

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.

Criteria for selection of proposals:

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

Dynamic approaches
New ways of working
Work that represents a commitment to excellence
Strong aesthetic and/or educational outcomes
Presentations/ workshops that include children’s voices

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

Good geographic national spread
A range of art forms
Early years, primary post-primary and Youthreach representation
Equal representation of both arts in education and creative sectors
A balance of practical and theoretical approaches

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.

National College of Art and Design

Continuing Education in Art and Design (CEAD) at NCAD offers a range of short summer courses in art and design for adults and school leavers (16+) who want to explore their creative potential, learn new skills or develop an on-going practice. The CEAD Summer Programme 2024, continues in July. It’s an opportunity to meet other artists and students and become part of a vibrant contemporary art community. If your course is sold out, you are welcome to join the waitlist. Courses include 3 and 5 day short courses in Art, Design and Photography and a 3 week Summer Portfolio Preparation. Summer courses are at different levels; there are introductory courses suitable for beginners or for those considering returning to or progressing within higher education. If you want to learn something new you can choose beginners courses and if you have established an arts practice and want to continue to expand and explore your options you can choose advanced courses. Portfolio Preparation courses are suitable for students applying to third level undergraduate art and design courses who are making their application portfolio. Students interested in applying to the accredited part-time autumn courses or who want to progress within art and design can consider taking summer workshops as a way of developing skills and knowledge in a subject area.

You can also learn more about Progression in art, design and photography through CEAD. From introductory summer or autumn short courses, find out how to advance to level 8 in evening school and be eligible to apply to the final year of the undergraduate BA degree course.

Some courses are only open to students who are 18 years old or over. July courses include:

Experimental Print Making Workshop
The Urban Landscape
Drawing and Painting Contemporary Atelier
Creative Sewing and Soft Materials
Collage and Mixed Media

For more information and application links see here.

The Ark

Dates: Various during July

The Ark is running Early Years workshops that will delight inquisitive minds and busy little hands. In this series of inventive and imaginative workshops, children aged 2-4 and their grown-ups will celebrate their own unique creativity to spark lots of fun!

Creatures from the Mermaid’s Purse runs from 19 – 20 Jul 2024. Visual artist Jane Groves invites very young children (Ages 2-4) and their grown-ups to meet the Beautiful Beasts of the ocean in a play-filled art workshop! Inspired by Silkie the Seal from The Ark’s sculpture collection, children will be invited to explore textures of the sea bed and create their own creatures. Through storytelling and play, they will engage in a sensory exploration of the organisms of a watery world, both macro and micro. You can book here .

I’m an Animal and You Are Too! Runs from 26 – 27 Jul 2024. In this imaginative music workshop, very young children and their grown-ups will join musician Ríona Hartman to explore all the details and textures of our voices. From clicks and snarls to fishy lip bubbles and melodious meows, children will see what noises they can make and what animals they can imitate. Ríona will record sounds with a loop pedal to create wild soundscapes full of all the creatures the children conjure. You can book here .

MTU Crawford College of Art & Design

MTU Crawford College of Art & Design are currently accepting applications for their Certificate in Creativity and Change 2024/2025. The course runs for two semesters, across 9 weekends, from September to May.

This accredited Special Purpose Award programme targets educators, change-makers, activists, artists, community workers, adult educators, youth workers, volunteers, and anyone who is interested in how creative engagement can nurture global citizenship and empathic action around local and global justice themes.

The programme is designed for people who are passionate about change and believe that everyone can make a difference in the world. You need a belief that creativity is needed to challenge the issues that face us and a curiosity about how creative processes and learning environments can transform how people engage with the world around them.

The programme provides an opportunity to participate in a transformative experience in global citizenship education, examine your place in our interconnected, rapidly-changing and unequal world and explore issues affecting the world and make connections between local and global.

Creativity & Change also exists as a core component on MTU Crawford’s MA in Arts & Engagement. Graduates may progress to participation on this programme to achieve a full MA award, with 20 credits already completed. Applicants should note that this is a Level 9 postgraduate course, so there is an expectation that they will have a primary degree and/or relevant experience. Applicants will be asked to submit an application statement to assess their suitability for the programme and may be asked to attend a brief interview. You can read more about the course here.

Fighting Words

Fighting Words are taking bookings for the 2024 -2025 academic year for free secondary school students creative writing workshops. This is a great way to get students excited about writing. Creative writing is a skill that anyone can learn, develop and enjoy. Students are supported throughout the two-hour session by a team of trained and vetting writing mentors, who provide plenty of positive feedback and advice.

Benefits Outside the Classroom

These workshops are not only beneficial for students’ creativity, but help develop writing skills and self-confidence, which they can take with them and apply to their daily lives outside of the classroom.

The Team

The workshops are run by teams of volunteer writing mentors, supervised by Fighting Words staff using fun and interactive formats. Specialist workshops are delivered by experienced practitioners in a variety of fields, such as playwriting, graphic fiction, short stories and more.

All programming is focused on supporting children and young people to tell their own stories in their own voice and at their own pace. There is never a focus on spelling or grammar. The content is decided by the participants, with advice and guidance from the Fighting Words team.

For further information and to register your school, please visit https://www.fightingwords.ie/what-we-do/school-programmes-and-educator-resources/secondary-school-programmes.

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:

Information about your practice
Details of the work you wish to see (inc. title, artist/company, age range of audience, and the venue/festival at which it will be presented)
Why you wish to see this particular piece of work
How you think seeing it will benefit your practice
A brief budget outlining the costs that the fund would cover

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.

Grace Park Educate Together National School

Deadline: 12 noon, Wednesday 26th June, 2024

Grace Park Educate Together Public Art Working Group are seeking expressions of interest from artists whose practice focuses on permanent visual artwork(s) to be sited in the foyer of their school building in a visual medium. The school is open to the idea of the artworks travelling throughout the interior of the building also once this does not impact on the budget for an engagement process with all of their students.

Grace Park ETNS is a child-centred, co-educational, equality based and democratic primary school under the patronage of Educate Together. The school has 423 students, with 16 mainstream classes from Junior Infants to 6th Class and 2 Autism Classes. There are 25 teachers and 16 additional needs assistants (ANAs) working alongside the children in our school.

The school asks that artists who apply consider the following:

It is expected that artwork(s) will be interactive for the children in this age group: 5 – 12 years.
The Public Art Working Group are not interested in the Digital Art Medium for this commission.

The school is located at DCU All Hallows Campus, Grace Park Road, Drumcondra, Dublin 9

The selection process will take the form of a Two Stage Open Competition. The closing date for receipt of Stage 1 completed application form together with supporting documentation and material is 12 noon, Wednesday 26th June 2024. It is anticipated that the project would commence in Summer 2024 and be completed by June 2025.

The commission was originally posted on Visual Artists Ireland and you can read further details on the briefing document: https://visualartists.ie/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/FINAL-2024-Apr-GP-ETNS-Stage-1-Brief.pdf

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

Teacher Training at The Ark

Dates: 12 – 16 August

Cultural Hub for kids, The Ark, is running this five day course over the summer from 12 – 16 August. Artist Jole Bortoli will deliver this hugely popular hands-on, creative course for teachers focusing on a visual arts approach to exploring narrative, literacy & other subjects.

This is a five-day Department of Education EPV-approved summer course for teachers. It runs from 10 am – 3 pm each day with breaks and is suitable for all levels of experience.

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, participants 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 creative confidence. The group will also explore how visual art can be used to link with other subjects, as well as to promote visual literacy. Time will also be given for individual reflection, school self-evaluation 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

FEE: €100 NON-MEMBERS/€90 MEMBERS .

For information and booking see here

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/

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

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

Reflection

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

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

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

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

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

Baboró International Arts Festival for Children

Baboró is inviting applications to their 3-day paid mentorship programme during the Baboró festival in Galway, from 17 – 19 October. This initiative aims to encourage both emerging and established artists who are interested in making work for children to experience Baboró International Arts Festival for Children in an immersive and rewarding way. Over the 3 days, the small group of mentees will:

experience a curated programme of festival shows and industry events
be guided by seasoned mentors Phil Kingston (Community and Education Manager, Abbey Theatre) andMaria Fleming (CEO, First Fortnight);
be paid €600.

The objective is that artists and creatives from varied, diverse backgrounds and identities will be inspired to make work for babies, children and young people in Ireland, having been exposed to world-class Irish and international work.

A total of four applicants will be selected for this opportunity.

Closing date for applications is end of day Wednesday, 5 June at midnight.

For further information on eligibility, access supports and to apply please visit: https://www.baboro.ie/news-events/festival-mentoring-2024

FÍS Film Project

Deadline: 5pm, 28th June 2024

There is an open invitation to all Dept. of Education designated Irish primary schools to enter their films into the annual national FÍS Film Awards competition. To enter, primary schools across the country are asked to create an (up to) five-minute film on a subject of their choice, registration is not required.

Awards may be made in a wide variety of categories including Documentary, Comedy, Acting, Storytelling, Adaptation, Animation, Special Effects, Direction, Costume, Editing, Production Design, Cinematography, Sound Track, Best Newcomer, Best Junior Class Production, Curriculum Relevance, among others.

The FIS website is packed with resources and tools on incorporating film into the primary classroom, with lesson plans, videos, technical guides and templates to help get you started with your submission.

The deadline for entries is Friday 28 June at 5pm, for further details on the competition including the rules and guidelines and judging criteria, please visit https://fisfilmproject.ie/competition/

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

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

Project title
Marino 100: Back to the Future ~ Creative Minds Art + Culture Festival 2024 ~

Marino 100: Back to the Future is being organised and run by a diverse group of teenagers in North Inner City Dublin in collaboration with their teachers, local artists and the wider community. The festival includes a parade, music, dancing and food!

The project is a collaboration between Marino College, St. Joseph’s Fairview, St. Vincent’s GNS (brought together through Creative Clusters), with Marino Residents Association and various other local schools and organisations. The organisational team are teachers and artists; Joan Lyne, Heather Gray, Robin Stewart, Sarah Connor, and Cathy French. Other artists involved in the project include Steven Doody and Sinéad Lynch.

This initiative aims to change the narrative of the area, celebrating the art and culture of all residents and fostering an inclusive atmosphere all under the banner of Marino 100 – highlighting 100 years since construction started on the Marino housing development – known as the Garden City.

Artist: Heather Gray
Heather Gray is a socially engaged interdisciplinary artist based in Dublin 3. Heather’s areas of expertise are creating large scale public participatory art works as a socially engaged practice and facilitating student led approaches to co-creation.

Teacher: Joan Lyne
Joan Lyne is a Gaelgoir, musician, organiser and community builder. She teaches Irish and Chinese and has been working at Marino College since 2015. Prior to this she was working as a teacher in her native co. Kerry. Joan is passionate about collaboration, inclusion, creativity and bringing fun into the school setting.

Librarian: Robin Stewart
Robin Stewart is the Junior Cert. Schools Programme Librarian in Marino College, Dublin 3. His previous work with marginalised public library users was recognised at the Excellence in Local Government Awards. Robin has written for Inis, An Leabharlann and The School Librarian magazines and is the Treasurer of the Library Association of Ireland School Libraries Group. He was shortlisted for the national Library Staff Champion award 2023.

European Parliament

Date: exhibition runs until 18 September

This pedagogical kit aims to provide educators with practical guidance for the exhibition Art in Democracy. Next to a temporary physical exhibition all the material is always accessible online. The information provided takes a more generic approach, so that it is adaptable to educational contexts at international level that vary in the different countries.

The kit is divided into several sections, including:

specific information about how the seven selected topics as well as the individual artworks of the exhibition relate to the overarching theme of democracy with a ‘teacher’s corner’ giving some hands-on ideas of students’ own creations;
ideas for using the interviews that some of the represented artists gave about their works in the exhibition;
a concrete lesson plan based on a methodology following democratic principles and giving a variety of activities that can easily be applied in the classroom.
an additional resources list for further information about the EU, the European Elections 2024 as well as links to related examples in art history.

With the next European Elections approaching in June 2024, it is interesting for students to reflect on democracy and what it means to them. Seeing Europe and its democratic values through the eyes of its artists offers the opportunity to address the topic of democracy and democratic values via aesthetic and experience-based learning. Artistic expression can more easily lead to student engagement, facilitate classroom discussions and trigger reflection on this topic.

To download the pedagogical kit and learn more about the European Parliaments art programme, please visit: https://art-collection.europarl.europa.eu/en/exhibitions/art-in-democracy/

Limerick School of Art & Design TUS

Date: Thursday, 9th May

Limerick School of Art & Design TUS Teacher Education presents their 2024 exhibition and conference ‘Beyond Bog Standards‘? The art room and its relationship with today’s world’ in conversation with Rosie O’Gorman & Adam Stoneman.

The official opening and conference will take place on Thursday 9th May 5.00 – 7.30pm. LSAD Teacher Education are delighted to welcome Rosie O’Gorman and Adam Stoneman to share their insights on alternative and expanded curriculum in relation to visual art in 2nd level schools.

The exhibition will be open to the public 8th-15th May, showcasing work from second level students who have engaged with student teachers on the B. Ed. and PME in Art Education in LSAD over this academic year. All schools, staff and students are welcome to attend.

Venue: LSAD Church Gallery, Limerick School of Art and Design-TUS, Clare St. Campus, Limerick, V94 KX22

Rosie O’Gorman is co-director of Cow House Studios in rural Wexford. She received her BA in Art and Design Education from NCAD in 2000, receiving the Larkin Memorial Award for her teaching and the Taylor Art Award for her painting. During her time there, she became committed to making contemporary art relatable and personally meaningful to her students. In 2004 she received her MFA from San Francisco Art Institute, supported by a Fulbright Scholarship. While in San Francisco, her drawing and painting practice grew to include installation, sculpture and performance, and her ideas of what art can be were challenged and cultivated. In 2007, with her husband Frank Abruzzese, she established Cow House Studios at her ancestral home, giving form to what Rosie and Frank value most; facilitating a genuine sense of connection with their home, heritage, and landscape; nurturing curiosity, community and meaningful exchange to serve artists at all stages, exploring a novel model for building a sustainable life in the arts.

Adam Stoneman is an educator and cultural worker based in County Galway. Studying at the University of Kent, Canterbury and subsequently at The Courtauld Institute of Art, London, he graduated with an MA in Art History in 2011. He has worked in both formal and informal education settings, initially as a classroom teacher in London, and later at The Science Museum, The Hunt Museum, and The Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA). Since 2020, his work has focused on the social and pedagogical implications of technology in the gallery and classroom, and how digitality is transforming the production and reception of culture. This included developing a series of virtual reality education workshops in Limerick, and working with Open University to develop a ‘Citizen Curation’ platform at IMMA. In 2021, with support from the Irish Museums Association and the Irish Museums Trust, he initiated the Muse-Tech Working Group, to investigate technology in a cultural context, with the research published as Museum Technology: A Critical Primer. His writing on arts, culture and technology has appeared in publications such as Jacobin, Tribune, Engage: Journal of Visual Art and Gallery Education, Museum Ireland, Visual Artists Newsletter, and Arts in Education Portal. He currently works as Creative Communities Engagement Officer, for Galway City Council’s Creative Ireland programme.

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

Project title: Let’s Get Real

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

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

The process consists of:

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

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

Artist: Ana Colomer

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

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

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

Department of Education

Deadline: 21st June 2024

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

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

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

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

TAP+ Teacher Registration Flyer

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

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

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

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

Department of Education

Deadline: Friday 7th June 2024

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

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

TAP+ Overview

TAP+ 2024 Artist Call-Out flyer

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

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

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

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

“Learn to Weave Irish Tweed” with Maeve Pudney

– – – – Close – – – –

The Family’s Experience

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Creative Youth

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

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

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

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

Department of Education & The Arts Council of Ireland

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

Creative Schools

Deadline: 2nd May 2024

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

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

BLAST

Deadline: 10th May 2024

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

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

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

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

Creative Clusters

Deadline: 10th May 2024

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

NCCA

Date: March to June 2024

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

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

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

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

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

Photo Museum Ireland

Closing date: Thursday 25th April 2024

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

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

Department for Education – TAP+

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

National Opera House

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

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

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

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

MTU Crawford College of Art & Design

Application Deadline: 24th April 2024

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

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

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

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

Fees €1700

Mónica Muñoz Dance

Location and Dates: Various

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Adult’s Experience

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Kids’ Own Publishing Partnership
Deadline 3 April 2024

Kids’ Own, the current Arts in Education Portal Mangers, is seeking an experienced individual to assist with elements of the Arts in Education Portal programme in 2024. Reporting to the Arts in Education Portal Manager, and the CEO of Kids’ Own, the Portal Assistant will assist with key events and content development for the Portal. We invite applications from suitably qualified individuals for this fixed term contract for service.

Launched in 2015, the Arts in Education Portal is the key national digital resource of arts and education practice in Ireland. The ethos for the Portal is about building a community of practice within arts and creativity in education, and providing a space – both online and offline – where artists and teachers can be supported and inspired. It provides a platform through which good collaboration practice in arts-in-education and arts education will be supported, developed and enhanced.

The specifications of the contract are set out below.

Coordination of Portal events, particularly the Spring Regional Day, in Sligo in late Spring 2024 and the National Arts in Education Portal Day which will take place in Dublin in early November 2024. Event coordination will include pre-event planning, organising guest speakers, communications with ticket holders and management of all event logistics. Coordinating third-party suppliers, freelancers, videographers and designers to ensure on-time delivery of assets.
Developing social media content to promote the content of the Arts in Education Portal website and events, ensuring the delivery of effective, cohesive, and engaging brand messaging.
Assistance with the management of the Arts in Education Portal website, including updating content.
Assisting with the development of content for the AIE Portal, which could include travelling to different education settings to document arts in education projects.

The successful applicant will have:

A strong interest in arts in education and collaborative arts practice.
Experience in event coordination.
Experience with self-directed projects.
Strong digital skills, including experience using WordPress.
Proven track record in managing social media campaigns, across platforms including Facebook, Instagram, X, and LinkedIn.
Expertise in documenting creative projects.
Ability to travel when required for meetings, events etc. Full, clean driving license and access to own transport.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
Excellent organisational and time-management skills.
The ability to work well as part of a small team.

Desirable:

Experience in working with non-profit or charitable organisations.

How to apply:

Applicants should send a detailed CV, along with a cover letter outlining their interest in this piece of work, with reference to relevant experience, and any other relevant details.

Fee: there is a set fee of €12,000 for the delivery of these services. There will be additional funds available for travel and other expenses to be confirmed with the successful applicant(s).

Timeline: Timelines will be agreed with successful candidate, but candidates should note dates of Regional and National Day events are in May and November.

Deadline: Wednesday 3^rd April

How to apply: please send a cover letter detailing your experience, approach, and interest in the role, along with a CV to ciara@kidsown.ie

Department of Education: BLAST Initiative

Application Deadline: 10th May 2024

Applications for BLAST are now open.

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

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

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

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

Siamsa Tíre Theatre & Art Gallery

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

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

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

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

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

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

FÍS FILM Project

Deadline: Friday 19th April 2024 at 5pm

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

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

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

Judging Critera Highlights:

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

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

Kids’ Own Publishing Partnership

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

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

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

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

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

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

Education Support Centres Ireland (ESCI)

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

Cork Education Support Centre

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

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

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

Wexford Education Support Centre

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

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

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

Drumcondra Education Support Centre

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

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

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

Blackrock Education Centre

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

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

Catalyst International Film Festival

Date: 18th April 2024

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

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

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

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

Deadline extended: 5th April 2024

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

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

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

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

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

Application Information:

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

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

The Children at the Centre

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

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

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

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

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

UNESCO

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

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

This publication provides:

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

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

Cork County Council Library and Arts Service

Deadline: Friday 15th March 2024 at 5pm

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

This is an invitation for

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

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

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

JCSP Libraries

Closing date : 15th March 2024

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

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

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

1. Junior

2. TY and Senior

3. Special Needs

HOW TO ENTER:

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

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

Barnstorm Theatre Company

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

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

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

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

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

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

Solstice Arts Centre

Dates: various

As part of Solstice Arts Centre’s Learning and Participation programme a number of workshops are available to primary schools connecting with their current and upcoming visual art exhibitions. The following workshops are aimed at Junior Infants to First Class and are free, however booking is essential.

Fold

Thursday 7th & Friday 8th March 2024
9:30am & 11am (60 mins)

Mapping the gallery spaces together through movement and drawing, let’s explore the artworks on display by artist Mark Garry as part of his exhibition to hold or to be held. Delicately constructed by hand, Mark’s work awakens the senses, arranging objects that cross the space and form relationships to each other. Using the four interconnected themes of Aistear: well-being; identity and belonging; communicating; exploring and thinking, create with paper and pastel to make a large collaborative piece of art. This workshop will also draw on cross-curricular links to colour, shape, and construction while extending children’s learning with visual and verbal stimulation. Further information on the workshop can be found here: https://solsticeartscentre.ie/event/fold

disAPPEAR

Fri 26 Apr 2024
9:30am & 11am (60 mins)

Where do shadows go? Why do they disappear? In this playful workshop, primary level pupils will explore light and time, creating imaginary scenes that will only remain in our memory. Or will they? Can we capture shadows, hold them and revisit them again?
Inspired by the artworks in our gallery created by artist Willie Doherty as part of his exhibition Remnant, we will combine reality with the imagined. Connecting through light, drawing and story, we will embrace elements of belonging and collaboration, unfolding possibilities through creative fun and making the imagined visible. Further information on the workshop can be found here: https://solsticeartscentre.ie/event/disappear

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

Department of Education

Deadline: 10^th May 2024

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

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

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

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

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

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

Creative Clusters 2024-2026 Flyer

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

Schools that have not yet participated in Creative Clusters.
Schools that have not yet participated in Creative Schools and those who will complete Creative Schools Year 2 in the 2023/24 school year.
Schools that will complete Creative Clusters Year 2 in the 2023/24 school year. However, they must apply as part of a cluster who have not yet participated in the initiative. In this instance, it is required that this school applies to lead a cluster of schools that are new to the initiative.

The local Education Support Centre will have a key role in identifying and supporting a Creative Cluster for their local area. 42 Creative Clusters will be selected nationally – 2 per Education Support Centre.

In announcing this new round of Creative Clusters, Minister Foley said:

“This is a wonderful opportunity for schools to work together on a creative project of their choice. Schools are given complete freedom to design and develop their own project, with support from a local facilitator and their local education centre.”

Applications are to be completed online, and can be made in English or Irish, by 10th May 2024, please visit: https://www.edcentretralee.ie/creative-clusters.html

Any queries, please contact your local Education Support Centre or email National Arts in Education Administration artsineducation@traleeesc.ie

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.

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 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:

Have started in Autumn 2023 and continue into 2024, or take place in 2024. Please note if selected, filming of engagement sessions will take place after 19th March 2024.
Have a minimum duration of 8 weeks.
Involve a professional artist working collaboratively within an educational setting (early years, primary or post-primary).
Be underpinned by a strong ethos of collaboration and a commitment to excellence. Focus on the creative process, with children having an active and collaborative role.

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 5pm, Wednesday 6 March 2024.

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

International Teacher-Artist Partnership (I-TAP-PD) PD

Research reports from the International Teacher-Artist Partnership (I-TAP-PD) PD project were published in June 2023. The project focus was on enabling teachers and artists to jointly develop their understanding, expertise and creativity in ‘arts in education’ work with children and young people in education, community and arts settings. It is funded under the Erasmus+ KA2 Strategic Partnership for School Education initiative.

Consisting of a 5-day pre-service training course to prepare participants for their partnered engagement and a 20 hour in-situ residency in a primary school, the programme was piloted in four countries: Ireland, Serbia, Greece and the Netherlands.

I-TAP-PD focuses specifically on the partnership between a teacher and an artist, aiming to facilitate a strong foundation of relationship and inspiration before working together in the classroom. In co-creating this methodology a research group was organised to collect data about the impact of the programme and the residencies, and to monitor the development and finetuning of the training programme. The research team consists of representatives of each country.

Four residencies took place in Ireland during 2022, data from these, confirmed findings published internationally on TAP initiatives. In this case, sufficient allocation of time for residencies, whole school buy-in and political will and support were confirmed as the main enablers of TAP practices, whereas two residencies were hindered by a lack of support by school management. Key findings for the Irish research indicated that learning fell broadly into three categories: personal development, professional development and effective collaboration. The greatest areas of learning for teachers were in the collaborative sphere while artists reported significant personal development.

The research from each partner country is available to read on the I-TAP-PD website, including a short introduction and download link to each research reports from Ireland along with Greece, Serbia and the Netherlands. Read them all and explore how the programme and residencies were experienced and analysed within the different contexts.

Mother Tongues Festival

Dates: 16th-17th Feb

Mother Tongues Festival is the largest festival celebrating linguistic diversity through the arts in Ireland. Its mission is to showcase the country’s rich artistic and cultural tapestry, and connect people through the power of language. Most of the events are designed for families with children, this year there are two exciting events which explore the intersection of multilingualism and the arts.

Creativity and Multilingualism – Panel Discussion and Workshop

Mother Tongues Festival invites the public to join an engaging exploration of Creativity and Multilingualism at the County Library, Tallaght. The event, funded by Languages Connect and organised in collaboration with Trinity College’s School of Education, will feature a panel discussion and a workshop, and will be followed by a film screening.

The afternoons activities will commence with a presentation by Dr Francesca La Morgia, continue with the participatory workshop “Living Languages: Exploring mother tongues through body and voice”, led by Miriam Stewart and finish with a discussion panel among academics Jean-Rémi Lapaire, Claire Dunne and Iseult Ní Chonchúir.

This event is free, booking required and will include an ISL interpreter.
16th February, 1-4pm
Further details: https://mothertonguesfestival.com/programme-2024/creativity-and-multilingualism/

“Go Beyond Language” Workshop on Multilingual Performance

Mother Tongues Festival continues its exploration of multilingualism with the “Go Beyond Language” workshop focused on multilingual performance. The workshop will take place at Rua Red, Tallaght, from 10 am to 6 pm.

This professional development programme aims to enhance participants’ skills in drama-based methodologies that foster language development, inclusion, and well-being. Facilitated by Teatro Multilingue coaches Flavio Marigliani and Marta Iacopini, the interdisciplinary workshop is open to all socially engaged arts practitioners interested in working in multilingual contexts.

17th February, 10am – 6pm
Booking details: https://mothertonguesfestival.com/programme-2024/go-beyond-language/

The Ark

Date: 9th March 2024

This visual art workshop for teachers is inspired by the timeless story of the wooden puppet Pinocchio celebrating the 140th anniversary of the first publication.

Carlo Collodi’s Pinocchio is one of the world’s best-loved children’s books, translated into over 280 languages and dialects, and the subject of countless films and television series.

Although Pinocchio’s story has been adapted into many media the focus of The Ark’s visual art programme is on the illustrated book, from vintage copies to modern interpretations and by various artists and illustrators.

You will be introduced to and experiment with different illustrative styles and creative solutions including pop-up book-making, collage and block printing. The aim is to create your own version of the story and produce your own Pinocchio booklet.

Attending this CPD will support you if you wish to bring your class to a workshop as part of The Ark’s Pinocchio programme later in the year, but will also stand alone and provide you with lots of ideas you can use in your own classroom.

Suitable for all levels of experience including beginners.

To book a place on the workshop and learn more about The Ark’s upcoming visual art programme ‘The Adventures of Pinnochio’ please visit https://ark.ie/events/view/teachers-cpd-pinnochio

Children’s Books Ireland

Children’s Books Ireland are delighted to announce the 2024 Junior Juries’ scheme – part of the KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Awards – is now open for registration! Junior Juries is a unique programme for schools, libraries and book clubs, designed to encourage reading for pleasure and appreciation for a wide variety of books for all ages.

Participating classes make their own selection of suitable titles from the KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Awards shortlist, which will be announced on 7th February online and at Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast. Each group will be provided with a specially designed digital resource pack so participants can engage with the chosen books by taking part in quizzes, debates, discussions, research projects, creative writing, and visual art activities which will enhance their reading experience. At the end of this process, each group is asked to collectively score the books they have read.

Registration is completely free, all groups will receive:

A digital resource pack
Bookmarks
Poster

As part of the Junior Juries scheme registered groups can apply for the following free opportunities*:

An online or in-person author or illustrator visit to your school March – April 2024
A visit from a KPMG volunteer on 21 March 2024
Copies of the shortlisted books
A chance to be part of a short online video about the Junior Juries
Attending the in-person awards ceremony on 22 May 2024

‌*These opportunities are limited and based on need. Applications for books or author/illustrator/volunteer visits will be given to those groups who show most need.

‌‌Register online here:
2024 Junior Juries’ Registration Form

Further information about the awards and the Junior Juries scheme can be found here:
https://childrensbooksireland.ie/what-we-do/kpmg-childrens-books-ireland-awards/junior-juries-programme

‌Registration for the Junior Juries is ongoing. However, if you’d like to apply for an author visit or visit from a KPMG volunteer please ensure to register your class no later than 1 March 2024.

The Arts Council of Ireland

Dates: 1st-29th Feb

The Arts Council is inviting all schools across Ireland to get involved in their first ever Creative February, a celebration of art and creativity in schools with a focus on fun, festivities, imagination and innovation. This initiative will run from the 1st to the 29th of February.

Creative February will recognise and affirm that our schools are truly creative places, filled with very creative people. From primary to secondary to alternative settings, all children and young people will be encouraged to MAKE, SEE, DO.

Make any style of art you choose – paint, draw, dance, knit, design, sculpt, code;
See art – visit a museum or gallery, attend a theatre or spoken word performances, dance shows, music gigs, or see architecture and local art in your town or city!
Do a creative project – as a team, as a class or as a school.

To help inspire, guide and motivate everyone taking part, the Arts Council will host a series of online workshops in collaboration with Monaghan Education Centre and Wexford Education Support Centre. These workshops will be divided: half will be catering for school staff and teachers, with the remainder dedicated to students.

The underlying theme for Creative February is Spring. Creation from new growth, the seeds of inspiration, this theme hopes to encourage students and school communities to reflect on where creativity begins in our lives, in every class, in every school and how it can grow and flourish.

Ongoing updates and details of webinars will appear across the Arts Council’s social media platforms and Creative February website.

Run by the Creative Schools team within the Arts Council, Creative February is open to every school in the country, and all are warmly invited to take part. A welcome pack, with posters and details has been distributed to each school across the country.

National Museum of Ireland

Dates: various

The National Museum of Ireland is delighted to launch its latest programme of guided tours, workshops and resources for primary schools for the spring term. Available from January 2024, all activities are offered free of charge and encompass all four Museum sites in Dublin and Co. Mayo.

Each site focuses on a different part of the National Collections with a school programme to reflect the collection on display at each location offering a diverse range of activities to complement the primary curriculum.

Highlights from each location:

GUIDED TOUR: A Taste of the Past – The History of Food and Drink – Collins Barracks, Dublin 7 – 3rd-6th Class

This interactive tour will give students a flavour of the wealth of artifacts on display in the Museum. They show the continuity and change of food preparation over time.

GUIDED TOUR: The Vikings in Ireland – Kildare Street – 3rd-6th Class

The Vikings in Ireland guided tour explores the three main activities of the Vikings – raiding, trading and settling – using the Museum’s unique collection of artifacts.</p

WORKSHOP: Engineers Week: Make a Town – Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co. Mayo – 5th & 6th Class

In this virtual session construct buildings, make roads and paths, cut, colour and create each building and put them into your town layout! Participants may like to decorate with Matchbox cars or figurines and can work from their classroom to expand, make further buildings and perhaps even a whole city with Makermeet!

GUIDED TOUR: Get Stuffed! – Merrion Street, Dublin 2 – Junior Infants-2^nd Class

This session is new and specifically designed for junior primary audiences. Make some new friends as we visit the furry deer, feathery puffins, and scaly turtles on a guided tour led by a Museum Educator.

View the full schools programme for the National Museum of Ireland at:

The Arts Council of Ireland

The Arts Council has warmly welcomed the publication of a landmark report which shows the impact, reach and influence of the Creative Schools Programme. Creative Schools is led by the Arts Council in partnership with the Department of Education, the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and Creative Ireland.

The report by Dr Regina Murphy and Dr Eemer Eivers (Dublin City University) presents an evaluation of the first four years (2018-2022) of the initiative and provides information on the experiences of children and young people, teachers, educators, arts practitioners and artists. To date 971 schools, nearly a quarter of all schools in the country [~24%], have participated in the programme.

Participants in schools and centres, including children, students, teachers, principals, Creative Schools Coordinators and their supporting Creative Associates have been overwhelmingly positive in their overall attitudes towards the programme and in their reports of experience. 99% of participating schools said they would recommend the programme to other schools.

Schools from every county in Ireland have participated in the programme and all school types including 27 Youthreach Centres, have been well represented. The Creative Schools programme has successfully prioritised participation by DEIS Schools, small rural schools, Special Schools, Irish Language medium schools and Youthreach centres in response to interim findings from this report.

In many instances, changes to how students perceive their place in the school as well as improvements to the physical face of the school (e.g. an art installation or a student co-designed garden), can be directly attributed to the programme. The report also highlights that the Creative Schools initiative has been successful in promoting and infusing creativity in schools and drawing attention to the increasing importance of creativity in education.

Creative Schools has opened up a very broad range of experiences for students and pupils and each participating school has had a unique journey. The wide variety of activities undertaken by schools during their engagement in Creative Schools have included circus, architecture, heritage, music, comedy, literature, coding, traditional arts, science, horticulture, film, design, craft, drama, visual arts and dance.

The researchers Dr. Murphy and Dr. Eivers conclude:

“The overall Creative Schools initiative has transformed a very broad range of Irish schools in the Irish educational landscape more than any other initiative heretofore in placing learners in every county at the heart of the process, valuing and validating their perspectives and experiences, collaborating meaningfully with them while shifting the focus of arts education in particular from child-centred to child-led participatory practice.”

Maureen Kennelly, Arts Council Director said of the report:

“…By placing young people at the heart of decision making, we have been able to support schools to fully embrace the creative possibilities within their community and their locality…”

Catherine Martin TD, Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media said:

“Creative Schools, a key programme under the Creative Youth Plan, has gone from strength to strength since 2018, particularly in its reach to schools and those under the DEIS programme, in alternative settings and special schools. This report highlights positive impacts that Creative Schools has had on students and their school communities…”

Minister for Education, Norma Foley TD added:

“I welcome DCU’s Creative Schools report which highlights the success of the programme in putting the arts and creativity at the centre of education. It has given students the opportunity to develop creative projects on their own school grounds, to take part in workshops and performances and to visit galleries, theatres, heritage sites, cinemas, museums, libraries and local arts centres…”

Two Sixth Year students from Mungret Community College, Limerick who participated in the Creative Schools programme also gave their views about their experience.

Aaroh Jain: “I think Creative Schools had a profound impact on me, because it was a chance to exercise autonomy in our school, a platform to see if we could bring our own ideas to life.”

Eve Adedirann: “Creative Schools is a great way to explore interests you may have thought you never had.”

The full report is available to read online from the DCU DORAS website: https://doras.dcu.ie/29450/

Fresh International Film Festival

Deadline extended: Friday, 1st February 2024

Fresh International Film Festival is accepting entries for Ireland’s Young Filmmaker of the Year 2024. Open to all young budding filmmakers and school groups, between 7 – 18 years of age, encouraging young people from Ireland and overseas to create, exhibit, and share films. Submissions are welcome across comedy, horror, drama, documentary, experimental, music video, animation.

The 28th annual Fresh International Film Festival will take place in April, showcasing hundreds of short films from Ireland’s future screen talent. A highlight of the festival is Ireland’s Young Filmmaker of the Year, an awards programme which acknowledges and celebrates the highest standards of youth filmmaking across three categories: Junior (7-12 years), Senior (13-18 years) and International (7-18 years). The awards include a prize fund, filmmaking equipment, mentoring sessions with creative professionals, and the opportunity for young people to have their work screened theatrically.

Dublin student Max Hendrickson (17) was named Ireland’s Young Filmmaker of the Year 2023 at the Fresh International Film Festival. His short animated film, The Tell-Tale Heart is a re-telling of Edgar Allan Poe’s famous short story and it scooped the top prize for the amazing young Director.

“I have been submitting to the Fresh International Film Festival since I was 12, and it has consistently provided the inspiration and motivation for me to keep making movies. It has been absolutely amazing to attend every year and meet other young filmmakers, and I urge all aspiring filmmakers to submit their work to Fresh”. – Max Hendrickson, Dublin; Ireland’s Young Filmmaker of the Year 2023.

Are you a school group who produced an original film work since January 2023? Closing date for entries is Friday, 1 February, 2024 and are welcomed in English (or English subtitles) and Irish.

A full set of criteria and submission forms are available at https://freshfilm.ie/fresh-international-film-festival-submissions/.

This article was edited to amend the deadline date which was extended from 19 Jan to 1 Feb

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:

VISUAL Carlow – Friday 19 January, 11am – 3pm. Join waiting list.
Online event – Monday 22 January, 10am – 1pm. Join waiting list.
Triskel Arts Centre, Cork – Thursday 25 January, 12pm – 4pm. Join waiting list.
The Model, Sligo – Tuesday 30 January, 12pm – 4pm. Join waiting list.
The Complex, Dublin – Friday 2 February, 11am – 3:30pm. Join waiting list.

It’s all in the planning.

We are all starting to wind down for Christmas so it’s a good time to start thinking about any future TAP+ or Blast projects that may be on the horizon in the New Year. Maybe reach out to any partners that you may be working with in January or February, have a coffee or arrange a Zoom meeting for an initial meet and greet. It’ll just be great to have touched base before signing off this term.

How do you do your actual planning? Do you record on an app? Do you take notes old school in a diary? I do a combo of both. I use the Goodnotes app on my iPad and a bullet journal. For the bullet journal, I like to use a Leuchtturm 1917 notebook. I divide every double spread into a week and keep a double spread spare for listing monthly activities. I love how it’s flexible, I can draw or use pages at the back for longer notes. For detailed notes, I use my Goodnotes app. I highly recommend it if you have an iPad. You can hand write notes or type, record audio from lectures and you can insert images. When I’m working in a school, I would take photos then insert them into the notes to remind me of what happened that day. I use the 2 systems to keep me on track.

Maybe ask Santy for some new notebooks? Or an iPad if he’s very generous!

I recently worked in a secondary school, Colaiste Mhuire in Ballymote on a BLAST Residency. Both Oona McGrath and I spent a lot of time planning to maximise my time with the students and it really paid off. We decided to do a two day intensive session with the students. We had a coffee in August and then had a studio visit. Oona discussed what she wanted to get out of the residency, she really thought about what her students needed so that was brilliant. Once we figured out what we were going to do, we were able to make a detailed materials list. I recorded this in my bullet journal and then screen shot it into my Goodnotes app to have a permanent record of it. Everything from what print paper to how we were going to protect the tables in the art room. It was very specific and it really worked. We checked in with each other coming closer to November and then it was smooth sailing when I turned up into the class as everything was perfect. I had visited the room beforehand and we had planned how the room needed to be rearranged before we started. It just made everything so much easier to work on the day, everything was in place and the focus was on the students as it should be.

Have a peaceful, restful time on your break and a Happy New Year.

An Cumann Scoildrámaíochta

Dates: February – March 2024

An Cumann Scoildrámaíochta, which is under the patronage of the Department of Gaeltacht and Rural Affairs, organises schools drama festivals on a countrywide basis to promote Irish medium drama in schools at both primary and post-primary level.

The festivals are organised on a local, provincial and national basis. These festivals give young people from every part of the country the opportunity to be directly involved in all aspects of drama production. As well as being a hugely enjoyable experience, participation also helps to build self-confidence, self-esteem and an overall fluency in the Irish language. Part of the fun is the competition element with the standard rising year after year.

The programme begins with the local festivals which are usually held in February and early March each year, provincial festivals follow in March and the national festival is held in April.

There are separate competitions and divisions based on school level, the size of school, age groups, operas/musicals and for primary schools that are not Irish-medium or Gaeltacht schools.

A repository of scripts translated into Irish are available in pdf format to download from An Cumann Scoildrámaíochta website.

If you are a drama producer involved with primary or post-primary students or if you are a teacher who would like to try producing a play for the first time ever, this is your chance to take part.

Further information is available on An Cumann Scoildrámaíochta website, please see the relevant sections:
Local festivals dates & venues: https://www.scoildramaiocht.ie/feilte-aitiula-2024/
Competition categories: https://www.scoildramaiocht.ie/na-comortais/

If you are interested in taking part, contact the representative listed for the festival nearest you or send an e-mail to eolas@scoildramaiocht.ie.

The Arts Council recently announced that offers have been made to 141 schools and centres across Ireland who applied to be part of the Creative Schools initiative.

The Creative Schools initiative gives opportunities for children and young people to build their artistic and creative skills. Each of the 141 schools taking part will receive a grant and work with a professional Creative Associate who will support them to develop and implement their own bespoke Creative School Plan over a two-year period.

The 141 new Creative Schools comprise 97 primary schools, 25 post-primary schools, 4 special schools and 10 Youthreach centres. Joining the programme this year are five schools in Alternative Settings who cater for young people with severe emotional and behavioural challenges. St Paul’s YEP, Dublin; St Laurence O’Toole’s Special School, Dublin; Henrietta Street School, Dublin; St Kevin’s School, Cork; and St Augustine’s Special School, Limerick will join the programme and receive enhanced supports.

Catherine Martin TD, Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media said:

“I am thrilled to see the continued success of the Creative Schools initiative and warmly welcome the 141 new schools and centres. Since 2018, Creative Schools has been a testament to the pivotal role creativity plays for children and young people across Ireland; in their education and for their school communities. I hope that the Creative School initiative continues to flourish and empower our young people as these new schools and centres embark on the programme.”

Norma Foley TD, Minister for Education said:

“I am pleased to see that 141 new schools and centres are now joining the Creative Schools Programme. Creative Schools puts the arts and creativity at the heart of children’s and young people’s lives. Over 970 schools and Youthreach centres have been invited to participate since it was set up in 2018. We are increasingly embedding the arts into the education system, which includes the development of a new subject – Drama, Film and Theatre Studies – which will commence in schools in 2025.”

Maureen Kennelly, Director of the Arts Council, said:

“We extend a warm welcome to the 141 new schools joining Creative Schools. The demand nationwide is a testament to the programme’s impact, and we’re excited even more schools in Ireland are now part of this creative journey. Collaborating with our partners in the Department of Education, the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport, and Media, as well as Creative Ireland, we anticipate another school year filled with creativity, consultation, and exploration.”

Participation empowers children and young people to develop, implement and evaluate arts and creative activity throughout their schools and centres. Creativity stimulates additional ways of working and has a positive impact on children and young people’s learning, development and well-being.

National Council for Special Education

Deadline: Friday 12th January 2024, 5pm

The European Federation of Associations of Teachers of the Deaf (FEAPDA), National Council for Special Education (NCSE) and British Association of Teachers of Deaf Children and Young People (BATOD), with support from BATOD Northern Ireland, invite all interested parties (teachers, professionals, lecturers, researchers, developers and manufacturers of technical devices, service providers, service users, policy makers, students etc) to present their work at the 27th FEAPDA Congress.

Deaf children and young people form a diverse group with varying experiences of hearing loss but who are also affected by other aspects of their lives. Additional medical and/or educational needs, cultural and social backgrounds and every individual’s own life experience will influence their experience of deafness.

This year’s congress will explore the diversity of deaf learners in their many lives: implications for our knowledge and practice.

Papers and presentations may consider issues such as:

Meeting the needs of children who are deaf with additional needs;
Meeting the needs of children whose deafness is not their primary need;
The experience of deaf children from minority communities;
How deaf individuals experience and define their own identities

Abstracts for paper presentations (30 min), workshops/interactive presentations (60 min) and poster presentations are welcomed.

The 27th Federation of Associations of Teachers of the Deaf (FEAPDA) Congress is in partnership with British Association of Teachers of Deaf Children and Young People (BATOD), with support from BATOD Northern Ireland, and National Council for Special Education (NCSE). It will take place from 26th to 27 April 2024 in The Grand Hotel, Malahide, Co. Dublin, Ireland

For further information on the submission process and criteria for selection please visit: https://ncse.ie/batod-feapda-ncse-joint-conference-2024

Emma O’Kane Bursary

Deadline: 8 January 2024, 12noon

To learn more about the opportunity and the application process, please visit: https://www.emmaokanebursary.ie/applynow.

Léargas

Date: 18th January

Do you have ideas for an Erasmus+ project, but not sure where to start? Wondering how to promote inclusion in your Erasmus+ project?

Don’t miss this information session on 18th January for those working in primary and post-primary schools in Ireland and who are interested in learning about funding opportunities under Erasmus+. The event will be led by Inclusion and Impact Officer, Vasiliki Psarra, and will be a good opportunity to connect with other schools, share experiences and challenges and learn about additional supports.

This session will focus on the range of opportunities for pupils and staff in school education and the inclusions supports available. This session will cover pupil mobility, staff mobility, and how to apply. There will be time to answer any questions you may have.

This free in person session will take place at Radisson Blu Hotel, Athlone. Registration can be made via Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/support-inclusion-for-erasmus-opportunities-for-schools-tickets-765578966297

Waltons New School of Music and RTÉ lyric fm

Deadline: Friday, 23 February 2024, 5pm

After four long years without it, Waltons New School of Music and RTÉ lyric fm have announced the launch of the 2024 Waltons RTÉ lyric fm Music for Schools Competition!

Founded in 2012, the Music for Schools Competition is a non-profit national event celebrating and supporting music in Irish schools.

The Competition is open to all primary and post-primary schools in the Republic of Ireland, and hundreds of schools from all 26 counties have participated in previous years. Music groups of up to 40 members formed by schools will work together to produce a piece or song in response to this year’s Competition theme, Music Moves.

Groups can be made up of any combination of instrumentalists and singers that schools choose, and all music genres are welcome. (Past entries have included classical, Irish traditional, jazz, pop, rock, rap and folk). Schools are also encouraged to promote diversity and inclusiveness in their groups.

Twelve Finalist groups (six primary and six post-primary) will be selected to perform before their peers and a distinguished panel of adjudicators in the National Concert Hall on 8 April 2024. And at the end of the concert, the adjudicators will announce this year’s six winning groups (three primary and three post-primary), which will win awards totalling €7,000 worth of vouchers for musical instruments and equipment from Waltons Music to expand and enhance their schools’ music programmes. The entire concert will be streamed live by RTÉ lyric fm and can be watched from anywhere in Ireland or around the world.

The Music for Schools Competition offers schools the opportunity to think and work creatively with any combination of students, developing a creative and original musical project that has learning potential at every stage of the process.

Important Dates

Friday, 23 February 2024, 5 pm • Entry Deadline
Friday, 1 March • Announcement of Finalists on RTÉ lyric fm
Monday, 8 April • Finalists Concert, National Concert Hall

For more information and entry forms. go to www.newschool.ie/musicforschools.

European Education and Culture Executive Agency

The diversity of the educational landscape is increasing; however, learners from disadvantaged backgrounds and those who experience discrimination or unequal treatment disproportionately underachieve in schools. Equality, equity and inclusion are fundamental principles of the European Union. They have also become key topics of the educational science discourse and a policy priority across Europe.

Promoting diversity and inclusion in schools in Europe report investigates existing national/top-level policies and measures that promote diversity and inclusion in school education in 39 European education systems including Ireland.

It focuses especially on learners who are most likely to experience disadvantage and/or discrimination in schools, including students from different migrant, ethnic and religious backgrounds, LGBTIQ+ students, girls/boys and students with special educational needs or disabilities. The report highlights existing targeted policy initiatives promoting the learners’ access to quality, inclusive, mainstream education.

It provides a comparative overview of policies and measures across 39 European education systems and presents many country examples, which showcase some of the most recent initiatives taken across Europe.

To view and download a copy of the full report, please visit the report page on the Eurydice website

Eurydice is a network whose task is to explain how education systems are organised in Europe and how they work. They publish descriptions of national education systems, comparative studies devoted to specific topics, indicators and statistics in the field of education.

The European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) manages funding for education, culture, audiovisual, sport, citizenship and volunteering.

In Ireland, Léargas manage international and national exchange programmes in education, youth and community work, and vocational education and training. To find out more about iniatives and programme offered through Léargas, visit their School Education page here for more information: https://www.leargas.ie/explore-school-education-opportunities/

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.

Self-care and Textiles

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

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

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

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

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

Solstice Arts Centre

School Gallery Tours using VTS

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

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

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

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

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

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

National Museum of Ireland

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

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

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

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

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

On the tour learn about:

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

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

Before your visit

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

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

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

After your visit

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

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

Kerry County Museum

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

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

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

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

For further information, please contact:

Deirdre Enright, Creative Youth Co-Ordinator, Kerry ETB

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

OIDE Creativity

Dates: Various

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

The courses include:

Unlocking Shakespeare: The Merchant of Venice

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

This workshop offers participants an opportunity to:

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

Get your World Turning With woodturner Willie Creighton

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

This practical workshop offers participants an opportunity to:

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

Page Turners

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

These three writing workshops offer participants an opportunity to:

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

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

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

Department of Education

Minister for Education Norma Foley recently announced the latest updates to BLAST (Bringing Live Art to Students and Teachers) and Creative Clusters as part of the Creative Youth Plan 2023 – 2027. 425 schools have been selected to take part in the BLAST 2023 initiative and 40 new Creative Clusters were created.

The aim of the BLAST scheme is to give students in schools all over the country the opportunity to work with a professional artist on unique projects to be planned and developed between the artist, the teacher and the school under the co-ordination of the Education Support Centres Ireland ESCI network of 21 full-time education centres.

Announcing the creation of 425 new BLAST Arts in Education Residencies, Minister Foley said:

“The initiative will provide additional opportunities for schools to collaborate with established artists and creatives, supporting our children and young people to collaborate and engage in creative and critical thinking – all crucial skills for their futures… Each residency is worth €1,100 which is fully funded by the Department of Education and the local Education Centre will pay the Artist for a 20-hour residency which will be delivered throughout the academic year, commencing from September 2023. I look forward to seeing how these exciting artist in residency opportunities in schools develop over the coming year.”

With the creation of 40 new Creative Clusters, Minister Foley said:

“Now more than ever, it is important that our students are supported to develop their creativity and given flexibility to express themselves in a variety of exciting new ways. Today I am proud to announce the 140 schools that are coming together to form 40 new Creative Clusters. I look forward to seeing how these exciting projects develop over the coming two years. This year has once again seen a very significant level of interest from schools applying to participate in the 2023 Creative Clusters initiative across the country.

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

To read the full statement from the Department of Education, visit: https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/27bc3-minister-foley-announces-425-new-blast-arts-in-education-residencies-in-schools-and-40-new-creative-clusters-commenced

Threading needles with Youthreach

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

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

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

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

Riverbank Arts Centre

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cork International Film Festival

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Leaving Cert German: Run Lola Run (Lola Rennt)

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

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

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

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

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

Unveiling the 2023 National Arts in Education Portal Day Programme.

Ticket Booking Now Open!

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

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

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

View the 2023 Programme HERE

How to Book Tickets

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

For further enquiries please contact events@artsineducation.ie.

Book Tickets HERE

Ticket Booking Opens on 12th October!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

For further enquiries please contact events@artsineducation.ie.

Barnstorm Theatre Company

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

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

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

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

Cost: School Groups €10 (teachers go free)

Book tickets online HERE

Or call the Watergate Theatre on 056 7761674.

The Big Idea

Deadline: Open

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

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

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

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

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

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

New Beginnings

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

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

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

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

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

It can change everything!

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

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

Dr Jill Goodwin

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

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

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

For further enquiries please contact events@artsineducation.ie.

Baboró International Arts Festival For Children

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

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

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

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

Download the LEAP Learnings here

Read The Full Report

Download the complete LEAP Report here

Burrenbeo Trust

Application Deadline: 12th October

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

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

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

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

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

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

Arts in Education Portal

Deadline: Friday 15 September 2023

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Creative Schools

Deadline: 31st August 2023

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Baboró International Arts Festival

Date: Friday 13th to Sunday 22nd October 2023

Deadline for Schools Application: Friday 8th September

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

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

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

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

Schools

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

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

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

Teacher as Observer

Our artists, Mitch Conlon and James Moran, lead with a loose, conversational archiving style, asking students to explore their local hang-out spots, local stories or folklore. They listened for nuggets of information as students described where young people hang out locally: the Cliffs in Lahinch… the Sulphur baths in Lisdoonvarna, the Lake in Inagh, or some more virtual meeting spaces. The artists focused on places where students could hang out and be alone with their friends, to just be.

My favourite quote in the early weeks of the project was when I asked students for real feedback on the process so far: they answered with a slightly bewildered ‘I don’t think they even know what the project is about!’ It summed it up. The gap between the prescriptive, fact-based academic tradition, the ‘just tell me what to learn’, ‘answer-in-the-back-of-the-book’ learning model that is the points based Leaving Cert, and what Keystone proposed: a nebulous, prompting, listening, chatting, exchanging of stories, a watching for crossovers, for sparks of connection to form. A waiting with slight discomfort and frustration for the ideas to take shape. The creative process in action. This collaborative, democratic outcome is not a mode of working that sits easily within the exam system. Discomfort. Impatience. Underwhelm? It took a while… A low-level dread of maybe being made to ‘do drama and be on film’ pervaded until students realised that they needn’t be in front of the camera at all. That there were roles they could elect to play in the process. A gently guided ‘it’s ok to feel slight discomfort’ approach!

The artists showed footage of the 1980’s underground punk scene in Belfast. An anarchic idea for these digital natives: a place where you could go and be anonymous and express yourself with abandon.

It saddened me that the students haven’t known a world before the omnipresent smart phone, listening, snapping, recording their every move. Before Google Maps, eircodes, data analytical tracking, the rise of AI and Chat GPT. (I thank God regularly for the 90’s!!)

How do you hang out, away from surveillance. How do you disconnect and connect to each other, or to nature? The irony of making a documentary art piece about this was not lost on us.

For me, one student’s phone footage of their pristine white runners carefully negotiating a puddle summed up the duality poignantly.

Our art class has a wonderful diversity of cultures with Irish, Spanish, Italian, Polish and Ukrainian students. Google Translate was a welcome support for the visiting artists! When students began sharing and comparing their respective Christmas and New Year’s traditions and customs it sparked a particularly joyous exchange. Similarities were noted. Things began to click.

Momentum gathered via shared words, snippets of sound recordings, video, photos of clifftop sunsets, waves, the roar of a match crowd, the crunch of pebbles. Abandoned spaces..

Students had a blast with Mitch and James playing sound wars!

The next task: how to communicate isolation, togetherness, a mood, a feeling, an idea? ‘Film studies’ became real. Figuring out their individual role in all this. Listening. Making decisions. Voicing their opinions. Respectful communication. Shared outcomes. Compromise.

Life lessons. Soft skills. Play. Discomfort. Purpose. Trusting the process, and surprise at and -hopefully- pride in their finished product.

Source Magazine

Date: Ongoing

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

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

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

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

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

Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council (DLR)

Deadline for applications: 16th August 2023 at 12pm

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

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

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

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

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

Collaborating in Sound Design

For my blog I have decided to discuss in detail one of my favourite days during the Keystone project. This was the sound designing session with Liam McCartan.

This was the explore and experiment stage of the project. Earlier in the week we were asked to record short clips of sounds that remind us of our themes of isolation, identity, privacy etc. These recordings were then sent to Liam, a sound producer. He arranged the audio clips in a wonderful piece of audio art.

We met with Liam digitally, through a zoom call. He introduced himself and let us listen to some of his previous pieces such as “Blue Morning”, and “Hold your Breath”. This gave us an insight into what the final piece could be like. We then listened to our piece, and Liam began combining it with other musical elements. He played around with different audio files, interchanging them, and adding audio effects. He also added different instruments such as guitar or keyboard to create harmonies out of the recorded clips. By doing all this he managed to enhance our recordings, making them sound more interesting. It brought out more emotion and so the themes became more obvious.

He explained the process very clearly. What I also really liked was at each stage he created a few options and allowed us to make decisions and vote on what we felt worked best. One of these decisions was to slow down a particular part. We felt this created a bigger and more dramatic atmosphere, or to layer a number of selected sounds to increase the intensity.

The piece was taking on a narrative. I could really hear the isolation feeling in some parts such as when the loud building of bird songs, the keyboard and other clips came to a climax, then everything stops and all we hear is the single beeping of the coffee machine. In other areas we agreed that the addition of the musical cords tied the sounds together, and gave it a familiar cinematic quality. A warm, joyful atmosphere was created which also reminded the group of times in our place – in our spot.

Overall the Keystone project was something I really enjoyed as I gained experiences in areas of art that I have never been involved in before. I gained a much broader insight into contemporary art and the different media that can be used. It took us away from the traditional idea of what art is and made us think a lot more about how to develop ideas.

A wide shot of the interior of an art classroom with students sitting in groups at their tables listening to guest artists addressing them.

The students of Coláiste Muire with teacher Aidan Power (left) during one of their engagement sessions with artist Mitch Conlon (centre-right) and James Moran (right), also pictured curator Fiona Gannon (centre-left). 2023 Arts in Education Portal Documentation Award, Keystone Project, Coláiste Muire, Ennis. Image Courtesy of Edel Doherty.

Ballet Ireland

Dates: 3rd – 7th July 2023

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cost of the course: €125

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

MTU Crawford College of Art and Design

Deadline: Open for the summer.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Uillinn: West Cork Arts Centre

DATE: 3rd June – 1st July 2023

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Portal Team are delighted to announce we have been documenting a third project as part of the Portal Documentation Awards: ‘Up, Up, Up’. This award was originally made in 2020 for an early years project at the Central Remedial Clinic School, Clontarf. We are very excited to be working with each recipient in the coming months to document their projects. These projects will be showcased on the portal as the documentation progresses.

Project Title: Up, Up, Up

’Up, Up, Up’ is an immersive experience for early years children with a physical disability and complex needs and is supported by the Exploring & Thinking Award, an initiative of the four Local Dublin Authorities and the Arts Council of Ireland. The project aims to provide early years children living with limited mobility and additional needs the opportunity to grab, stretch and reach into the forbidden cookie jar! Reaching, moving, creating sounds, mischief making and making marks are the tools we shall use together as we explore the dexterity of the body and creative mind whilst expanding the child’s physical literacy.

Every child has something to say and every child has their own way of saying it. Communication is through movement, mark making, sound generation, verbalising and vocalisations, the children initiate and together we extend their curiosity. They choose, in their own time, their learning. We choose, as a team, to value their choice and bounce it back and forth with them. Our interactions are careful and balanced. Our project needed to be multisensory, to appeal to all the needs of the children in the class. The project evolved because we wanted the children to be more actively involved in their learning. We wanted time to allow for this concentrated involvement, building on their existing interests and giving them the freedom to just be.

Over several weeks artist Helen Barry and Early Years Educator Audrey Fagan along with the team at the CRCS will create a developmental interactive experience for these early years children to engage together with their friends. The floor will be the canvas, it is what will support us, to lie, sit, roll or push against. Each element will be designed to support and enable a more equal engagement.

Artist: Helen Barry
Helen Barry is a visual artist, inventor and classically trained dancer. She has over 35 years experience working creatively and playfully with the very young to the very old. This collaborative process is what drives her work, from the initial concept through to the design, making and sharing of the creative output with her co-creators and new audiences. Since 2010 Helen has specialised in co-creating with early years and children living with mild, moderate, profound and neurodiverse needs. The synergy created by using a cross-disciplinary approach provides a sensorium palette from which Helen draws from. Everything exists on the horizon; a perpetual visual and aural palatte of sensations, frequencies and movements through which we interpretate the world around us. Helen’s ambition is to design arts experiences that allow us to explore and discover our bodies’ receptors that will stimulate growth, wellbeing and an ability to focus and thrive. Helen has been awarded several bursaries and commissions for her work with early years children. The National Concert Hall continues to support her foray into music and sculpture.

A sample of Helen’s work ‘Sculptunes’ can be found here: https://vimeo.com/368841151/4f10695b16

Early Years Educator: Audrey Fagan
Audrey Fagan is a primary school teacher who has been working in special education for over 25 years. Audrey works in the Central Remedial Clinic School, Clontarf, a school for children with physical disabilities and additional complex needs. Fourteen years ago, Audrey moved into the Preschool of the CRC, delivering a two-year cycle of early education embracing the Aistear framework, and incorporating elements of the Froebel, Reggio Emilia and Te Wháriki approaches. A kaleidoscope curriculum is in place to respond to the diverse needs and interests of the children. Audrey believes in creating a learning environment that allows all the children to be involved and included – inquiring, discovering and experiencing holistically at their level of ability. Audrey completed a self-study action research M. Ed from Maynooth University in 2021 exploring a slow pedagogy in the preschool. As part of her role as Assistant Principal, she is currently responsible for the development of multisensory experiences and a wellbeing policy in the CRC School. Working in special education, Audrey has reached out and developed important collaborative relationships with therapists, parents and artists from many disciplines – music, art and drama to consolidate and inform her love of the arts and to bring this learning to the children in preschool.

A Coláiste Muire Collective

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

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

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

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

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

Earlier this month, teachers, artists and arts in education professionals gathered together in the beautiful surrounds of the MTU Crawford College of Art and Design across two of their city-centre sites – Sharman Crawford Street and No. 46 Grand Parade. For delegates this was an opportunity to share experience, gather new ideas and network with colleagues. This event, the seventh of our annual Portal Regional Days, showcased arts in education and creative practice in the South-West. Delegates travelled from Counties Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Clare, Waterford and even Dublin to hear presentations from Jane Hayes and Fiona Linnane, participate in a workshop led by Julie O’Hea and visit the partnership Arts in Education exhibition at Sample Studios.

The morning of sharing practice began with socially-engaged visual artist Jane Hayes delving into key moments from her artistic practice which focuses on work for and with Early Years. In her presentation, ‘The Voice of the Child in Creative Decision Making – the Early Years Context’ Jane spoke of career shaping experiences including residencies with Baboro International Arts Festival for Children in Galway, a project with Scoil Chroí Íosa and becoming a Creative Associate which opened up opportunities for conversation and formalised the voice of the child into her practice. Jane elaborated that her projects evolve as choices and connections are made by the children, encouraging them to think and explore materials independently from carefully considered provocations introduced influenced by Jane in the Reggio Emilio style.

The key thing is … to give adequate time and space for those ideas to evolve to allow the project to evolve … to allow the child to become the chief investigator in everything and the classroom almost becomes an artist’s studio for them.” – Jane Hayes

The morning continued with an interactive session from composer Fiona Linnane. Her presentation, ‘Tutti – Exploring pathways to inclusivity for music composition in the classroom’ focused on her experiences in classrooms delivering projects through initiatives such as TAP, Creative Schools and Artist in Schools residencies. She spoke of the challenge and importance of engaging all children regardless of their musical ability through an approach of “experimentation not expectation”. Calling on audience participation, Fiona demonstrated a number of practical exercises and shared her approaches in how to equip children with the skills to experiment.

“For me, it’s about empowering the children just to have that avenue of self-expression in music where even if they’re not the piano prodigy, that they can still express themselves through music and through sound.” – Fiona Linnane

In the afternoon, attendees moved to Number 45 Grand Parade to take part in a practical creative workshop with visual artist Julie O’Hea. In a fun and messy workshop, Julie along with assistant Amaia Ibarbia led a very hands-on creative session on the processes behind ink-making from natural ingredients and hapazome printing, providing participants with many creative ideas to bring back to the classroom.

Creative Workshop: ‘Pigments from Nature’ with artist Julie O’Hea

The day came to a close with a reception in the Lord Mayor’s Pavilion with a viewing of the Partnership exhibition with Sample Studios. On display were works from Jane Hayes, Fiona Linnane and Julie O’Hea showcasing their arts in education practices. The exhibition continues until Saturday 27th May.

Partnership exhibition with Sample Studios at the Lord Mayor’s Pavilion

Thank you to everyone who joined us on the day. For those who missed the mornings discussions, video recordings will be available to watch back online. Registration for viewing is available through the link here.

Teacher-Artist Partnership+ (TAP+) CPD

Call Out for Artists and Creative Practitioners

Application Deadline: Friday 23rd June 5pm

Teacher Artist Partnership + (TAP+) together with the Association of Local Authority Arts Officers are pleased to launch a Call Out for Artists/ Creative Practitioners to participate in the 2023 Face-to-Face TAP+ Programme.

TAP+ CPD Summer Course & Residency programme is open to Artists / Creative Practitioners (in all art forms / creative practices) who are committed to sharing creativity with children and teachers in primary and special schools.

To apply for TAP+ Summer Course and Residency please send expressions of interest to the Director of your local Education Support Centre (ESC): https://www.esci.ie/

Call Out for Teachers

Application Deadline: 26th June 2023

The Teacher Artist Partnership+ (TAP+) Summer Course explores partnership through arts and creativity in education in primary and special schools.

TAP+ trained teachers can apply to host a fully funded TAP+ artist/creative practitioner Residency in their school in 2023/2024.

TAP+ is a unique summer course that offers teachers the opportunity to explore professional learning through a partnership between teachers, artists, creative practitioners, and children. TAP+ aims to support creativity throughout the curriculum and focusing on wellbeing, literacy, and creative arts for all schools including DEIS.

This is a Free Course. Book your course through your Local Education Centre or use the following link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2DYR7ZK

Download PDF for the courses here: 2023 Nationwide Call Out for Artists Creative Practitioners Flyer. and National Teacher TAP+ Call Out 2023 Flyer

View TAP+ Video here: https://vimeo.com/825074868

FÍS Film Awards

Deadline: 30th June 2023 at 5pm

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

Judging Criteria Highlights:

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

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

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

Creativity and Change at MTU

Application Deadline: 22nd June 2023

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

What you can expect from the programme:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Baboró International Arts Festival for Children

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

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

Baboró’s Strategic Goals:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Ark

Date: 14th – 18th August 2023

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

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

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

TICKETS

€100/€90 (For ArkEd Members)

DURATION

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

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

Suitable for all levels of experience.

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

Arts in Junior Cycle

Dates: Various

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

Lights, Camera, Action! A film production workshop

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

Times: 10.30am – 4pm

Location: Kilkenny Education Centre

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

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

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

Figurative Oil Painting workshop

Dates: Monday 19th and Tuesday 20th June

Times: 10.30am – 3.30pm

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

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

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

Open to junior cycle teachers of all subject disciplines.

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

Dates: Thursday 22nd and Friday 23rd June

Time: 10.30am – 4.00pm

Location: Irish Museum of Modern Art

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

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

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

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

Creative Ireland Programme

Date: 10th June 2023

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

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

Announcing Cruinniú na nÓg 2023, Minister Martin said:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cruinniú na nÓg 2023 Ambassadors

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Arts Council of Ireland

Application Deadline: Thursday 15 June 2023 at 5.30pm

Maximum Award: with €4,000

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

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

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

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

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

Application guidelines 2023

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

Information clinics

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

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

The Hunt Museum

Dates: Ongoing

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

Some highlights of the workshops include:

Primary:

Life in the Bronze Age

Duration: 60 minutes

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

Animal Hunt Online Programme

Date: Watch video to your schedule

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

Post-Primary

800 Years of Fashion Workshop

Duration: 60mins

€3.50 euro per student. Teachers go free!

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

To book, email educationoffice@huntmuseum.com

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

Creative Schools

Date: 8th-12th May

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

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

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

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

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

The Ark: A Cultural Centre for Children

Dates: June, various

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

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

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

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

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

Times: 10.15am & 12.15pm

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

Suitable For: 1st – 6th Classes

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

Creative Futures Academy

Date: Wednesday, 10th May 2023

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

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

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

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

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

Erasmus+

The Online eTwinning Schools Conference

Date: 24th-26th May 2023.

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

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

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

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

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

Mayo Education Centre

Date: 30th May 2023

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

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

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

Learning outcomes

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

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

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

Date: 30th May, 7pm – 9pm

Fee: Free

To Book: https://mayoeducationcentre.ie/

Arts In Junior Cycle

Date: Wed 3 May 2023

Time: 5:00pm – 6:30pm

Venue: Zoom

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

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

During this workshop participants will:

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

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

The Portal Team are delighted to announce the second of the two recipients of the 2023 Arts in Education Portal Documentation Award. We are very excited to be working with each recipient in the coming months to document their projects. These projects will be showcased on the portal as the documentation progresses.

SCEALTA

The BA in Early Childhood Education and Care programme at Atlantic Technological University ( ATU) Galway and Mayo campuses were delighted to be awarded an Artist in Residence funded by the Arts Council, to work with the students undertaking the BA in Early Childhood Education and Care programme.

The Arts project SCEALTA (Stories, Curiosity, Engagement, Active learning, Language, Theatre, Aistear) was devised as an extension of the Artist in Residence project. This project is based in Tuam Community Childcare Centre which is owned and managed by Western Traveller and Intercultural Development (WTID) group. The provocation for this project is the Community preschool School Bus. The preschool children in Tuam community preschool are collected each morning and return to their homes, families, and extended families after the preschool session on the school bus.

The second preschool which is part of this project Whiz Kids, is a private preschool. Going on a bus journey is a treat or an adventure for these children, usually associated with an outing. As part of the arts project, the children from Whiz Kids preschool travel on the bus to the Tuam Community Childcare Centre, where all of the children come together to actively participate in the project. The children’s social and cultural context is celebrated through this creative experience of stories, puppetry and theatre using the school bus to take children on real and imaginary journeys, sharing stories, songs, engaging in experiential learning through media, art, clay.

Early Years Educator: Louise O’Shaughnessy
Louise O’Shaughnessy is the Manager at Tuam Community Childcare Centre, For Western Traveller Intercultural Development Group. Louise is also in year three of the BA in Early Childhood Education and Care at Atlantic Technological University Galway. Louise believes in the importance and value of supporting young children’s identity and belonging in the early years setting in partnership with parents and families.

Early Years Educator: Sandra Mills
Sandra Mills is an Early Childhood Educator at Tuam Community Childcare Centre. Sandra is currently pursuing a Degree in Early Childhood Education and Care in Atlantic Technological University Galway. She has worked in the early years sector for over 12 years and is deeply committed in encouraging children to become self-directed learners and establishing a warm safe and welcoming early years environment.

Early Years Educator: Paula O’Reilly
Paula O’Reilly is an Early Years Educator at Wiz Kidz preschool and afterschool service Tuam. Paula is in year three of the BA Early Childhood Education and Care at Atlantic Technological University Galway. She is passionate about play and recognises children’s right to play and playful early learning experiences which supports their curiosity, imagination and creativity.

Artist: Cliodhna Noonan
Cliodhna Noonan is The Arts Council ATU Artist in Residence. Cliodhna is an early years arts creator, producer and programmer for creative arts events with children and families aged 0-6 years. Cliodhna writes, develops and performs her own work for young children age 0-6 years, she is a member of Smallsize EU network association and an active member of TYAI.

Irish Architecture Foundation (IAF)

Application Deadline: 9 June 2023 – 6 pm

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

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

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

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

There are two options for participation:

Option A: Full Programme

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

Option B: Introductory Programme

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

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

The Ark

Dates: Saturday 13 May 10.30am – 12.30pm

Tickets: €20 (€18 for ArkEd Members)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Department of Education: BLAST and Creative Clusters

Deadlines:

BLAST: 19th May 2023

Creative Clusters: 12th May 2023

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

BLAST – Bringing Live Arts to Students and Teaches

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

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

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

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

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

Creative Clusters

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

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

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

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

Cork City Council & Leitrim County Council

Deadline: Monday 10th April

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

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

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

For more information and to apply, visit:

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

The Portal Team are delighted to announce the first of the two recipients of the 2023 Arts in Education Portal Documentation Award. We are very excited to be working with each recipient in the coming months to document their projects. These projects will be showcased on the portal as the documentation progresses.

Project Title: ‘Keystone’

Keystone has been commissioned by Clare County Council to celebrate and mark 20 years of artist in schools programming by Clare Arts Office. The curatorial framework Art School directed and curated by Jennie Guy has been invited to deliver the project by artists Mitch Conlon and James Moran, with co-curator Fiona Gannon. The project has been taking place over the course of 2022 and 2023 in Coláiste Mhuire (Ennis) and Scoil Mhuire (Ennistymon) in Co. Clare, providing an opportunity for fifth year students to work with the artists to explore the significance of myth within local youth cultures.

The artists will work with the students to explore questions including: What are sites of mythological importance for teenagers in these two towns? Are these the same as those deemed important by the wider communities? And how do teenagers relate to the collective unconscious of their wider local communities?

Teacher: Mary Fahy
Mary Fahy is a visual artist from Galway and art teacher in Scoil Mhuire, Ennistymon since 2003. Commenting on the project she said: “Our 5th year art class are thrilled to be participating in this collaborative, socially engaged Artists in Schools project. It is an incredible opportunity for students to co-create art with professional artists in a supportive environment that centres their opinions and artistic voice.”

Teacher: Aidan Power
Aidan Power is an Art Teacher with Colaiste Muire, Ennis. On being part of the project he added: “We have a strong artistic tradition in music, performance and visual art which helps our students to nuture a sense of self while striving for academic success. Our 5th year art class will be taking part in this collaborative project which will develop their artistic skills in a new and exciting direction. The learned knowledge will go on to support future projects throughout their senior cycle art course.”

Artist: Mitch Conlon
Mitch Conlon is an artist originally from the West of Ireland currently based as a studio member within PS2, Belfast. He is a member of the Turner Prize winning group, Array Collective, a former director of Catalyst Arts, Belfast; was a co-director of online journal COLLECTED and Chairperson of Engage Studios, Galway.

Artist: James Moran
James Moran is an experimental comedian and theatre maker born and based in Dublin. Since 2014 he has written comedy shows for traditional and alternative venues; and he has also hosted several podcasts, including the leftist political Celtic Ligers and historical comedy Primordial Views.

About Art School
Art School is a collaborative project founded by Jennie Guy in 2014. Art School enables exchanges between contemporary artists and sites of education, creating opportunities for younger audiences to encounter and participate in the making and potential of art in society.

Creative Ireland

A new Creative Youth Plan for the period 2023-2027 was approved and launched by Government on Tuesday 28th March to further embed creativity into the centre of the lives of Ireland’s young people.

Building on the success of the first Creative Youth Plan 2017-2022, this new plan aims to provide everyone from birth to 24 years with more opportunities for creative engagement in every aspect of their lives. Across seven strategic objectives, the Creative Youth Plan will ensure children and young people retain a key voice in decision-making on its implementation and will prioritise those that are seldom heard and most at risk of disadvantage. Parents and caregivers, educators, artists, and creative practitioners will be supported to recognise the centrality and value of creativity to their lives.

The Creative Youth Plan 2023-2027 aims to enable the creative potential of children and young people, from birth to 24 years, prioritising those seldom heard and at risk of disadvantage
Under the new Creative Youth Plan, opportunities for creative engagement will reach tens of thousands of children and young people.
Children and young people to retain a key voice in decision-making on its implementation.
Impactful programmes such as the Local Creative Youth Partnerships, Cruinniú na nÓg, Creative Schools, Creative Clusters and BLAST to continue.
New €500,000 Creative Youth Nurture Fund to support pilot youth-led projects that prioritise seldom heard children and young people.

Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media Catherine Martin TD, Minister for Education Norma Foley TD and Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Roderic O’Gorman TD announced the launch of the new Creative Youth Plan 2023-2027 at a youth-led event that took place in the National Gallery of Ireland on 28th March 2023.

The launch was supported by a panel discussion between the Ministers and four young creatives with a music performance from Music Generation and a spoken word performance organised through Creative Schools.

Read more about the upcoming 5 years of Creative Youth here: https://artsineducation.ie/en/resource/creative-youth-plan-2023-2027/

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 Abbey Theatre: Tartuffe – Text to Performance

Dates: Various

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

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

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

Tartuffe: Text to Performance offers opportunities to:

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

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

Participants will register for ONE of these locations.

DONEGAL :

Saturday 6th May 2023:

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

An Grianán Theatre, Letterkenny

Monday 8th May 2023:

Online Workshop: 6:00pm – 7:00pm

CORK :

Saturday 13th May 2023:

Workshop 10.30am – 1:00pm

Cork Education Support Centre

Performance 2.30pm

Cork Opera House

Monday 15th May 2023:

Online Workshop: 6:00pm – 7:00pm

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

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

The Ark

Dates: Thursday 18th May and Friday 19th May

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

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

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

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

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

Fri 19 May, 12.15pm

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

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

Creative Ireland

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

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

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

Other highlights include :

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

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

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

The Arts Council’s Creative Associates

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

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

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

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

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

Department of Education

The Minister for Education Norma Foley recently launched the new Primary Curriculum Framework for all primary and special schools.

The Primary Curriculum Framework will shape the work of all primary and special schools for the coming years. This is the first curriculum framework for primary education in Ireland. Under the framework, schools will have a dedicated structure underpinning learning, teaching and assessment.

The Primary Curriculum Framework is designed to cater for all primary and special schools and sets out the vision and principles for a redeveloped, modern curriculum.

The framework also introduces key competencies for children’s learning, setting out the main features and components for the full redevelopment of the primary school curriculum, detailing curriculum areas and subjects; and suggested time allocations. It introduces and expands aspects of learning including STEM Education, Modern Foreign Languages and a broader Arts education.

The Primary Curriculum Framework was developed by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) over a six-year period and draws on an extensive body of national and international research, working with a network of 60 primary schools, post-primary schools and preschools nationally, engaging closely with education partners and wider stakeholders, and conducting extensive consultation, including with primary school-aged children.

The Primary Curriculum Framework emphasises the importance of curriculum integration, inclusive practice, inquiry-based learning and playful pedagogy. The framework will guide the development of the specifications for each of the curriculum areas that will be introduced in the coming years.

You can read more about new Primary School Curriculum here: https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/9f981-minister-foley-launches-new-primary-curriculum-framework/

Webwise / PDST Technology in Education

Deadline: Friday, 21st April

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

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

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

Categories for Primary:

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

Categories for Post-Primary:

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

How to submit your entry:

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

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

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

Baboró International Arts Festival for Children

Deadline: Midnight, Monday 10th April

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

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

The deadline to apply is Monday 10 April.

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

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

FÍS Film Awards 2023

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

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

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

Some other 2023 winners include :

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

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

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

National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA)

Deadline: 31st March, 5pm

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

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

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

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

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

National Museum of Ireland (NMI)

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

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

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

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

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

Here are some of the highlights of the upcoming schedule.

Orienteering Workshop / Post Primary

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

PRIMARY / Classroom activity: Ice Age Ireland – Cool Fossils

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

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

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 Applications: Writers in Schools Scheme

Deadline: ongoing

The Writers in Schools Scheme part-funds visits by writers and storytellers to primary and post-primary schools throughout the island of Ireland. This scheme is co-funded by the Arts Council in the Republic of Ireland and administered by Poetry Ireland.

Applications are open on an ongoing basis from poets, novelists, storytellers, teen fiction writers, children’s writers, playwrights and screenwriters to join the Writers in Schools directory.

Over the past 22 years, the scheme has given more than 500,000 children the chance to work closely with writers in the classroom. A comprehensive professional development and support programme for successful applicants is delivered by Poetry Ireland before they are enlisted to the directory of writers.

Prospective applicants can find out more information on the scheme, including eligibility criteria and the online application form from the following link:

https://www.poetryireland.ie/education/information-for-writers/

Catalyst International Film Festival

30th March to 1st April 2023

The Catalyst International Film Festival will host the 4th edition of the festival in Limerick from 30^th March to 1st April 2023, presenting a film programme that celebrates diverse stories and storytellers currently under-represented on screen and behind the camera.

After a hugely successful schools’ screening last year and taking on board feedback from teachers they have expanded their schools programme for 2023 and are very excited to share their plans and officially open bookings! This is a great opportunity for young people to experience filmmaking from the ground up and find out if a career in film is for them.

Read more about the festival and book your tickets here: https://catalystinternationalfilmfestival.com/school-programme-2023

IMMA : Irish Museum of Modern Art

In 2023, IMMA will present an exhibition spanning 20 years of Sarah Pierce’s practice, to the present. IMMA is seeking expressions of interest from Transition Year students to participate in a day-long project with the artist in April/May (date to be confirmed). Students will participate in the presentation of the artwork The Square. The Square uses Bertolt Brecht’s Lehrstück – or learning play – as a starting point for developing a new work with students. In this experimental “play without a script” the students are the authors, cast and audience. The performance takes place during the time of the exhibition in the gallery space, as the performers interact and migrate around and among the visitors. There are no characters, no plot or other narrative devices. This is a roaming set of memorised chants and gestures that speak quite abstractly to ideas of learning and gathering, and what it means to act, make and be together.

For more information please visit:

https://imma.ie/whats-on/sarah-pierce-exhibtion-open-call/

Leitrim Youthreach & The Dock

3rd February – 31st March

A new exhibition of digital and photographic works created by learners at Leitrim Youthreach opened in The Dock, Carrick-on-Shannon on Friday, February 3.

Visual arts, painting and photography are some of the creative modules taught at Leitrim Youthreach based in Mohill. The exhibition is on view in The Jury Room Café until 31st March.

The artworks, created for the project Envision, blend digital art and photography techniques. Each artist directed the theme and technique to suit their individual vision. Some of the techniques used include digital drawing, long exposure, blended exposure, and digital/physical assemblage. The students were supported in creating their artworks by their art teacher David Smith.

This project has been kindly supported by the Local Creative Youth Partnership and The Dock Arts Centre.

For further information on the exhibition, please visit: https://www.thedock.ie/learning-projects/envision

Branar Téatar do Pháistí

Deadline: ongoing

Branar are inviting applications for the Digital Arts Flag programme for schools. This is a whole school initiative to promote and reward arts engagement in schools. Schools are chosen each year to engage in the initiative through a series of workshops presented online.

Open to schools across Ireland, 10 bespoke workshops across 5 different artforms have been created by Branar Artists for junior and senior classes to do in the comfort of their classrooms.

Each class will receive:

A link to the video workshops (5 for junior classes, 5 for senior classes)
An Educational Resource Pack to accompany each workshop
A printable Arts Flag to hang in your classroom.

To read further information on the programme and to make an application, please visit: https://branar.ie/en/schools#the-arts-flag.

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis.

Uillinn: West Cork Arts Centre

Deadline: 4 March 2023

Public Engagement Artist Kate McElroy invites primary school teachers to take part in a tour and workshop at Uillinn: West Cork Arts Centre.

This will include:
– An exhibition tour of The Most Recent Forever an exhibition by Brian Fay
– A visit to an artist’s studio to see the process of making
– An art workshop exploring creativity – No art experience necessary
– A small take home ‘goody bag’ of materials

The aim of this tour and workshop is to help facilitate effective strategies for teaching art in the classroom through looking, talking and making. Kate will guide teachers through a tour of the artworks and a workshop, modelling methods that can effectively be incorporated into Art lessons in the classroom.

The tour and workshop will take and hour and a half, break included, Tea and coffee provided.

Booking is via Eventbrite, which can made using the following link: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/art-encounters-for-teachers-tickets-523702768077

As part of actions outlined in the Creative Youth Plan the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) committed to the development of key principles underpinning young children’s quality engagement with the arts in early learning and care settings.

Draft Principles for Engaging with the Arts in Early Learning and Care were published in October 2022.

This consultation invites artists, early years educators and all early learning and care stakeholders to use and explore these draft principles and test their validity in practice.

While the draft principles were conceived from an early learning and care perspective the Department also wish to explore their relevance and the ways in which they may be adapted to better support engagement with the arts in school-age childcare. All school age childcare stakeholders are invited also to use and test these draft principles.

Findings from this consultation will inform the finalised publication of the principles, the development of practice resource materials and accompanying CPD training.

Read the discussion paper ‘ Facilitating the Arts in Early Learning and Care: Towards Best Practice Principles’ and share your comments and suggestions here.

Solstice Arts Centre

11th February – 31st March 2023

Solstice Arts Centre have a number of events in their spring programme for schools, teachers and artists.

Primary School Gallery Tours using Visual Thinking Strategies

Look, listen and respond to artworks by Sinéad Ní Mhaonaigh in her current exhibition ‘Deep Mapping: Unseen Landscapes ‘. Encouraging peer-to-peer discussion, this is an opportunity for children and teachers to focus and reflect on multiple perspectives, enhancing engagement and enjoyment of learning through art. To conclude, learn about the artist and her work, inspiring you to create artworks back in the classroom!

Secondary School Gallery Tours using Visual Thinking Strategies

Broaden creative thinking through oral and visual literacy by exploring works in our current exhibition by Irish artist Sinéad Ní Mhaonaigh . Using Visual Thinking Strategies, this is an opportunity for students to investigate, analyse and reflect on multiple perspectives, and assist in the development of imaginative and innovative ideas. Using cross-curricular links and learning through art, these sessions support the Junior and Senior Cycle, placing students at the centre of the learning process. Upon visiting Solstice, Senior Cycle students will receive specific information that embraces the three strands – Research, Create and Respond (visual and written responses), with particular focus on Content Area 3: Today’s World of the New Appreciating Art Visual Studies for Leaving Certificate curriculum.

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

Arts Council of Ireland

Creative Schools Week 2023

The Creative Schools Team at The Arts Council is delighted to invite your school to join Creative Schools Week 2023 which will run from the 8 – 12 May. Creative Schools Week is a celebration of creativity in schools within curricular subjects or in separate projects and activities.

The theme for Creative Schools Week 2023 is ‘Creativity Lives Here! / Tá Beocht na Cruthaitheachta Anseo!’. The theme encourages school communities to pause and reflect on where creativity is evident in our lives, in every class, in every school and in the experience of every student.

Creative Schools Week is open to every school and we warmly invite all schools to join in. Visit
https://www.artscouncil.ie/creative-schools/creative-schools-week-2023/ to learn more.

There will be a Teacher Drop-In informational session on 8 March 4:30pm-5:30pm via Zoom. If you are a teacher interested in participating in Creative Schools Week 2023, please join us by registering for the session here: https://buytickets.at/creativeschools/858237.

Creative Schools 2023 online information clinics

The Creative Schools team is running a series of online information clinics in March for teachers and Principals in schools and Youthreach centres who are curious about joining the Creative Schools programme in autumn 2023. The team will explain the programme and how to apply, and there will be plenty of time for questions.

Clinics take place online on 20, 21 and 22 March at 16.00-17.00. Further information and the link to book your place is available here.

This article was updated March 2nd 2023 to add details of the Teacher Drop-in session for Creative Schools Week.

FÍS Film Project

The FÍS Film Project Teacher Resources support teachers to introduce live-action and stop motion animation filmmaking into the Primary Classroom with interactive lessons, teacher perspectives and technical guides.

The online FÍS Teacher Resources are well designed individual lesson plans which can be used in isolation or as a complete course. The course outlines all the skills and activities involved in making a film with the emphasis being on the children being the creators/doers, and the teacher as the facilitator of the learning.

FÍS helps develop active learning, creative thinking, language, imagination, collaborative learning and problem-solving skills, as well as giving children hands-on experience of using technology as part of the filmmaking process. For children this project provides them with an outlet to express themselves and showcase their talents in an educational but non-academic way which can do wonders for children’s confidence and attitude towards learning.

The FÍS Film Project is an initiative of the Department of Education in a collaborative partnership between the Institute of Art, Design & Technology’s FÍS Office and the Professional Development Service for Teachers (Technology in Education Dept.) The project started during the 1999/2000 school year. The FÍS methodology supports teachers to introduce film making in a cross-curricular way into their primary school classroom. After a successful 3-year pilot, the project was mainstreamed and the annual national FÍS Film Awards Competition was also launched and remains a highly successful outcome of the FÍS Film Project to this day.

To access the FÍS Teacher Resources, please visit https://fisfilmproject.ie/teacher-resources/
You will also details about the annual FÍS Film Awards Competition and videos of the shortlisted national finalists.

A selection of some national and local funding opportunities for professional artists working in arts and creativity in education with open deadlines in February and March 2023.

Arts Council of Ireland

Applications are currently open for funding from the Arts Council of Ireland, including Agility Awards and Bursary Awards in a number of art forms.

The Young People, Children and Education Bursary Award supports the professional development of artists by enabling them to spend time developing their practice. The award is specifically focussed on helping artists to improve their capacity to develop or present high-quality arts experiences with or for children and young people. It is open to individual artists and practitioners working in a creative capacity in any artform, including arts facilitators, curators or programmers.
Deadline: 5:30pm, 9 February 2023
More info: https://www.artscouncil.ie/Funds/Young-People,-Children,-and-Education-Bursary-Award/

The Agility Award aims to support individual professional freelance artists and arts workers at any stage in their careers to develop their practice, their work, or their skills.
Deadline: 5.30pm, 9th February 2023
More info: https://www.artscouncil.ie/Funds/Agility-Award-2023/

Fingal County Council

Fingal County Council is delighted to announce the 2023 Artists’ Support Scheme. This strand of funding allows professional artists to avail of up to €5,000 of an award towards travel and professional development opportunities, a residency, or towards the development of work.
Deadline: 4pm, February 24, 2023
More info: http://fingalarts.ie/news/fingal-artists-support-scheme-2023

Galway Arts Office

Galway County Arts Office invites applications from individual artists to develop their arts practice and artistic career under their Artist Support Scheme. The scheme is open to professional artists residing in County Galway at all stages of their career, working in any artform and context.
Deadline: 4pm, February 13, 2023
More info: https://www.galway.ie/en/services/arts/funding/bursary/

Laoise Arts Office

Laois County Council has announced details of grants and opportunities to support the development and presentation of creative and artistic projects in the county in 2023. Through the Artists in Schools Scheme 2023, grants are available for artists’ residencies in schools, to include all art forms. This scheme gives primary and post primary schools the opportunity to select and work with professional artists and explore new arts media.
Deadline: 5pm, 17th February 2023
More info: https://laois.ie/departments/arts/grants-schemes/artists-in-schools-scheme/

Limerick City and County Council

Limerick City and County Council offers grant funding to amateur, community or voluntary groups, or organisations, and individual arts practitioners, which in the opinion of the authority, will stimulate public interest in the arts, promote the knowledge, appreciation and practice of the arts or assist in improving the standards of the arts.
Deadline: 4pm, 22 February 2023
More info: https://www.limerick.ie/council/services/community-and-leisure/culture-and-arts/funding-schemes-and-bursaries/limerick-0

Mayo Arts Office

The Mayo Artist Bursary Award is now open for applications. The Artist Bursary Award aims to support the work of professional artists, working in any artform, at all stages of their career, currently resident in Mayo.
Deadline: 5pm, March 16th, 2023
More info: https://www.mayo.ie/arts/funding/mayoartistbursary

Wicklow Arts Office

This year Wicklow County Council Arts Office are currently accepting applications under their Artist Award Scheme 2023. The scheme assists professional artists in the development of artistic practice by enabling them to explore meaningful ways to make work, test out innovative thinking and grow new ideas. The award supports professional practising artists to develop or realise a particular body of work or to undertake professional development.
Deadline: 4pm, February 27, 2023
More info: https://www.wicklow.ie/Living/Services/Arts-Heritage-Archives/Arts/Funding-Support-Opportunities/Arts-Act-Funding

All information is correct at the time of publishing.

National Gallery of Ireland

Thursday, 9 Feb 2023, 6pm

Find out more about the National Gallery’s Teachers & Schools programme and network with colleagues over a glass of wine.

Jennie Taylor, curator of the Zurich Young Portrait Prize, and artist Grainne Moloney Minehan will lead a tour of the exhibition and discussion on supporting students entering the prize.

Explore My Primary School is at the Museum, our special project with 4th class students from John Scottus National School, the latest school in residence.

This is a free event hover booking is advised: https://nationalgallery.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/873631124

National Gallery of Ireland Teacher Network Facebook Group

This online group is an active place for collaboration, peer learning and idea exchange. Meet teachers from across Ireland and beyond, and help shape the National Gallery’s schools programme, connect here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/NationalGalleryIRLTeacherNetwork/.

Schools Programme

The National Gallery offer onsite and online experiences for schools including guided tours and online sessions. Schools can also arrange to visit the Gallery as a self-guided group. Full details on their current programme can be viewed from the following link:

https://www.nationalgallery.ie/explore-and-learn/schools/schools-programme

Minister Martin confirms funding of €300,000

Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media Catherine Martin, has today announced funding of €300,000 for Minding Creative Minds as part of the Safe to Create Programme. This brings the Department’s overall allocation for the Safe to Create Programme to €782,000. Minding Creative Minds is Ireland’s (32 county and Irish overseas) first 24/7 mental health and wellbeing support programme for the Irish Creative community delivered in association with Spectrum Life.

With the launch of the Safe to Create Programme last October, Minding Creative Minds announced an enhancement of its service to include specialist trauma and abuse counselling care. This service enables crucial support for anyone who has experienced trauma or sexual abuse and ensures that they can access immediate support and up to 12 free counselling sessions from a trauma counsellor immediately.

Minding Creative Minds offers a range of other in-house services to the Irish Creative Sector which includes a comprehensive Career and Mentoring service incorporating all creative art forms and a monthly peer support meeting which offers support, advice and resources to the Irish Creative Community.

The Minding Creative Minds programme includes access to a number of additional services to help users overcome various practical issues they may face including:

Advice on practical, day-to-day issues that cause anxiety and stress.
Legal Assistance
Financial Assistance & Consumer Assistance
Career Guidance & Life Coaching
Support for non-Irish nationals & their families
Mediation Services

Announcing the funding, Minister Martin commented:

“The Safe to Create Programme which I launched in October of last year, is built on the stark findings of The Speak Up: A Call for Change Report. The Speak Up report included key findings that the majority of those surveyed had experienced (70%) or witnessed (53%) harmful behavior. Minding Creative Minds is working closely with the Irish Theatre Institute, is an integral part of the Safe to Create Programme and is helping to lead the way to improving the damaging norms in the arts sector for the benefit of all arts workers.”

Further details on the Minding Creative Minds programme are available at www.mindingcreativeminds.ie.

Children’s Books Ireland

Tuesday 24th January, 10am.

Children’s Books Ireland will host their first virtual artists’ coffee morning of 2023 on Tuesday, 24th January. This is part of a recurring series of informal yet informative gatherings on Zoom where artists creating work for children and young adults can hang out, learn from experts about something pertinent to their work and meet others in their creative area.

At this free coffee morning, hear from Executive Librarian with Kildare Library & Arts Service Amye Quigley. In what promises to be a practical and informative session, Amye will give an overview of programming strands within Kildare Library & Arts Services, detail what she looks for in a facilitator or artist and outline their funding, invoicing and accounts procedure.

If you would like to attend please email aoife@childrensbooksireland.ie by 5pm on Monday 23rd January.

For more information visit https://childrensbooksireland.ie/news-events/childrens-books-ireland-artists-coffee-morning-16.

The Minister for Education Norma Foley recently announced the awarding of BLAST residencies to 629 schools in 2022-2023, the second year of the BLAST (Bringing Live Arts to Students and Teachers) programme. Minister Foley also welcomed the creation of an additional 21 Creative Clusters for 2022-2024, comprising a further 77 primary and post-primary schools. This doubles the number of participating schools and clusters this year, up from 21 clusters announced already in September 2022, in response to the demand from schools.

The BLAST programme has seen a significant increase in residencies from the 489 primary and post-primary schools that took part in the programme in its first year and demonstrates the strong interest and engagement from schools in working with creative professionals through this programme.

Minister Foley said:

“Creative thinking and creative expression benefit our students both by providing opportunities for learning and through enhancing wellbeing. Engaging in creative projects enables children and young people to express themselves, provides them with opportunities for connection and collaboration, and gives them the space to explore new ideas and learn new skills.”

School Clusters in this year include, for example, one cluster of schools that cater for students with autism, which aims to create tactile and interactive outdoor play areas, and another cluster of primary schools working together to create a shared interest and knowledge of coding. Such varied themes reflect the local experience and unique perspectives of each cluster, and demonstrate how students can benefit from creative engagement in multiple ways.

The Minister has also welcomed the publication of the research and evaluation report, Creative Clusters: A Collaborative Approach to Cultivating Creativity in Schools. This report, commissioned by the department, provides a valuable assessment of the strengths of the programme and contains recommendations to further strengthen the design, delivery and reach of Creative Clusters.

To read the full statement from the Department of Education, visit: https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/8a543-minister-foley-welcomes-hundreds-of-additional-schools-to-creative-clusters-and-blast-arts-programme/

Cork ETB

Cork ETB recently launched their Arts in Education Strategy 2022-2026. The Strategy outlines the importance of the arts and provides a framework for arts education and the promotion of the arts and supporting their implementation throughout Cork ETB.

Minister for Education, Norma Foley attended Nano Nagle Place in Cork City on Friday 2nd December where she launched Cork ETB’s Arts in Education Strategy 2022-2026.

The Arts in Education Strategy outlines the importance of the arts and provides a framework for arts education and the promotion of the arts and supporting their implementation throughout all of Cork ETB’s primary, post primary and further education and training facilities.

The implementation plan includes the following five key points and their respective objectives:

Awareness: develop and create a space for the Arts in all its forms
Inclusivity: to promote and deploy Arts Education as a valuable tool for promoting social inclusion, community engagement, well-being and fostering lifelong learning
Partnership: develop existing relationships while nurturing the development of new partnerships and joint ventures
Value: to foster and promote creativity by encouraging schools and centre’s to give parity of esteem to creative subjects
Quality: provision of appropriate supports and resources to provide for quality teaching and learning in the Arts

Speaking at the launch, Minister Foley praised Cork ETB for their efforts to enable better integration and promotion of the arts in their education entities.

She said: “It was a joy for me to be invited to launch the Cork Education and Training Board’s Arts in Education Strategy 2022 – 2026. I strongly believe that inclusive access to the arts can nurture, inspire and innovate all our students and young learners. The Arts in Education Strategy today clearly identifies Cork ETB’s commitment to the arts and provides a framework for the way forward for all stakeholders. It was a pleasure to officially launch this milestone strategy in the presence of such vibrant performers and talented musicians.”

A copy of Cork ETB’s Arts in Education Strategy 2022-2026 can be viewed online here: https://www.corketb.ie/cork-etb-arts-provision/

Baboró International Arts Festival for Children

Baboró recorded three talks during the 2022 festival discussing early years arts education, sectoral sustainability and artist development, which they have now made available for streaming.

The Baboró podcast is available to listen on Spotify or Apple.

Opening Doors

In this discussion, a roundtable of makers, educators and thinkers explored models of practice to aid artists in the creation of work for very young audiences in early years education and crèche settings.

The panel featured Gaëtane Reginster (Théâtre de la Guimbarde, Belgium), Marc Mac Lochlainn (Branar, Ireland) and Dr. Rita Melia (Atlantic Technological University, Ireland). Chaired by Marianne Kennedy (University of Galway, Ireland).

Towards Sustainability

In partnership with Branar’s Meitheal Initiative, this panel discussion explored models of practice which support the sustainable development of career paths for independent artists making work for young audiences.

The panel featured Tony Reekie (Catherine Wheels, Scotland), Kate Cross (The Egg, England), Dan Colley and Matt Smyth (Creators of ‘The Man with Enormous Wings’ and formerly Collapsing Horse, Ireland), Emer McGowan (Draíocht, Ireland). Chaired by Linda Geraghty (Branar/Meitheal, Ireland).

Meitheal is a pilot creative support initiative committed to the development and presentation of performing arts for young audiences across Ireland. Devised by Branar, funded by the Arts Council.

Reflecting on LEAP

The participants and stakeholders of Baboró’s LEAP artist support programme discussed the pilot project’s development and execution.

The panel featured Rachel Baltz (Baboró, Ireland), Alexandra Craciun (LEAP Participant, Romania and Ireland), Fernanda Ferrari (LEAP Participant, Brazil and Ireland), Justyna Cwojdzińska (LEAP Participant, Poland and Ireland), Ionia Ní Chróinín (Moonfish, Ireland) Jo Cummins (Moonfish, Ireland) and Maeve Stone (Cracking Light Productions, Ireland). Chaired by Dr. Charlotte McIvor (Drama and Theatre Studies, University of Galway, Ireland).

Read more about Baboró’s Podcast Programme here: https://www.baboro.ie/news-events/podcasts-from-babor%C3%B3s-2022-delegate-programme.

South Dublin County Arts Office

Deadline: 5pm 20th January 2023

Applications are now being accepted for the Early Years Irish Language Arts Commission 2023.

A collaboration between Creative Ireland South Dublin, South Dublin Arts Office, Áras Chrónáin, and Naíonra Chrónáin

The Creative Ireland South Dublin programme wishes to commission an Early Years Irish Language artwork. This commission will be delivered in collaboration with children from Naíonra Chrónáin located on the grounds of Áras Chrónáin in Clondalkin.

The expectations of the commission are:

Early Years children (0-6years) will be engaged with the creation process of the work and their voice will lead the way
Close collaboration with the teachers at Naíonra Chrónáin to create artwork that could be a model for other Early Years facilities, while remaining feasible for the space of the Naíonra.
The duration of the commission will be discussed with the awarded creative (s) but likely duration is one year.

Objectives

Develop process to work with young children in project creation
Create a model for other educators and practitioners to work in Early Years Arts and Irish Language
Create a participant-led piece of work

Award Amount

The commission is for €30,000 inclusive of VAT

Timeline

Applications closing date 5pm 20th January 2023
Assessment will take place week of the 23rd January 2023
Award Notification first week of February

Applications

For more detailed information on the application process and to submit an application, please visit: https://www.sdcc.ie/en/services/sport-and-recreation/arts/creative-ireland/

Irish Film Institute School Programme 2022/23

The Irish Film Institute is delighted to offer a brand new programme of films selected for students across primary and post-primary levels, available in-cinema at IFI Dublin or regional venue and online through IFI@Schools. This year includes exciting collaborations with the Irish National Opera, IMMA, the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland/BAI and An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta & Gaelscolaíochta/COGG.

IFI@Schools supplements the in-cinema programme, offering further ways of incorporating film into your teaching, including rewatching key scenes or choosing from a wider range of content for other subjects such as history, geography, music, art, Gaeilge, English and more.

Screenings for the French language selection include Mes Fréres et moi (My Brothers and I) and King in partnership with the Ambassade De France en Irelande. Screenings for the German language selection includes Der Pfad (The Path) and Klammer in partnership with GEOTHE Institut.

Details of the full programme list and regional venue screenings can be found here.

To book tickets visit the Irish Film Institute at Irish Film Institute (ifi.ie) or contact Amy Louise or Holly at schools@irishfilm.ie

Deadline: 3 February 2023, 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 are seeking submissions for presentations for the Portal Spring Regional Day 2023 with a focus on the South-West Region. This regional event will take place in Cork City on 6th May 2023.

The event aims to connect teachers, artists, arts managers and anyone with an interest in art and creativity in education based in Cork, Kerry, Limerick and Tipperary. 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-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.

The 2023 event will also include an accompanying exhibition in partnership with Sample Studios at their gallery in the Lord Mayor’s Pavilion, Fitzgerald Park. The exhibition will be an opportunity for artists from successful proposals to exhibit their own work. The exhibition will run from 27th April to 27th May.

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

Further Information

The programme includes two project presentations with up to two presenters.
Deadline: 5pm, 3 February 2023

Download the submission form Portal Spring Regional Day Proposal Form 2023.

Deadline: 24 February 2023

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 the 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.

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 work closely with the recipients to ensure all restrictions and protocols in terms of COVID-19 are adhered to during the process to ensure safety for all involved.

Criteria

To be considered for this opportunity, projects must:

Have started in Autumn 2022 and continue into 2023, or take place in 2023. Please note if selected, filming of engagement sessions will take place after 20th March 2023.
Have a minimum duration of 8 weeks.
Involve a professional artist working collaboratively within an educational setting (early years, primary or post-primary).
Be underpinned by a strong ethos of collaboration and a commitment to excellence. Focus on the creative process, with children having an active and collaborative role

Additional criteria

How to make a submission:

Complete your application using this online form
Deadline for submission is 5pm, Friday 24 February 2023.

The Big Idea

The multi-award winning free creative programme The Big Idea has been designed to empower students with the 21st century skills they need. Developed by educational and industry experts, students will have the opportunity to gain transferable skills to support them in tackling the problems they might face.

The Big Idea consists of a full 12-week creative programme of learning resources for Transition Year students, LCA students or Youthreach students. Joining The Big Idea programme provides teachers with a teaching pack to support in-class activities regardless of their school context.

As the facilitators of the programme, teachers are supported every step of the way. All resources are digitally formatted with two lessons per week. The adaptable format can be used for either a 40-minute class or a 1-hour class with teacher prompts and lesson plans included. With built-in assessment structures and additional class materials.

A nationwide network of professional experts share knowledge directly with your students, supporting them in their project development. The team at The Big Idea match student teams with their industry Mentors giving them the opportunity to gain advice on next steps, ask questions to get students thinking, ask them things to consider or offer resources to explore.

For participating students, they are provided with the materials needed to engage in the programme from – a LEGO pack for systems thinking exercises, a sketch book to capture brainstorming and reflection, all the stationary needed to engage in lessons and activities, and some other surprises.

The programme is open to teachers from all subject areas and runs between January to May.

Registration is now open for new schools to join the programme, for further information on the initiative and apply, please visit: https://thebigidea.ie/teachers/

Butler Gallery

19 November 2022 – 29 January 2023

Butler Gallery continues its successful partnership with the Kilkenny-based and five time Oscar© nominated Irish animation studio Cartoon Saloon, in an exhibition response to their new animated film My Father’s Dragon, directed by Nora Twomey.

The film is based on a beloved 1948 fantastical children’s novel by Ruth Stilies Gannett about Elmer Elevator, a boy who runs away from home to rescue Boris, a captive baby dragon trapped on a wild island.

The exhibition combines the expertise of Butler Gallery’s exhibition team with Cartoon Saloons worldwide reach and distinctive style to develop an immersive, sensory and child-centred exhibition experience that will captivate audiences of all ages.

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Learning and Public Engagement Programme:

As with previous collaborations with Cartoon Saloon, Butler Gallery will deliver an extensive programme of public engagement for children and adults that will include themes such as children’s resilience and problem solving, addressing mental health issues while coping with a crisis, and celebrating the films art and artists. Learning and Public Engagement events will include: tailored inclusive activities for children and young people; interactive visits for schools and groups that encourage creativity through hands-on making; a talk series and masterclasses with Cartoon Saloon animators, editors and directors; and an animator-in-residence programme.

To book an interactive visit for your school* contact Butler Gallery at:
learning@butlergallery.ie or +353 (0)56 7761106

*Bookings for groups of over 5 is essential.

The exhibition is also complemented by the screening of The Making of My Father’s Dragon which is on view in the Digital Gallery (duration 5 mins 24 secs)

For further information visit: https://www.butlergallery.ie/whats-on/my-fathers-dragon-cartoon-saloon

Fighting Words

Fighting Words in partnership with DCU Institute of Education, has launched Creativity and Creative Writing in Education, an online course to equip educators with the methodologies, evidence and resources to build your understanding of the importance and benefits of creativity for learners, and to strengthen your confidence and interest in creative engagement and creative writing.

Presented in six 40-minute sessions, the course focuses on the Fighting Words creative writing model as an approach, looking at the associated development of communication skills, critical thinking, self-efficacy and resilience in the young people.

The online course is hosted on The Loop, DCU’s online teaching environment, full details on how to access and enrol for this free course can be found here:
https://www.fightingwords.ie/news/creativity-and-creative-writing-education-exciting-new-online-module-fighting-words-dcu.

Enrolment is open on an ongoing basis; participants can complete the course in their own time and a certificate of completion is provided from Fighting Words.

Collaboration between Fighting Words and the DCU Institute of Education started in the early days of Fighting Words and has only grown and expanded over the years. In 2018, the relationship evolved to a formal partnership between Fighting Words and Institute of Education, funded by the Department of Education. The purpose of the collaboration is to progress creative writing and creative engagement in education through teacher education and research.

Carlow Arts Festival & VISUAL Carlow

Deadline: 6th January, 2023, 5pm

Carlow Arts Festival, in partnership with VISUAL Carlow, are seeking a Creative Director to lead on the co-creation of the Carlow Carnival of Collective Joy in 2023. The Creative Director will work in collaboration with a choreographer and children aged between 8-12 years from across Carlow County to design and deliver this project. The role will be supported by the creative teams at both Carlow Arts Festival and VISUAL Carlow.

In 2022 we delivered our first Carnival of Collective Joy and are delighted to bring this tradition into our 2023 festival programme. The Creative Director will lead on the design, planning and facilitation of the creative aspects of this project, delivering workshops that inspire creativity and curiosity across four schools over 12 weeks from March to June 2023. The Carnival will be presented as part of Carlow Arts Festival programme on Saturday the 10th June.

Experience
The candidate will be required to have a wide level of experience and a track-record in workshop facilitation, design and making for spectacle and installation events with children and young people.

Application
For further information and to download the application pack, please visit: https://carlowartsfestival.com/job-opportunity-creative-director-for-carlow-carnival-of-collective-joy/

Solstice Arts Centre

Resource Supporting Content Area 3: Today’s World – Senior Cycle New Appreciating Art Visual Studies

Using cross-curricular links, and learning through art, this resource supports students completing their Junior and Senior Cycle studies. Designed to assist teachers and students in how to assess and evaluate an exhibition in the Solstice Arts Centre gallery, it includes:

Background information on Solstice Arts Centre and its functions;
The technical and curatorial requirements of the exhibition including display, layout, lighting, and the gallery’s role in interpreting an exhibition for visitors.
An in-depth look at the current exhibition SURVEYOR 2022 and three of the artworks

Assisting Senior Cycle students to investigate, analyse and reflect on multiple perspectives, this information embraces the three strands – Research, Create and Respond, with particular focus on Unit 14 in Content Area 3: Today’s World of the New Appreciating Art Visual Studies for Leaving Certificate curriculum.

The resource can be found here: https://solsticeartscentre.ie/event/surveyor-2022

To help students understand and analyse the work of other artists and assist in their development of imaginative and innovative ideas, students and teachers are encouraged to combine this resource with –

A Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) tour of the exhibition Surveyor 2022 in the gallery. Booking required https://solsticeartscentre.ie/event/school-gallery-tours-primary-and-secondary
Viewing the individual artworks on our website

Solstice Gallery is open Tuesday-Saturday 11am-4pm.

This exhibition runs until 21 Dec 2022.

For more information or to make a booking please contact Deirdre Rogers, Solstice Visual Arts Facilitation & Public Engagement Coordinator deirdre.rogers@solsticeartsccentre.ie

Arts in Education Portal

On Saturday 5th November, our community of artists, teachers and arts in education professionals came together for the seventh annual National Arts in Education Portal Day, our first in-person national conference since 2019. This years event took place at East Quad, TU Dublin, in partnership with TU Dublin School of Art and Design and Conservatoire of Music and Drama and the Erasmus+ International Teacher-Artist Partnership (I-TAP-PD) PD Programme.

The conference was officially opened by John Walsh, Head of School, TU Dublin School of Art and Design, and later in the day John facilitated a tour of part of the East Quad campus giving delegates a look at the state-of-the-art facilities available to students.

With a special focus placed on ‘Seldom Heard Voices’, the day then unfolded out to the usual mix of presentations, smaller discussion-led presentations and creative workshops addressing this theme. The National Day also served as an opportunity for colleagues from the International Teacher-Artist Partnership (I-TAP-PD) PD Project to explore and share emerging learnings through two multiplier sessions within the Erasmus+ KA2 Initiative 2020-2023.

Dame Evelyn Glennie in conversation with Mark O'Brien at TU Dublin Conservatoire of Music and Dance Concert Hall

Image Credit: keynote speaker Dame Evelyn Glennie in conversation with Mark O’Brien, Executive Director The Abbey. Photograph by Cían Flynn, lookalive.ie

This years keynote took the form of an in conversation between guest speaker, the percussionist and solo performer Dame Evelyn Glennie who sat down with Mark O’Brien, Executive Director of The Abbey Theatre. In a highly engaging exchange lasting just under an hour, the pair delved into Dame Evelyn’s introduction to music in primary school, her hearing loss, the idea of success and how residual hearing and improvisation were important components in her career development.

In the plenery session that followed Dame Evelyn spoke about the importance of listening.

“I think listening is the glue to being human, to be honest”
“If we can cultivate this feeling of being listened to, and really what does this mean, listening doesn’t mean that we’re interacting with sound. It’s interacting with a presence that we’re in.”

The 2022 National Portal Day was also an opportunity for the Portal Editorial Committee to share it’s new strategic plan ‘A Community of Practice: A five-year strategy for the Arts in Education Portal,
Ireland’s national resource for arts and creativity in education. Officially launched by Dr. Katie Sweeney, Portal Chair and National Director for the Integration of the Arts in Education (DE), copies of which were available to delegates on the day and will be embedded into the Portal website as a living and accessible document in the coming months.

St Agnes Teenage Chamber Orchestra performing at TU Dublin for the 2022 National Arts in Education Portal Day

Image Credit: St. Agnes Teenage Chamber Orchestra with conductor Jimmy Kavanagh. Photograph by Cían Flynn, lookalive.ie

A day which saw the arts in education community convene to share, learn, talk, be inspired and interrogate best practice in the field came to a close with a heartwarming performance from St. Agnes Teenage Chamber Orchestra led by conductor Jimmy Kavanagh.

We would like to thank all our guest speakers, artists and all who joined us to engage in the conversation.

Stay tuned for our round up video which will follow soon!

A selection of the main talks and presentations are available to watch back online. Registration for viewing this series is available through the link here.

Delegates in discussion at 2022 National Arts in Education Portal Day

Image credit: 2022 National Arts in Education Portal Day. Photographer Cían Flynn (lookalive.ie)

The International Teacher-Artist Partnership (I-TAP-PD)

The International Teacher-Artist Partnership (I-TAP-PD) podcast series ‘Tapping into Creativity’ shares stories about the magic that happens when creativity, art, and education meet. Stories about creative learning from diverse European projects in schools and beyond. Stories about what happens when artists work with young people. Hosted by Linda Rosink and Manja Eland of Stichting Kopa, they talk to teachers, artists, scientists, policy makers and children about the importance of creative education. Listen to the show if you’re looking for inspiration for your own practice.

Season 2 launched on 5th November featuring guest speaker Tania Banotti, Director of Creative Ireland. It will run for eight episodes with the final episode airing on 20th December. The programme focuses on enabling teachers and artists to jointly develop their understanding, expertise and creativity in ‘arts in education’ work with children and young people in education, community and arts settings.

The guest speakers this season include:
Tania Banotti – 5th November
Georgina Kakoudaki – 8th November
Sanja Krsmanović Tasić – 11th November
Jolanda Schouten⁠ – 22nd November
Klaas Dijkstra⁠ – 29th November
Jane O’Hanlon – 6th December
Miranda Siemelink – 13th December
Paul Collard – 20th December

You can listen and subscribe to the full series via Captivate: https://tappingintocreativity.captivate.fm/ or your favourite podcasts platform including Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music.

International Teacher-Artist Partnership (I-TAP-PD) PD is funded under the Erasmus+ KA2 Initiative 2020 – 2023 and is a partnership between Tralee Education Centre (Ireland), Centre for drama in education and art (CEDEUM) (Serbia), Hellenic Theatre/Drama & Education Network (TENet-GR) (Greece) and Stichting Kopa (Netherlands)

Arts Council announces 186 new schools will join its Creative Schools initiative

The Arts Council recently announced that offers have been made to 186 schools and centres across Ireland who applied to be part of the Creative Schools initiative. The very high level of applications to be part of this 2-year process reflects the importance that schools and Youthreach centres put on creativity and their ambition to celebrate and put creative thinking at the very heart of what they do.

Speaking at the announcement Director of the Arts Council Maureen Kennelly said: “We warmly welcome our new cohort of 186 schools to Creative Schools. We are delighted that demand for the programme is so strong across the country and we are thrilled to say that by this stage of the programme, 20% of schools in Ireland have connected with us. Working with our partners in the Department of Education, the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and Creative Ireland, we are looking forward to another school year full of creativity, consultation and exploration”.

Minister for Education Norma Foley TD said “I am delighted to welcome the 186 schools that are coming together to join the Creative Schools initiative 2022. I would like to welcome these new schools into this exciting initiative, and I look forward to seeing how these creative, colourful and captivating projects develop over the coming two years. Through Creative Schools the Department of Education supports critical thinking, cognitive and emotional wellbeing, encouraging a creative environment, without boundaries within the educational space.”

Also speaking, Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media Catherine Martin TD said “I would like to congratulate the 186 schools and Youthreach centres that have successfully applied to become a Creative School and now have the opportunity to embark on a two-year journey to place creativity at the heart of their school communities. With the addition of this new cohort, 1 in 5 schools in Ireland will have experienced Creative Schools since the programme commenced in 2018 and this year sees an increase in the diversity of settings in receipt of support. This is a testament to its impact and the strength of the partnership between the Art Council, the Department of Education and the all-of-government Creative Ireland Programme.”

The Creative Schools Initiative is designed to provide opportunities for children and young people to build their artistic and creative skills, each school taking part receives a grant and works with a professional Creative Associate who supports them to develop and implement their own bespoke Creative School Plan. Participation empowers children and young people to develop, implement and evaluate arts and creative activity throughout their schools/centres and stimulate additional ways of working which reinforce the impact of creativity on children and young people’s learning, development and well-being.

Creative Schools received applications from counties throughout the country to be part of the initiative and they were assessed on how Creative Schools would benefit learning and development in the school and how children and young people would play a central role in leading the process.

The programme was established in 2018 and more than 650 schools have been invited to participate to date. With this latest round of offers it means that 1 in 5 schools in Ireland will have / will be taking part in the Creative Schools initiative. Recipients range from large schools in major cities to smaller schools on islands including Inisboffin, Achill, Inis Oírr and Inis Meain. Creativity truly lives everywhere.

This year 131 more primary schools, 35 more post primary schools, 11 Special Schools and 5 Youthreach centres have been sent offers to join. Also joining the programme this year are four schools in Alternative Settings who cater for young people with severe emotional and behavioral challenges. Oberstown Children Detention Campus School, Co. Dublin, Ballydowd High Support Special School, Dublin 20, Crannóg Nua Special School, Portrane, Co. Dublin and St Canice’s Special School, Limerick will join the programme and receive enhanced supports.

The full list of the 186 Schools selected to participate in the Creative Schools programme in 2022-23 can be viewed on The Arts Council website at https://www.artscouncil.ie/schools-2022-23/.

Schools who have been taking part to date have explored creativity in all its forms and embraced how it can be celebrated in so many ways. From baking to creating and designing gardens, from photography to performance, from working with other community groups to transforming areas of their own schools, the impact of Creative Schools can be seen around the country.

Riverbank Arts Centre

Riverbank Arts Centre are delighted to offer events for Primary and Secondary Schools over the coming months. These include live theatre, comedy, IFI School Screenings and more.

Riverbank Arts Centre is a multi-disciplinary venue in Newbridge, County Kildare, with a dedicated children’s gallery and programming of high quality theatre and workshops for younger audiences, Riverbank is also committed to promoting early engagement with and access to the arts.

Primary Schools

This season Riverbank Arts Centre are delighted to offer shows that travel to your school, highlights include:

UP CLOSE
On 17 & 18 November
UP CLOSE is an energetic dance piece where two strangers meet, connect and celebrate their new friendship. A 25 min performance, followed by a 15-minute Q&A and 15-minute movement workshop. Recommended capacity is up to two classes. For 1st to 4th Class.

Exhibition: FIBRE Felted by Artist Tamzen Lundy
12 November – 23 December.
Workshop in your classroom: 13th December (Suitable for 1st Class – 6th Class.)
FIBRE Felted introduces young people to the wonders and possibilities of felt making, the oldest textile making process in the world. The woollen textiles in FIBRE Felted are playful and experimental, the only tools required to create them are the artist’s hands. Riverbank Arts Centre offer guided tours and activity sheets for all those who attend.
Tours/Workshop can be booked with Theresa at boxoffice@riverbank.ie

Secondary Schools

Highlights from the programme for post-primary schools include:

Exhibition: Dētrīmentum by artist Katie Whyte
12 November – 22 December
A Latin word meaning harm, loss, or damage,
Dētrīmentum is an exploration of the journey of an object from an intact historical/archival
piece, to an object that has fallen into disrepair and out of the collective memory. This installation focuses on presenting hidden and lost historical narratives in photographic form.
Guided tours and an education pack aimed at senior cycle students are available.

WhistleBlast Quartet Pictures at an Exhibition by Modest Mussorgsky
Tuesday 22 November, 12pm.
This unique performance of Mussorgsky’s wonderful symphony Pictures at an Exhibition, musically arranged by the quartet’s own Dr. Kenneth Edge, is accompanied by a multimedia video of paintings relating to each movement. An
accessible performance especially created to inspire young main stream and special-needs secondary school students and anyone to enjoy a gripping, dramatic masterpiece through live music performance and visual art.

To view the full schools programme of events, visit https://www.riverbank.ie/education-and-outreach/

Please contact Theresa on boxoffice@riverbank.ie or call 045 448327 to book an event or exhibition tour.

The Hunt Museum, Limerick Museum, Limerick City Gallery of Art

The Three Muses: Clay Through The Ages
Level: Primary schools, 3rd & 4th Class

This is the newest offering from ‘The Three Muses‘ Joint Education Programme comprising of the Hunt Museum, Limerick Museum and Limerick City Gallery of Art. There are three strands to this programme including a Digital Teachers Pack, an online game and an onsite primary school workshop programme. The 27^th Oct will see the launch of this suite of resources.

Digital Teachers Pack: This resource is available from https://www.huntmuseum.com/schools/the-three-muses/ and focuses on four ceramic objects from the above cultural institutions. It was developed in conjunction with Ann McBride, an award winning local ceramic artist. It provides clay based lesson plans and a wealth of related video based resources to support classroom based teaching and learning on these objects.

Online Game: This free online game is available at the link below. Truffes, the treasure hunting Piggy, navigates the streets of Old Limerick collecting treasures and artifacts. Each level reveals a ceramic object from the above cultural institutions. Look and listen closely for evidence of a city rich in cultural heritage. Play game here: https://www.huntmuseum.com/schools-resources/play-the-three-muses-online-games/

Onsite Primary School Workshop: This workshop, for 3rd and 4th classes, facilitates engagement and exploration of ceramic objects from the above cultural institutions. This interactive Three Muses workshop offers pupils the chance to travel through space and time focusing on ceramic objects from the Hunt Museum, Limerick Museum and Limerick City Gallery of Art. Their exploration begins in the Bronze Age and concludes with examples of contemporary ceramics. Pupils will learn about techniques and processes used to make clay objects and how these have changed over time.

For further information and booking for onsite workshops, email / call: una@huntmuseum.com / 061490089

Ireland’s National School Photography Awards (INSPA)

National Winners Announced
Theme: Me, Myself, and I

INSPA has extended their congratulations to every school who participated in the 2021/22 National School Photography Awards. The national winner is Matthew Asiedu-Appiah from Lucan CNS, who submitted the photo entitled ‘Instruments’ into the Senior Category of the awards. The winner of the Junior Category is Sophie Mai Woulfe from Kilcummin N.S. with her entry ‘The Pizzeria’.

INSPA is the national children’s photography competition and Positive Primaries Programme which is open to all primary schools in the Republic of Ireland. Throughout the 2021/22 school year, young creatives from around the country were encouraged to embed Creative Wellbeing into their school community while exploring the theme: Me, Myself, and I.

The awards are having a massive impact in classrooms and homes across Ireland as they provide an inclusive model for children of all backgrounds and abilities to get involved. Through photography, INSPA introduces creative well-being into the lives of primary school communities while building a future generation of people who are confident, resilient, connected, kind and ready.

The awards are free and offer a range of fantastic prizes alongside the schools Positive Primaries Flag. These include getaways to the Amber Springs Resort for principals, teachers, pupils and families, Instax cameras for winners and schools, framed photographs, certificates, and school photo fundraising days at your school. All entries are judged by a national panel of experts and over 500 primary schools have already registered their accounts and taken their first Step of their Positive Primaries Journey.

The awards will open again for entries in September 2023.

For further information on INSPA and their Positive Primaries programme, visit www.inspa.ie.

Voices & Choices

TAP training is fundamentally about partnership but the voice and needs of the child has always been central to its residencies. The first TAP residency I engaged in with artist Claire Halpin in 2014 centred around this premise. Documented on this Portal, it describes how through strategic questioning, guided conversation, real and virtual museum visits and exploration of materials, the children determined their own focus, process and product. As longstanding practitioners, Claire and I knew how to tailor experiences and scaffold the learning so that the children were not overwhelmed by choice.

Because faced with limitless choices, children often flounder. ‘I don’t know what to do!’ is commonly heard and needs an appropriate response. Sometimes this might be offering an open-ended programme where considerable time is dedicated to discussion, experimentation and reflection, focused on the arts with other curricular areas being developed by default. Other times, a residency programme might be anchored to enquiries in other curricular areas; the enquiry being the jump-off point for an in-depth arts-led exploration of a selected topic. While both approaches are valid, the latter integrates the arts fully into curriculum, utilises arts-based approaches in the everyday classroom. promoting holistic, inclusive learning. Yet, disappointingly, I have witnessed some members of the AiE community disparage this approach on the grounds that the children may not have elected, for example, to explore their class novel through dance or ponder the plight of our bee population through visual arts and poetry.

The hallmark of all authentic arts practice is that there is always more than one valid response. Likewise, responses to ‘the voice of the child’ can take many forms. Different children have different voices. Some may not know how to voice their needs or desires while other voices might dominate. I have learned through my considerable experiences in education and the arts that a range of approaches are needed. Some suit certain contexts while others need alternatives. The more approaches we are open to adopting, the more appropriate and nuanced our responses to children’s voices will be.

Both children’s voices and needs are worthy considerations when planning a residency. Skilled facilitators know this. Not only do they listen to words, they hear silences, observe body language, assess needs, provide relevant opportunities and scaffold learning appropriately; be that through open-ended arts-focused residencies where children’s leads are followed or through residencies that embed arts practices in curriculum to facilitate the learning and extend modes of expression for all participating children.

For the child who might struggle with literacy, being able to grasp meaning and embody learning through choreographing the class novel’s plot is transformative. I believe, if sought, his voice would be ones of relief and gratitude, relief to have found a new mode of learning and a voice in dance and gratitude for the opportunity to experience literacy through another artform, an experience the class might never have considered, if left solely to their own devices.

The Arts Council’s Creative Schools Initiative

Deadline: 12 noon 10 November 2022

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

Creative Associate Services for 10 Locations 

The Arts Council wishes to engage 14 CAs to work in up to 32 schools across 10 counties (Cavan, Donegal, Kerry, Limerick, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Tipperary and Waterford) for up to one year.  Individuals or organisations that wish to nominate an individual may apply.

Completed applications should be emailed to creativeassociates@artscouncil.ie by 12.00 hours (local time) on Thursday 10 November, 2022 with ‘Application: CA Services for 10 Locations’ in the subject line of the email.

For further information and links to download the information booklet and application form, please see: https://www.artscouncil.ie/creative-associate-opportunities/

Unveiling the 2022 National Arts in Education Portal Day Programme.

Ticket Booking Now Open!

We’re excited to be back with a live in-person conference taking place on Saturday, 5 November 2022 at East Quad, TU Dublin, in partnership with TU Dublin School of Art and Design and and Conservatoire of Music and Drama, and the Erasmus+ International Teacher-Artist Partnership (I-TAP-PD) PD Project.

For this year’s programme we are delighted to be joined by colleagues from the I-TAP-PD project for two multiplier sessions who will explore and share emerging learning within the Erasmus+ KA2 Initiative 2020-2023. The Programme will also see the launch of the Arts in Education Portal Strategic Plan: 2023 – 2027 along with the usual mix of presentations, smaller discussion-led sessions and creative workshops each addressing the theme of ‘Seldom Heard Voices’.

As previously announced The Portal Team are excited to welcome guest speaker Dame Evelyn Glennie, solo percussionist and composer who will join the conference for a special in conversation with Mark O’Brien, Executive Director of the Abbey Theatre.

Download and view the 2022 Programme here (English).

Download and view the 2022 Programme here (Irish).

How to Book Tickets

Tickets for the 2022 National Arts in Education Portal Day are free but pre booking is essential as capacity is limited. Booking this year is slightly different with a two step process.

Step 1: Book your ticket for the day – Open Now here
Step 2: Ticket holders will then be invited to pre-select parallel sessions for the day – via email invitation on Wednesday, 19 October. Please note some sessions have limited capacity in particular creative workshops. Please note some sessions have limited capacity in particular creative workshops.

Book your ticket now at 2022_nationalportalday.eventbrite.ie.

Online Viewing

For those who can’t join us in person on the day we will have a selection of the main talks and presentations available to watch back online following the conference. Registration for viewing is available through the link here.

For further enquiries please contact events@artsineducation.ie.

Ticket Bookings Open 5 October 2022

The 2022 National Arts in Education Portal Day will take place on Saturday, 5 November at East Quad, TU Dublin, in partnership with TU Dublin School of Art and Design and the Conservatoire of Music and Drama, and the Erasmus+ International Teacher-Artist Partnership (I-TAP-PD) PD Project.

The full line-up of this year’s programme will be announced at 12 noon, Wednesday, 5 October when ticket booking will open online. Before that we wanted to give you a sneak peek of what you can expect at this year’s in-person conference. The day will have a special focus on ‘Seldom Heard Voices’, with the programme profiling projects that represent children from diverse communities and children who are seldom heard.

As previously announced solo percussionist and composer, Dame Evelyn Glennie will be joining us for a special in conversation talk with Mark O’Brien, Executive Director of The Abbey Theatre. We are delighted to also partner this year with the Erasmus+ International Teacher-Artist Partnership (I-TAP-PD) PD Project who on the day will explore and share emerging learning within the Erasmus+ KA2 Initiative 2020-2023.

First Look at the 2022 National Arts in Education Portal Day Programme

Discussion-led Presentation: Cuinne an Ghiorria / The Hare’s Nook

Join artist Zoë Uí Fhaoláin Green, writer Emer Fallon and educator Darach Ó Murchú with artist Manuela Dei Grandi as they discuss learnings from ‘Cúinne an Ghiorria (The Hare’s Nook)’, a bilingual primary school programme designed to nurture a sense of stewardship and joyful connection between pupils and their environment.

Creative Workshop: Exploring Creative Solutions to Climate Change through the Arts Using a STEAM Approach

In this experiential workshop, Environmental Artist and Educator Evelyn Sorohan will invite participants to investigate how the arts can be harnessed to explore environmental issues such as Climate Change. Participants will be inspired to collaboratively problem solve, create and invent in response to three climate themes leaving with skills and ideas that they can use in their practice.

Online Viewing: For those who can’t join us in person on the day we will have a selection of the main talks and presentations available to watch back online following the conference. Registration for viewing will be required.

Ticket bookings open at 12 noon, Wednesday 5 October 2022. Tickets are free but pre booking is essential as capacity is limited. Once ticket booking is confirmed attendees will be asked to preselect their parallel sessions choices for the day.

Update: Ticket Booking Now Open – artsineducation.ie/en/2022/10/05/2022-national-portal-day-programme-announced/

The Minister for Education Norma Foley today announced the creation of 21 new 2022 Creative Clusters comprising 78 schools. Creative Clusters is an initiative taking place as part of Creative Ireland and under the Schools Excellence Fund. The Department of Education’s budget for Creative Clusters in 2022 is €595,000.

Under this scheme to support schools to build capacity in creativity, schools in each cluster will enjoy access to a specialist facilitator, artist or creative expertise in whatever their chosen area of interest or theme might be. These resources will help the schools to build a project of learning and activities tailor-made for their students. As part of this funding allocation, a cluster may receive up to €15,000 funding to help bring their plans and ideas to fruition in 2022-2024.

Minister Foley said:

“Creative Clusters is an excellent initiative that supports students to develop their creativity, learn to adapt and collaborate and provides them with real opportunities to express themselves in a variety of exciting new ways.

“Today I am delighted to announce the 78 schools that are coming together to form 21 new Creative Clusters. I would like to welcome these new schools into this Schools Excellence Fund initiative, and I look forward to seeing how these exciting projects develop over the coming two years. This is a wonderful opportunity for schools to work together on a project of their choice. Schools are given complete freedom to design and develop their own project, with support from a local facilitator and their local education centre.

“This year has once again seen a very significant level of interest from schools applying to participate in the 2022 Creative Clusters initiative across the country. In the five rounds from 2018 to 2022, a total number of 1,276 schools have applied to participate in Creative Clusters, with 375 schools shortlisted and invited to participate. I hope that this exciting initiative will help schools to further enhance creativity in their classrooms.

For further information on the Creative Clusters initiative and to details of the news schools participating from 2022 go to: https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/72b73-minister-foley-announces-78-additional-schools-joining-the-schools-excellence-fund-creative-clusters-initiative/

Arts in Junior Cycle (JCT)

Dates: Vary

Arts in Junior Cycle provide teachers at second-level with the opportunity to engage in elective learner-centred teacher professional learning (TPL) experiences. The vision of Arts in Junior Cycle is for all Junior Cycle teachers to value, enjoy and be enriched by the arts and to see the arts as integral to learning. The Arts in Junior Cycle team co-design and develop learner-centred TPLs in collaboration with a range of artists, creative practitioners and arts organisations.

This month we are delighted to offer the following:

Style and Purpose in partnership with Poetry Ireland
Writing our Place in partnership with Fighting Words and Graffiti Theatre Company, Cork
In the News in partnership with Newsbrands Ireland
Introduction to Screenprinting with Elena Santos ‘Just Art It’, Galway
A call out for expressions of interest for an Artistic Performance community of practice
A call out for expressions of interest for a DesignCIRCLE community of practice

These TPLs aim to inspire, support and empower teachers and to embody the principles and key skills which underpin the Framework for Junior Cycle 2015.  All TPLs are open to teachers from all subject disciplines.

For more information and to register for upcoming workshops and communities of practice, visit www.artsinjuniorcycle.ie. New workshops are added weekly!

It’s the AiE Regional Portal Day. I’m in Kildare. The theme of the morning’s discussion; ‘The Voice of the Child’. Serendipitous! I’ve being reflecting on voices recently, both in my arts practice and in my role as an art facilitator.

Prior to my studies at NCAD and my engagement in TAP, I practiced art on a superficial level, drawing my world without mining it. I ended up profoundly disillusioned. It was only when I began to dig deeper in an attempt to map my inner narrative that I began to hear my own voices, not least those of the child and adolescent I was, and effectively, still am. At times, these were difficult voices to attend to; a cacophonous chorus whose ignored realities generated high-tides of anxiety, shame and grief. I’m no swimmer but swimming through them was the only way to calmer waters. So, I dived; art practice as my life-jacket.

This has been game-changing, transforming both my work and my facilitation of artists, teachers and children. In reengaging with my buried voices, I’m hearing more clearly the voices those I work alongside. I’ve learned that being in authentic communication with my inner child has expanded the register and sensitivity of my communication with others, alerted me to nuances my adult sensibility might not otherwise detect and enabled me to respond from a place of recognition, understanding and empathy. It has also rekindled my spirit of spontaneity, playfulness and fun; characteristic of both childhood and creativity.

I believe we can only truly hear the voices of others when we have embraced our own. So, in discussing the importance of the voice of the child, let’s expand that concept to consider the child’s voice in the hearts of the adults who work with them. We all need to remember and own what it was like to be that child. For while listening to a child’s voice is an act of attendance and hearing it is an act of acknowledgement, identifying with it is an act of acceptance and validation. And this is the first meaningful step towards giving the child the appropriate agency and support to express the truths of their experiences and engage confidently with their imaginations.

Kids’ Own Publishing Partnership are delighted to announce the publication of ‘A-Z: Alphabet of Actions’ which outlines the findings from a pilot project that explored literacy with young children. This project investigated how children of different ages and stages of literacy interacted with the materials.

This project was developed as a pilot early-years intervention, putting arts and creativity at the centre of early childhood learning and development. Funded by ESB Energy for Generations, the project evolved in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2020 and 2021, the early stages of the project took place during strict lockdowns and were designed to facilitate parent-child interactions. The project modelled a way of working that supported young children to manipulate and play openly with materials and connected them with their parents and other children through verbal and non-verbal communication.

Artist, Naomi Draper, designed a material environment that allowed for different ‘layers’ of entry to accommodate children at a very early stage of literacy, as well as those in primary education with more developed literacy. This project investigated how children of different ages and stages of literacy interacted with the materials.

The Sligo Country Childcare Committee and Children & Young People’s Service Committee (CYPSC) were delighted to be involved with the A-Z programme. The results highlighted by the parent and child’s voices have demonstrated the importance of that parent/carer interaction.

If you would like to receive a copy of “A-Z Alphabet of Actions: Findings from a pilot early years initiative”, please send your name and address to info@kidsown.ie

This year the 2022 National Arts in Education Portal Day is back in-person and taking place at TU Dublin, School of Art and Design on Saturday, 5 November 2022 in partnership with the School of Art and Design and the Erasmus+ International Teacher-Artist Partnership (I-TAP-PD) PD Project.

The Portal Team are delighted to welcome guest speakers, solo percussionist and composer Dame Evelyn Glennie for a special in conversation talk with Mark O’Brien, Executive Director of The Abbey Theatre.

Dame Evelyn Glennie

Dame Evelyn Glennie is the first person in history to create and sustain a full-time career as a solo percussionist, performing worldwide with the greatest orchestras and artists. Evelyn has commissioned over 200 new works for solo percussion and has recorded over 40 CDs. She regularly provides masterclasses and consultations to inspire the next generation of musicians.

Evelyn was awarded an OBE in 1993 and has over 100 international awards to date, including 2 GRAMMY’s, the Polar Music Prize and the Companion of Honour. She was appointed as the first female President of Help Musicians, and since 2021 she has been Chancellor of Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, Scotland.

Evelyn is the curator for The Evelyn Glennie Collection which includes in excess of 3,500 percussion instruments. The film ‘Touch the Sound’, TED Talk and her book ‘Listen World!’ are key testimonies to her unique and innovative approach to sound-creation. Through her mission to Teach the World to Listen she aims to improve communication and social cohesion by encouraging everyone to discover new ways of listening in order to inspire, to create, to engage and to empower.

Watch Dame Evelyn Glennie’s TED Talk, How to truly listen, below

Mark O’Brien

Mark O’Brien, Executive Director of The Abbey Theatre has had over 25 years’ experience in the theatre and wider culture sectors, as a leader, facilitator, actor, sound designer, administrator, and theatre director. He has also led, directed, and developed work in the youth theatre sector, and with Team Educational Theatre Company.

Mark was previously Director of axis arts centre Ballymun. Over ten years, he developed axis into an organisation and space of local, national and international renown, that created, facilitated and produced new and significant work, across theatre, arts development and engagement contexts. Under his leadership, axis became an artistic and cultural hub for both artists and the public. His driving force was to achieve a shared vision of excellence through inclusion.

The full line-up of the national day will be announced on Wednesday 5th October when ticket booking will open online. This year’s event will have a special 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.

National Museum of Ireland (NMI)

The National Museum of Ireland (NMI) is delighted to invite teachers and students across the country to reconnect with culture over the coming school term with an in-person visit to one of its sites.

The Museum has launched its autumn/winter 2022 programme of tours, events and activities, which educators can use to get up close to history, spark curiosity, encourage learning, and promote enjoyment of culture.

Much of the NMI’s school programme was offered virtually over the past two years due to pandemic restrictions. Many schools enjoyed engaging with the Museum online so there will also still be elements of the programme available to access directly from the classroom.

Primary level: Browse the full autumn/winter 2022 programme
Post Primary level: Browse the full autumn/winter 2022 programme

There are four public sites of the National Museum of Ireland now open to the public and available for school visits.

School visits are free but booking is essential for all school groups. Continue reading for some selected highlights from the programme:

Onsite guided tour: Recovered Voices: Stories and Experiences of the Irish at War: 1914-1915

This tour at the Museum of Decorative Arts & History, Collins Barracks is available at primary and post primary level, focuses on the people involved in World War One and how the war impacted their lives.

View more details here.

What’s the Sceál: Objects and Stories

A mix of traditional and contemporary stories linked to artefacts in the National Folklife Collection at the Museum of Country Life, Turlough Park with some of Ireland’s premier traditional storytellers, in collaboration with Poetry Ireland. Available online and onsite for primary and post-primary levels.

View more details here.

New Onsite Workshop: Go Extinct

Discover amazing extinct Irish animals in the Museum of Natural History, Kildare Street in this primary level workshop led by a Museum Educator.

View more details here.

Leaving Certificate Art Tours

An onsite tour at the Museum of Archaeology, Merrion Street specifically designed to cover key objects that appear on the History of Art Leaving Certificate specification and traces the development of art in Ireland from the Neolithic to the 12th century.

View more details here.

For full programme details go to www.museum.ie/en-ie/museums/archaeology/engage-and-learn

The Ark

Dates: See below

The Ark are delighted to announced their full Autumn programme for early years, schools and teachers, a jam packed programme including theatre, music shows, exhibitions and workshops. Below is a selection of some of the highlights taking place:

Museum of Languages Exhibition and Workshops

Exhibition Dates: 29 – 30 October, 1 November – Sun 6 November & 12 November
Workshop Dates: 8 & 9 November
Age Range: 4th to 6th Class

Discover the origins of languages and symbolism in this unique, interactive experience at The Ark, brought to you by Mother Tongues.

Seedlings Early Years Workshop: Incredible Ice

Dates: 4 & 10 December
Age Range: Early Years 2 – 4 years

Artist Jane Groves explores the textures of a frozen landscape through storytelling, creative play and imagination in this Early Years visual arts workshop.

FREE On Demand – Tracks in the Snow

Dates: 1 – 31 December
Age Range: All Classes

Discover the magic of winter in the much-loved winter music show, Tracks in the Snow by The Henry Girls. Schools can enjoy free access this Winter, the show links in with the Listening and Responding strand units of the Music curriculum. A free downloadable classroom pack is also available online at ark.ie/events/view/ondemand-tracks-in-the-snow-the-henry-girls-2

The full season can be viewed at ark.ie, booking is now open for all events via the simple schools booking form on each event page.

Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA)

Dates: 24 September, 1 October, 12 & 19 November 2022, 21 & 28 January 2023

Enjoy a Saturday morning on IMMA’s historic site, the Royal Hospital Kilmainham; experience exhibitions and creative processes in the museum studios.

The Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA) are delighted to welcome Primary School teachers to a new series of in-person CPD workshops exploring links to the visual art curriculum. Led by IMMA’s Assistant Curator, Mark Maguire and teacher, Eibhlin Campbell in this series of art workshops participants will explore links to the visual art curriculum, including “slow looking” practices in the galleries, displaying artwork (curation) and developing language talking about art.

Two practical workshops will be led by artists and educator Fiona Harrington in the IMMA studios in November, exploring fabric and fibre materials and processes. Fiona is interested in combining traditional processes with imagination and encouraging both children and adults to reconnect with creativity by exploring new materials, ideas, and techniques.

The purpose of these workshops is to restart in-person workshops in IMMA’s galleries and studios, emphasizing first-hand experience of artworks as well as studio-based, artist-led engagement with creative processes and art materials, and partnership between teachers and artists.

Duration: One/two day(s) per month, September to January.
Dates: 24 September, 1 October, 12 and 19 November 2022, 21 and 28 January 2023
Times: 10:00am – 12:30pm
No. of participants: 15

This workshop series is Free but booking essential. For more information or to book, email mark.maguire@imma.ie

The Dock

‘Songs of Ourselves’ was one of the recipient projects of the 2021 Arts in Education Portal Documentation Award, the aim of which is to support the development of documented outcomes from arts in education initiatives in Ireland. The award is part of the Arts in Education Portal Editorial Committee’s commitment to supporting and recognising the value of documentation and reflection as a key component within arts in education initiatives.

From November 2020 to June 2021, George Higgs was The Dock Composer in Residence at Scoil Mhuire, Carrick on Shannon for the project ‘Songs of Ourselves’, exploring communal song forms – e.g., work songs, anthems, canons, and call and response – with the ultimate aim of creating a new composition. Based on his earlier investigations into multisensory composition (The Sense Ensemble, 2017), George asked the students to think of a song not only as sound, but as a participatory activity for all the senses. Students were encouraged to invent gestures to accompany the performance of each song and draw pictures to reflect on the various themes. A Song Scrapbook was amassed from all the sessions, featuring the finished multisensory lyric ‘The Dream of the Knockabock’.

‘The Dream of the Knockabock’ was performed at The Dock in early June, 2022 by the Scoil Mhuire Choir and the Millennium Choir. The song was a twelve-minute ‘mobile composition for multisensory voices’ created was a rich pageant of sound, movement and was a spatial performance to remember.

It was a special event for all involved and a great achievement.

View the performance below

View here the Documentation Award Series Discussion ‘Songs of Ourselves’ with composer George Higgs, teacher Noelle Igoe and The Dock’s Visual Arts and Education Manager, Laura Mahon as part of the 2021 National Arts in Education Portal Virtual Conference.

The Creativity and Change programme & MTU Crawford College of Art & Design

Creativity & Change at MTU Crawford College of Art & Design, Cork City, is presently recruiting for their September course intake. This part-time, 20 credit certificate at level 9 is about creativity and its power to ignite empathy, passion and learning about our interconnected and interdependent world. Supported by Irish Aid, Department of Justice, the course supports learners to imagine more humane, just and viable ways to be and to connect with how we think, live, and act in the world.

This course explores how we can utilise the arts to live as connected global citizens, becoming part of the changes we want to see. It will be of interest to artists, activists, youth and community educators, volunteers and all those who are interested in collaboration and the transformative power of art.

Amplifying Voices Scholarships:

The core of Creativity & Change’s work is to explore and address inequality and injustice, which becomes minimised without the perspectives and experiences of a diverse participant group. Creativity & Change are consistently seeking to improve the accessibility of their programme and endeavour to provide opportunities to people who may have faced barriers to accessing education in Ireland, such as those from minority groups. We are pleased to have support from MTU to offer a number of funded places on the course for those who may not have otherwise been in a position to apply.

Duration: One weekend per month from September to May

Course fee: €680 (subsidised by Irish Aid)

For further information and to apply go to https://www.cit.ie/course/CRACRCH9 or email helen.okeeffe@mtu.ie

Teacher, Artist, Other

May 6th 2022. I visit a school in Cavan. My role; a ‘critical friend’ in an Action Research capacity on behalf of our International-Teacher-Artist Partnership (I-TAP-PD) PD Programme. I sit, observing, relishing what unfolds: An artist and teacher in near-perfect synchronicity, finishing each other’s sentence. I’m unable to tell one from the other. Digging further, I discovered that the teacher had taught the art skill to the artist in her kitchen and the artist prepared self-assessment booklets so students could track their learning. They have, in essence, exchanged roles and I’m witnessing my own audacious claim in action. “There’s an artist and a teacher in all of us.” But it’s really no surprise.

Vygotsky’s theories, cornerstones of modern curricula, hold that children learn primarily by observing and engaging in activities, guided by those more experienced, skilled or knowledgeable. Adults, whether parents, family members, neighbours, carers, coaches or community leaders provide the majority of this tuition, outside of formal education. As social beings who nurture our young, teaching is a critical human enterprise. We all teach, at some juncture, whether actively, passively, under contract or by default. It’s the impulse that spurs some graduates to choose teaching careers and prompts many artists to become involved in education, run workshops or engage apprentices.

Correspondingly, the compulsion to create is innate. Our capacity to imagine what does not exist is a cognitive strength that supports human advancement. To access and give form to creative thought, we engage in playfully explorative behaviours like acting, dancing, music-making, story-making, hypothesising, illustrating, constructing, concocting and crafting. These ‘creative’ practices are the fora for working through and testing our ideas. And creativity can manifest in many areas of practice; from book-binding to baking, from constructing mathematical theory to music-making.

One of Teacher-Artist Partnership (TAP) unique features is its potential to develop both competences in participants, the educator and the creator, waking the ‘other’ in those who stay engaged. This has supported me immensely in declaring my own identities and I trust my narrative will encourage others to recognise that the many hats they wear in life are equally worthy of recognition and validation.

A Question of Identity

September 2006: Circumstances forced me to abandon full-time art practice and accept a job-share teaching post. My ambiguous attitude to this turnabout and maverick methodologies prompted one of my charges to ask if I was a ‘real teacher’? Parents made more subtle enquiries. The school caretaker presumed I was an SNA.

Back practicing art full-time, I entered a school as the BLAST-assigned artist. The principal showed me around. Once our presence on the corridor was detected, a rumour raced from classroom to classroom; ‘There’s an inspector in the school!’

These narratives are anecdotal evidence of a professional identity dilemma I’ve wrestled with for decades. Artist or educator? Inhabiting this professional twilight zone had altered the lens through which I perceive labels like ‘teacher’ and ‘artist’; what it means to be either, both or to be more than the sum of these two entities.

Professional identity matters but it’s contextual. A singular definition casts us in two-dimensional stereotype, ignoring the richness of our many and evolving roles, cumulative experiences, skills and knowledge. I faced this dilemma on entering the Teacher-Artist Partnership programme in 2014. With an Education Centre network nomination, I was obliged to enlist as a teacher but yearned to sign the artist’s register. On introducing myself to the group, I claimed my artist identity, the only teacher to do so. After all, my teacher-self existed so my artist-self could be; the teacher supporting the artist, the artist sustaining the teacher.

Owning my dual identity felt bold but until did, I would never walk into a school as an artist. I’ve learned much on this journey, not least that there are many teachers in and beyond TAP who feel similarly. Some TAP-trained teachers are graduates of art/arts colleges. Others are skilled arts practitioners. Moreover, several TAP artists are former teachers and more possess intuitive teaching abilities, relishing engagement with children. August’s blog will further explore concepts of ‘teacher’ and ‘artist’, and the guiding and creative impulses we all possess. Meantime, for those reading, conscious of echoes of ‘the other drum’ in the recesses of their hearts, take comfort. There’s a teacher and an artist in all of us!

Mother Tongues

Language Explorers facilitator training and work opportunity.

Do you have experience developing/delivering creative experiences to children? Or are you an artist? Are you fluent in another language other than English? Are you passionate about making a difference?

Mother Tongues‘ is currently training individuals to enter a paid panel of facilitators to draw from when delivering workshops across the country as part of their flagship programme ‘Language Explorers’.

Mother Tongues’ envision a society that embraces different cultures and languages. Their mission is to curate multilingual creative experiences where artists and communities connect across languages and cultures. Language Explorers is Mother Tongues’ flagship programme for children aged 3 to 6. Language Explorers provides a child-centred, interactive and engaging experience for all children – monolingual, bilingual and plurilingual.

Who should register?

Developed to be equal parts practical and inspirational, this new training is designed for artists or creative people with a passion for working with children and who have experience in developing and/or delivering creative experiences to children.

Training

This training combines online and in-person elements. It will run over 8 weeks with an estimated overall time commitment of 40 hours. Self-directed learning is an important element of this training.

For full details and to apply go to mothertongues.ie/2022/07/08/language-explorers-facilitator-training-and-work-opportunity/

Mother Tongues is an equal opportunity employer.
We encourage applications from individuals of a variety of backgrounds and levels of experience.

Music Generation & Arts Council of Ireland

Deadline: 5 August 2022

The Music Generation National Development Office invites quotations, from consultants, researchers or organisations, for the completion of an evaluation of the Music Generation – Arts Council partnership. It is anticipated that the evaluation will identify learnings from the partnership and will provide recommendations for the future. The evaluation will assist Music Generation in its planning and development for the future and will assist the Arts Council in planning future potential partnerships and investments in this sector.

Queries

All queries will be responded to by email only.
Please email all queries to: info@musicgeneration.ie where they will be forwarded to the relevant person for clarification.
The latest date for receipt of queries is Friday 29th July 2022.

Closing Date

The closing date for receipt of tender submissions is 17:00 (Dublin time) on Friday 5th August 2022.
Submissions by email only to cathriona@musicgeneration.ie
All submissions received will be acknowledged by email.

To download the details brief go to www.musicgeneration.ie/vacancies/invitation-to-quote-for-evaluation-services-music-generation-arts-council-partnership

Music Generation is Ireland’s National Music Education Programme that transforms the lives of children and young people through access to high-quality, subsidised performance music education. Initiated by Music Network, Music Generation is co-funded by U2, The Ireland Funds, the Department of Education, and Local Music Education Partnerships (LMEPs) and is supported by the Arts Council as a programme partner.

To find out more about who we are and what we do, please visit www.musicgeneration.ie

The Arts Council /An Chomhairle Ealaíon is the Irish government agency for developing the arts. The Arts Council works in partnership with artists, arts organisations, public policy makers and others to build a central place for the arts in Irish life. The Arts Council is guided by its Strategy “Making Great Art Work”.

For further information on the Arts Council, please visit www.artscouncil.ie

Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council

Deadline: 15 August 2022

Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, in partnership with Blackrock Education Centre, is looking for six creative practitioners in a variety of artforms to work with children and teachers in the classroom setting. The main purpose of the programme is to facilitate a professional Creative Practitioner to collaborate with a primary school class and teacher to explore creativity in the classroom setting through various artforms.

Overview of dlr’s Primary Arts Programme

dlr’s Primary Arts Programme was initiated in 1994. dlr Arts Office has partnered with Blackrock Education Centre since 2008 to deliver the countywide programme. dlR Arts Office recognise the importance of life-long learning and the positive impact that early intervention may have in addressing education inequality. Through the partnership with Blackrock Education Centre, dlr Arts Office works to ensure that children have access to cultural education regardless of circumstances. The main purpose of the programme is to facilitate a professional Creative Practitioner to collaborate with a primary school class and teacher to explore creativity in the classroom setting through various art forms. A Creative Practitioner is a professional facilitator with an artform background, for example, a Dancer, a Visual Artist, a Writer or a Musician.

The timeline for engagement of the creative practitioners is October 2022 – May 2023. Upon agreement between both parties, this may be extended from October 2023 – May 2024.

Deadline for applications: 12 noon 15 August 2022

Full details included fees, criteria and applications details are available at www.dlrcoco.ie/en/funding-opportunities/dlr-primary-arts-programme-2022-23.

Arts in Education Portal
Deadline: Friday 26 August 2022

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

The National Arts in Education Portal Day will take place at TU Dublin, School of Art and Design on Saturday, 5 November 2022 in partnership with the School of Art and Design (formerly the School of Creative Arts) and the Erasmus+ International Teacher-Artist Partnership (I-TAP-PD) PD Project. The event aims to bring together members of the arts in education and creative practise community from all across Ireland, to share, learn, talk, network, get inspired and continue interrogating best practice in the field.

This year, the Portal Day will have a special focus on ‘Seldom Heard Voices’. The Committee particularly want to profile projects this year that represent children from diverse communities and children who are seldom heard.

The Portal Editorial Committee are delighted to also partner this year with the Erasmus+ International Teacher-Artist Partnership (I-TAP-PD) PD Project, an exciting trans-European project which focuses on enabling teachers and artists to jointly develop their understanding, expertise and creativity in ‘arts in education’ work with children and young people in education, community and arts settings. The Erasmus+ I-TAP-PD multiplier event at the National Portal Day will share outcomes and learning from the programme to date.

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

The deadline for submission of proposals has been extended to 5pm Friday 26 August 2022.

Download the submission form National Portal day Proposal Form 2022.

The Portal team have had an exciting few months on the road visiting the recipients of the 2022 Portal Documentation Awards.

‘Music Makes Me Happy’ Creative Cluster

In May and early June we visited three Limerick based schools who have been collaborating as part of a Creative Cluster Project under the theme ‘Music Makes Me Happy’. The focus of the two year project has been to create more opportunities for the pupils of all three schools to experience music; to learn an instrument, listen to live music, perform and explore music through creative collaboration.

In this, the second year of the project the students and teachers from all three schools have been continuing to collaborate with local musician Mike Hogan in learning the ukulele. On our visit to St Patrick’s Boys National School, the 5th class pupils and their class teacher Mr Murray shared with us some of the songs they have been working on for a group performance at the end of the school year.

Ukulele Player at St Brigid’s National School – ‘Music Makes Me Happy’ Creative Cluster Project

In St Brigid’s National School and St Patrick’s Girls National School the students have been delving deeper in their exploration of the cluster theme through the BLAST initiative. On our visit to St. Patrick’s Girls NS we met visual artist Chelsea Canavan who has been collaborating with the 5th class students and their class teacher Ms Farrell in the creation of a large scale artwork that will become part of the school’s new building. Taking inspiration from music the pupils have been designing patterns based on the honeycomb shape and fretwork patterns found on the end of a concertina instrument. During our visit the children were creating prints using stamps they had made, exploring different shapes and combinations.

At St Brigid’s NS, class teacher Ms Nihill and the 5th class pupils have been collaborating with composer Fiona Linnane in the c0-creation of a musical composition inspired by the cluster theme. During our visit the class were writing lyrics to add to melodies they had created and were starting to put the elements of the song together. For the song the children used a combination of instruments including the ukulele’s the class had been using for their sessions with Mike Hogan.

‘Finding the Common Thread’ International Teacher Artist Partnership Project

St Kilian’s National School, County Cavan is situated in a state-of-the-art school where its beautiful design makes you feel like you are outdoors when indoors, surrounded by nature wherever you look. This influence of nature was evident when visiting Breeda’s classroom. Artist Vera McEvoy, class teacher Breeda Kenny and the students have been exploring a local bog using art, textiles and many other means.

On the first day of our visit, the children were developing lace pieces based on flowers found in the bog. Each child had created an intricate sewn piece which re-imagined tiny plants which they discovered on trips to the bog. It was amazing to see how engrossed the children were in their needle work. The intimate nature of the work seemed to draw out different conversations amongst the children, giving them time and space to think and talk in an unstructured way.

Exploring the bog – ‘Finding the Common Thread’ International Teacher Artist Partnership Project – St Kilian’s National School, County Cavan

On the second day, we had a magical visit to the bog. Vera and the students set up a clothes line where they pegged on their lace pieces, letting them flutter in the wind. We were introduced to the various plants that had inspired their lace works – and were amazed by how tiny but complex they were. The students performed a song, using their voices and bodies to create ripples across the bog.

Over the summer months the Portal team will be working on editing the documentation footage captured during the school visits. We look forward to sharing the Documentation video’s for both project’s in the Autumn. Stay tuned!

Kids’ Own Publishing Partnership
Deadline 13 July 2022

Kids’ Own, the current Arts in Education Portal Mangers are delighted to invite applications for the role of Project Manager for the Arts in Education Portal (part-time).

This is a very exciting opportunity for a dynamic community-minded individual with excellent digital skills and event management skills combined to lead the management of the Arts in Education Portal as it enters into a new phase of strategic development.

The specifications of the role are set out below.

Key Responsibilities

The Project Manager for the Arts in Education Portal will be responsible for managing all aspects of the Arts in Education Portal, including but not limited to:

Ongoing management of all aspects of the Arts in Education Portal website including regular content updates of project features, guest blogs, critical essays, videos, and resources.
Liaise with, and report regularly to, the Portal Editorial Committee; and attend and lead quarterly meetings.
Liaison with the Portal web developers to ensure the site is fully maintained and up to date with the latest software.
Implementation of AiE Portal Digital Marketing Strategy, including web, SEO/SEM, email marketing, social media and digital advertising.
Manage content across all platforms including email and social media in collaboration with Kids’ Own’s Digital Marketing Officer.
Managing metrics such as Google Analytics and Webmaster Tools.
Leading on website and social media channel optimisation for SEO as well as usability.
Providing editorial, creative and technical support to team members and content contributors.
Measuring, reporting and recommending on the performance of all activities both online and off.
Creating and implementing editorial calendars in collaboration with content contributors.
Delivering effective, cohesive, and engaging brand messaging.
Development of and implantation of aspects of the annual Portal Commissioning Plan.
Coordination of all Portal events, particularly the annual National Arts in Education Portal Day and Spring Regional Day, including pre-event planning, audience engagement, organising guest speakers and management of all event logistics.
Collaborating with the broader Kids’ Own team to ensure that the AiE Portal activities and content aligns with the ethos and remit of the Portal.
Briefing and managing third-party suppliers, freelancers, videographers and designers to ensure on-time delivery of assets.
Manage project budgets, in collaboration with the Creative Director and Finance Officer.

The successful applicant will have:

A third level qualification in the field of journalism, communications, marketing or equivalent experience.
A minimum of 4 years’ experience in a digital marketing with a portfolio of visual and written content.\
An excellent understanding of the Arts in Education sector and collaborative arts practice.
High-level, versatile writing abilities with strong attention to detail and editorial experience.
Proficiency in designing, managing and delivering broad, multi-angle projects.
Proven track record in creating and publishing online and offline content.
Proficiency with popular content management systems.
Adept at SEO best practices.
In-depth knowledge of various social media platforms, best practices, and website analytics.
Experience in event management ideally both online and offline.

Desirable:

Experience in working with non-profit or charitable organisations.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
Excellent organisational and time-management skills.
The ability to work well as part of a small team.
Highly creative with excellent analytical abilities.
Ability to travel when required for meetings, events etc. Full drivers licence preferable.

Terms of contract:

This is a part-time post (3 days p/week). An initial contract of 9 months will be offered, subject to extension. There will be a probationary period of 6 weeks.

Annual remuneration: €33,000–35,000 DOE. (pro-rata)

Applications:

Candidates should send a detailed CV and cover letter to Kids’ Own Creative Director,

Ciara Gallagher at: ciara@kidsown.ie by Wednesday 13 July, 5pm

MTU Crawford College of Art & Design

Arts In Health & Education, MTU Crawford College of Art & Design are presently recruiting for their September course intake across the department. Choose from a number of innovative post-graduate, level 9 courses centred around the power of the Arts in supporting wellbeing, personal development and changemaking.

All courses take place at the CCAD Grand Parade campus in Cork City.

For more information on each course, see crawford.cit.ie/areas-of-study/

Arts & Engagement is a new two-year, part-time, 90 credit MA programme combining a number of CCAD’s Special Purpose Awards. Through research, reflection, group and practical work, participants will explore different ways of learning, investigating the transformational power of the arts in personal and societal activation or regulation through a broad scope of contemporary methodologies.

Through elective modules in year one, opportunities will be provided to broaden skill sets through Socially Engaged Theatre, Eco-Arts Practice or Art Therapy. In the second year, opportunity will be given for students to develop their ongoing arts practice informed by, and in relation to, one of two strands of engagement – Health & Wellbeing or Global Citizenship Education.

More info and apply: www.cit.ie/course/CRARAEN9
Closing date: 31st August
Contact: Avril.OBrien@mtu.ie

Creativity & Change is a part-time, 20 credit certificate at level 9 about creativity and its power to ignite empathy, passion and learning about our interconnected and interdependent world. Supported by Irish Aid, Department of Justice, it is about imagining more humane, just and viable ways to live in the world and to connect with how we think, live, and act in the world. This course explores how we can utilise the arts to live as connected global citizens, becoming part of the changes we want to see. It will be of interest to artists, activists, youth & community educators, volunteers and all those who are interested in collaboration and the transformative power of art.

This programme is offered as an elective within the MA Arts and Engagement. Participants on the course who are not already taking it as an elective within the MA can apply and progress to the MA Arts & Engagement, with 20 credits of the programme already completed.

More info and apply: www.cit.ie/course/CRACRCH9
Closing date: 31st August
Contact: Helen.OKeeffe@mtu.ie

Amplifying Voices Scholarships: We have a number of funded places available for those who have faced barriers to education in Ireland. See more information on the course application page.

Arts & Wellbeing is a new part-time. 20 credit Certificate at level 9. The course will be delivered through lectures and experiential workshops and provide participants with theory and approaches to arts and wellbeing that could be applied in a range of different contexts, making it attractive to teachers, therapists, arts in health practitioners, youth and community workers or artists looking to broaden the scope of their practice.

More info and apply: TBC – see www.cit.ie/courses/eveningweekendcourseslist/
Closing date: 15th September
Contact: Avril.OBrien@mtu.ie

Eco Arts Practice is a 10 credit, level 9 certificate. 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.  Participants will 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.

More info and apply: www.cit.ie/course/CRAEAPR9
Closing date: 15th September
Contact: ccad.enquiries@mtu.ie until August 21st, then Jessica.Carson@mtu.ie

Crooked House Theatre Company

Crooked House Theatre Company are delighted to invite applications from youth work organisations and schools in County Kildare to participate in a new drama and film making project ‘Adúntas’. Providing eight free programmes for young people, the project will focus on maintaining wellbeing and developing emotional resilience after COVID-19.

Through ‘Adúntas’ eight young people will also receive training in youth drama facilitation.

“We recognise the importance of allowing our young people to process the experience of Covid-19 in their own way and at their own pace”, Oguzhan Sahin, Outreach Manager with Crooked House.

This project is funded by the RTE Toy Show Appeal Grants for 2022 by the Community Foundation for Ireland. for more information about the RTE Toy Show Appeal go to www.rte.ie/eile/toy-show-appeal/.

About Crooked House Theatre Company
Crooked House is a theatre-making organisation established in 1993 in Newbridge in County Kildare, Ireland. We make theatre with, for and by young people from the ages of 11 to 24. Participation in all our activities is free and open to anyone. Young people can join our weekly workshops in Newbridge anytime. Visit www.kildareyouththeatre.com to find workshops for your age group. Our work is inspired by tolerance, equality, social justice, compassion, and empathy. We aim to create theatre that is ambitious, challenging, aesthetically engaging, and relevant to our audiences.

For further information and application details go to www.crookedhouse.ie or email info@crookedhouse.ie.

To the Stage

This month in Branar we are focusing on preparing for the live presentation of YOU’LL SEE…

In previous blogs, we have spoken about creating the film based on our adaptation of Ulysses for children and now, the next phase is for us to create a live theatre version.

We are back in the rehearsal room and must make some adjustments to the piece with the knowledge that we will have a live audience in front of us. In the film version, we were able to use the camera to dictate exactly what the audience would see through framing. However, with the live version, we have to consider the pacing, the clarity of the delivery and the visuals of the piece from the audience’s point of view. We also need to add elements such as lighting and sound cues, and everything that makes theatre different from other forms of presentation. This is challenging to do, but this is the art form we are most experienced in.

We have new members of the team now. Michael joins us as our technician and Debbie as our stage manager. The work becomes about supporting the performance and ensuring that what the audience sees is excellent every time. Helen Gregg who adapted the text with me is the performer and she now has to consider the audience as they watch the piece and ensure that they are following what she’s doing as well as being entertained by the piece.

The live performance will be longer than the film as we allow for pauses, moments to linger a little and hopefully laughter. We work on ensuring that the narrative makes sense by itself. We work on the pace to ensure that the audience has something interesting to follow at all times, whether that is the soundscape, the visuals, or Helen’s performance.

As I write this, we are preparing to present the show for the first time at the Cork Midsummer Festival for an audience of children and their adults. We are excited, nervous, and hopeful that all of our work over the past few months will pay off and that the audience will enjoy the fruits of our labor. We hope that they will leave entertained and knowing a little bit more about Ulysses, written 100 years ago by James Joyce.

The Ark
Dates: 15 – 19 August

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

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

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.

Tickets: €100/€90 (For ArkEd Members)

Dates & Time: Five day course, 15-19 August at 10am-3pm (with breaks) each day

For further information and booking go to ark.ie/events/view/summer-cpd-for-teachers-a-visual-arts-approach-in-the-classroom

Ballet Ireland
Dates: 4 – 8 July

In Association with the School of Arts, Education & Movement, DCU

The Ballet Ireland CPD course for Primary School Teachers and Education Professionals provides participants with a secure understanding of how to teach dance, using simple, clear methods, easy steps and straightforward dance vocabularies.

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

Class structure
An understanding of anatomy in relation to dance
How music is used, composed, and selected for dance
How dance relates to drama and narrative expression

The course is based on workshop programmes which have been in operation since 2005, developed in collaboration with ten national schools in the greater Dublin area. All material covered in the summer course is suitable for primary school children of all ages, and for children with diverse abilities and experiences.

The Ballet Ireland educational approach for primary school teachers offers an interdisciplinary approach to teaching dance, music, and drama, and emphasises the potential for integrating curricular learning through dance.

The initial course is a week in length; each day comprises 2 two-hour workshops and an additional session, up to an hour, for discussion and feedback with the participants, totalling 25 hours. The programme employs specialists in several complementary areas, providing workshops in dance, anatomy, music, and mime.

Participants are supported with comprehensive course notes and access to specialised musical content online. Optional follow up days are held during midterm breaks in autumn and spring (at DanceHouse, Dublin), and ongoing support is available through closed social media groups.

“It helped me to understand the benefits dance can offer a child’s whole development, in terms of physical development, gross and fine motor skills, overall co-ordination, concentration and memory skills and social-emotional development. Dance can hugely benefit a child holistically and understanding this made me feel more confident that teaching dance wasn’t simply a ‘fun’ or frivolous’ treat lesson for a class, but a worthwhile endeavour”

2021 Summer Course participant

Course Details

The summer course will take place at DCU St. Patrick’s Campus, Drumcondra, in association with the School for Arts Education and Movement, DCU, July 4 th -8 th 2022.

Cost of the course: €125.00

There are a limited number of places.

For more information and to booking, please contact:
Stephen Brennan stephen@balletireland.ie

The Arts Council’s Creative Schools Initiative

Scoileanna Ildánacha/Creative Schools is a flagship initiative of the Creative Ireland Programme to enable the creative potential of every child. It is being led by the Arts Council in partnership the Department of Education and Skills and the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.

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

1. Creative Associate Services for Alternative Settings

Creative Schools seeks to engage up to four Creative Associates, with relevant experience, to support the delivery of a project for schools in alternative settings from autumn 2022 for up to two years. This project will focus on schools from particular types of educational contexts that have not yet participated in the Creative Schools initiative.

2. Creative Associate Services

Creative Schools seeks to engage a number of Creative Associates, with relevant experience, to work with schools in Mayo from autumn 2022 for up to one year.

Individuals or organisations that wish to nominate an individual may apply for these opportunities by 12.00 hours (local time) on Thursday 7, July, 2022.

All information and application forms are available at www.artscouncil.ie/creative-associate-opportunities/.

Baboró International Arts Festival for Children
Deadline: 29 July 2022

Baboró is looking for children who will be starting 4th class in September 2022 to join their Children’s Panel to ensure their voices are included in their planning and decision making.

The Children’s Panel will play an important role in shaping Baboró’s work to make all children feel welcome, heard and represented at Baboró and in our community. The children will be guided through their experience of the festival and creative workshops throughout the year by Baboró artist in residence, Maisie Lee. Their perspectives and voice will inform how they present their annual festival and year round work with schools and communities.

Members of the Children’s Panel will attend their festival in October where they will watch performances and visit exhibitions; together meet artists and performers and learn about their creative process; meet the people who create the festival and share their ideas with them; workshop and express their opinions and perspectives of their festival experience.

Members will also meet once a month to take part in workshops and arts activities, attend creative events, meet new friends and have fun!

Deadline 29 July 2022

For more information, see www.baboro.ie/news-events/baboro-childrens-panel-2022

Branar and the Museum of Literature Ireland (MoLI)
Date: Bloomsday Thursday, 16 June 2022

MoLI is asking young people from 2nd to 6th class to tell us all about a day in their life, this Bloomsday, on Thursday, 16 June. And teachers, it’s a schoolday – so they need your help!

As a follow-on activity from watching Branar’s wonderful You’ll See… film, we want to capture the diversity of lived experiences of young people from around the island of Ireland and put their voice and perspective at the heart of this day.

This is a simple and fun exercise that links imagination and biography, giving us a sense of what their days are like. Schools from across the country are taking part, and the submissions will be presented as an online archive later this year.

The closing date for submissions is Friday, 8 July 2022.

Date: Bloomsday Thursday, 16 June 2022

For more information on how to take part, see ulysses22.ie/mybloomsday

Earlier this month, teachers, artists and arts in eduction professionals gathered together – in-person and on-online – at the beautiful surroundings of the Kildare Education Support Centre. This was an opportunity to share experience, gather new ideas and network with colleagues. This event, the sixth of our annual Portal Regional Days, showcased arts in education and creative practice in the Mid-East. This year’s gathering was particularly special as it was the first in-person event in two years and provided a wonderful opportunity to catchup with members of the community, some of whom had only met virtually.

The morning of sharing practice began with visual artist Penelope Monaghan in conversation with Deirdre Rogers, Visual Arts Learning & Engagement Coordinator at the Solstice Arts Centre who shared their experience and learnings from the BLAST project with Stackallen National School, Co. Meath. As part of the presentation, Deirdre brought the audience on a Visual Thinking Strategy (VTS) journey of the painting ‘Three Space Unfolding’ by Lesley-Ann O’Connell, sharing a taste of how she uses VTS techniques in exhibition visits with schools.

“That’s so true, for me art and creative activities if you want to call it a subject is the only subject that can teach every other subject”, Deirdre Rogers

The morning continued with a thought-provoking panel discussion chaired by teacher and Teacher–Artist Partnership (TAP) Lead Facilitator Jennifer Buggie with speakers Michelle Furlong, Portal Committee member and Creative Schools Manager with the Arts Council of Ireland; Dr Triona Stokes from the Froebel Department of Primary and Early Childhood Education, Maynooth University and Mark Ball, Theatre-maker and Artistic Director of Super Paua. The panel explored the question ‘How do we ensure the voice of the child is heard?’. They shared insights into how, in their own practices, they consider the child’s voice and other practical ways to open opportunities for the child’s voice in the classroom or during a creative engagement.

Do we other children by calling them children? That old concept of not being fully a person in terms of traditional forms of education. But I really do think by using those terms ‘young people’, young people who are fully themselves… as Caitríona Ní Chullota used to say always, they are fully themselves in every moment of their existence. – Jennifer Buggie

In the afternoon, attendees where invited to take part in practical creative workshops. Photographer Brian Cregan shared some practical tools and tips on using smartphone’s and tablet’s for photography with in-person attendees. They explored how smartphones and tablets can be a key tool in documenting creative engagement.

Creative Workshop: ‘Smartphone and Tablet Photography Skills’ with photographer Brian Cregan

Online, artist Helen Flanaghan invited participants to explore their own connections to land, place and nature and to consider – what we stand to lose in the context of the climate crisis in the creative workshop titled ‘What is left and what left to lose?’. Through discussion, participants were invited on a journey of co-creation creating a piece collaborative writing which was then burnt in a fire pit at the end of the session.

Creative Workshop: What is left and what left to lose? with artist and writer Helen Flanaghan

“Lets try it and lets fail beautifully together”, Mark Ball, Artistic Director Super Paua

Thank you to everyone who joined us on the day. For those who missed the mornings discussions the live stream is available to watch back on the Portal’s Vimeo Channel here.

My Bloomsday

Schools engagement project

This month at Branar, we have been focusing our attention on the engagement element of ‘You’ll see…’, our adaptation of Ulysses by James Joyce, for children age 7+. This engagement from children was at the forefront of the creation of You’ll See. Ulysses tells the story of one day in one city and this inspired us to ask the children of Ireland to tell us the story of one day in their lives.

We have been working in conjunction with our colleagues in the Museum of Literature Ireland (MoLI) in Dublin to devise an engagement program that will allow children to respond to the video while also sharing their thoughts on what it’s like to be a child in 2022, 100 years after Ulysses was published.

We have a created a response template pack that is loosely based on some of the main questions or thoughts that are in the key episodes of Ulysses. The template pack consists of six prompts for the children to respond to. These prompts were created by Branar and MoLI after examining the school curriculum and deciding what prompts would allow the children who respond to be as creative as possible in their answers. The children are asked to respond to these prompts in their own way, be it through creative writing, or drawing images in response to the prompt questions. Our hopes are that it will be a creative process that gives us an insight into the life of children in 2022. The children will be able to engage with these packs as a class activity facilitated by the teacher after they’ve watched the You’ll See… video.

All the details can be downloaded from the Ulysses22 website.

Watch the You’ll See ….video here – ulysses22.ie/episodes/youll-see
Download the Worksheets here – ulysses22.ie/files/MyBloomsday.pdf

What is really exciting about this process is that the documents the children will create will be collected by the MoLI Museum and archived over the Summer. We decided that the archive should be created in a way that encourages engagement from children all over Ireland. We aim to do this by using technologies used by children on a daily basis to host the archived materials. This should hopefully allow children from all over the country to engage with each other’s responses.

Creative Schools
Deadline: 17.30, 16 June 2022

The Arts Council are delighted to announce that applications have opened for schools to apply for the Creative Schools 2022/ 2023 programme.

Creative Schools 2022 welcomes applications from schools and Youthreach centres across the country who would like to join the programme. The deadline has been extended to 17.30, 16 June 2022.

The purpose of Scoileanna Ildánacha/Creative Schools is to support schools and Youthreach centres to put the arts and creativity at the heart of children’s and young people’s lives. Participating schools/centres will take part in a guided journey over two years to develop a Creative Schools Plan unique to each school, and begin to implement it. Key supports offered by this award include up to nine days per year of expert support and advice from a Creative Associate assigned to each school/centre, and a €4,000 grant towards activities and projects arising.

All applications to the Arts Council are made through the Arts Council’s online services system. Schools and Youthreach centres interested in applying to Scoileanna Ildánacha/Creative Schools 2022 can register an account on the Arts Council’s online services system here.

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 invited to apply.

Online information clinics for schools and Youthreach centres about how to apply for Creative Schools 2022

The Arts Council will be holding online information clinics in May about the Creative Schools programme and how to apply for 2022. The clinics are for representatives of Primary and Post Primary Schools, Special Schools and Youthreach Centres who are interested in participating in Scoileanna Ildánacha/Creative Schools for the academic years 2022/2023 and 2023/2024.

The online information clinics will take place as follows:

Wednesday 18 May 2022 at 16.00-17.00 – English language – Book a ticket here
Thursday 19 May 2022 at 16.00-17.00 – Irish language – Book a ticket here

The application deadline for Creative Schools has been extended to 17.30 on 16 June 2022. The reason for the new deadline is to facilitate schools at this busy time to complete their applications successfully.

For application guidelines and information about the Creative Schools please see www.artscouncil.ie/creative-schools/schools-opportunities/. If you have any questions at all please contact us at creativeschools@artscouncil.ie.

BLAST Arts-in-Education Residencies
Deadline: 30 September 2022

Minister for Education Norma Foley invites primary and post-primary schools to apply for the arts-in-education initiative, BLAST 2022.

Minister Foley is delighted to confirm that BLAST – Bringing Live Arts to Students and Teachers – will be running in 2022 for the second time. The 2022 programme will enable over 400 new arts-in-education residencies in schools over the course of the year.

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

These innovative classes are designed and developed between the artist, teacher and the school under the coordination of the Education Support Centres in Ireland (ESCI) network of 21 full-time education support centres.

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

“When I launched BLAST last year, I had hoped that it would open up the minds and the hearts of our children by providing new and creative collaborative experiences and opportunities for our children and young people and for our schools. The evidence over the past year has shown that school communities have embraced BLAST beyond our expectations.

“In 2021, BLAST enabled over 480 new arts in education residencies in over 480 schools, ensuring over 12,000 students could benefit from this experience along with teachers and schools. Some of the trained artists available to schools covered topics such as multimedia, fine art, mosaics, stained glass sculpture/animation and performance art.

“BLAST has shown that school is a fantastic environment for children to have new and different experiences, to make new friends, to be creative and importantly to have fun while learning.

“I am delighted also to launch today the new BLAST logo, following a nationwide competition. The winning logo was chosen by a panel of judges including Louis Walsh, and Brenda Dermody of TU Dublin.

“The winning entry is both creative and practical, and does an incredible job of bringing different aspects of the alerts to life, in line with the spirit of BLAST. Well done to Lily Fleming from sixth class in Bunscoil Rinn An Chabhlaigh, Rushbrooke, Cobh, Co Cork.

“Lily will receive a go-pro camera, and their logo has now been adopted as the official logo for the BLAST programme. I hope they enjoy seeing it proudly adorn all BLAST activity in future!”

The winning entry was selected from over 1,411 entries from primary and post-primary schools all over Ireland. 5 runners-up were highly commended by the judges for their entries. All entrants will receive a BLAST certificate.
The runners-up were:

Tayla–Jae Morcombe, Mercy Mounthawk Secondary School, Mouthhawk, Tralee, Co Kerry
Louise Corry Galvin, St. Joseph’s secondary school, Spanish Point, Co Clare
Szymon Krzyzanowski, Wexford CBS, Thomas St, Co Wexford
Grace Hilliard, Coláiste Eoin, Hacketstown, Co Carlow
Julia Bartecka, Holy Family Secondary School, Newbridge Co Kildare

Applications will open on 25 May 2022. The closing date is 30 September 2022.

This initiative will be supported by the ESCI education centre network, Teacher Artist Partnership CPD programme, Arts in Junior Cycle, NAPD Creative Engagement Programme and the Arts in Education Portal.

For further information on the programme and to download the appliucation forms go to https://www.gov.ie/en/service/69096-blast-arts-in-education.

The Ark
Dates: 4 – 8 July 2022

The Ark are excited to present this really popular engaging arts summer course focusing on the two curriculum areas of Drama and Music.

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

Working with two outstanding creative practitioners, you will enjoy a week of experiential learning and development. Your confidence and skills in both music and drama will increase through highly participative and inspiring course content.

Using themes drawn from SPHE, English and other subjects, participants will explore a variety of imaginative approaches to integrated curriculum delivery. Teachers of all levels of experience will be able to fully engage in this rich week of professional development.

Course content and highlights will include:

Developing confidence and skills to deliver all aspects of the primary school music and drama curricula
Using music and drama to imaginatively respond to themes and concepts in other subjects
Working in teams and individually to bring themes to life through a range of creative approaches
Vocal development: both musical and dramatic voice use
Imaginative approaches to literacy and empathy, using both music and drama
Applying creative, reflective and evaluative practices used by musicians and theatre practitioners to teachers’ individual professional practices and to school self-evaluation.

Cost – €100/€90 (For ArkEd Members)

Dates & Times – Five day course, 4-8 June @ 10am – 3pm (with breaks) each day

For further information and bookings go to ark.ie/events/view/summer-cpd-for-teachers-creative-music-drama-in-the-classroom.

The Creative Ireland Programme
Date: 11 June 2022

Taking place on Saturday, 11th June, young people can enjoy 450+ free creative events across the country.

Catherine Martin TD, Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, has announced details of Cruinniú na nÓg 2022, a day of free creative activity for young people.

The only event of its kind in the world, Cruinniú na nÓg 2022 is a collaboration between the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, the Creative Ireland Programme, local authorities and RTÉ.

At the launch of Cruinniú na nÓg 2022 at Killruddery House and Gardens in County Wicklow, Minister Martin said:

“Since 2018, Cruinniú na nÓg has become a key date in Ireland’s cultural calendar. It has provided wonderful opportunities for Ireland’s 1.2 million children and young people to try something new like circus skills, animation, perform at live music gigs, explore contemporary dance, showcase new work through youth theatre and so much more. All events are free.

This year the Cruinniú na nÓg team are delighted that most of the events will be live and in person. Alongside the events planned by strategic partners – Dance Ireland, Garageland, Irish Street Arts, Circus and Spectacle Network (ISACS), Nenagh Children’s Film Festival, Youth Theatre Ireland and the Historic Houses of Ireland – the programme has more than 450 events programmed by local authorities in venues around the country. The Cruinniú na nÓg team are so thrilled that the restrictions of the last two years are behind us and that this year everyone can join together to be creative, express themselves and have fun.

Going live Saturday 11th June 2022

The Creative Ireland Programme and its strategic partners have developed a number of creative projects, all planned to go live on Saturday 11th June 2022.

This exciting spread of events include:

Pop-Up Dance is a Dance Ireland project which aims to connect with young people who want to dance. There will be twelve pop-up performances around the country, developed by local youth dance companies to reflect their own communities and experiences.

Garageland is back! And this year they are going live with concerts in Dublin, Meath, Donegal, Waterford, Tipperary, Kerry, Wicklow, Cavan and Monaghan. Running alongside these live concerts will be Galaxyz, a dedicated online TV channel which will live stream the concerts, screen pre-recorded performances and host industry chats.

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 and 5,000 juggling balls will be given away so that young people can develop their circus skills at home.

Historic Houses of Ireland invites everyone to four of their gorgeous properties. Activities will include aerial acrobatics at Killruddery House and Gardens in Wicklow and a forest school a Kilmokea House in Wexford. Birr Castle will focus on astronomy and biodiversity and Enniscoe in Mayo will have a full programme of events in their historic gardens.

Nenagh Children’s Film Festival will run from 10-12 June with Crúinniu na nÓg at the heart of it. In an exciting development, the festival will collaborate with Foróige, Digital Animation Production TUS and the National Talent Academy for Animation to encourage young people to create and participate.
Highlights will include screenings of a commissioned animation dedicated to young audiences and 10 film shorts created in participating schools.

Youth Theatre Ireland will host introductory theatre workshops throughout the country.

This is Art 2022: Creative Ireland and RTÉ’s wonderful art competition for young people has returned, and the winning entries will be announced on 11th June 2022.

TG4 with support from the Gaeltacht division of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, will produce Cruthaím 33 which will champion the talents of 33 children and young people from every county in the country as well as a representative of our young diaspora. Also included in the programme will be four films made by transition year students from Gaelscoileanna around the country.

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

Teacher-Artist Partnership (TAP)
Dates: 4 July – 8 July 2022

Teacher-Artist Partnership (TAP) Programme invites teachers to register for their Face-to-Face CPD this summer. The Teacher Artist Partnership Residency programme 2022 – 2023 will be available to eight participating schools in all 21 full-time Education Support Centres. Only schools whose teachers participated in the summer course 2022 will be eligible for a residency.

The Teacher-Artist Partnership (TAP) CPD and Residency Programme is a unique Department of Education led initiative for supporting and enhancing arts and creativity in education in primary schools. It is funded and supported under the Creative Ireland Programme – Creative Youth. The initiative includes CPD Summer Courses and subsequent funded Artist in Residency opportunities in which TAP trained teachers and artists and the children work together in partnership during the following academic year. For more on TAP see: edcentretralee.ie/27-teacher-artist-partnership.html

Dates: 4 July – 8 July 2022

Register on your local full-time Education Support Centre’s website. Find your local Education Support Centre here: esci.ie/

Download a PDF version of the TAP Face-to-face callout 2022 here

Barnstorm Theatre Company
Dates: 10am & 12pm, 25 May – 10 June 2022

Barnstorm Theatre Company are delighted to invite primary schools in Kilkenny to Swansong. This performance is a heartfelt and comic exploration of a once in a lifetime encounter between two strangers. This new play for audiences aged 9+ by Shane O’Reilly playfully and sensitively engages with the mythical notion of the swansong; a final gesture or performance.

Schools attending a performance can book two workshops in their school, a session on visual literacy in advance of the performance and a second workshop on critical analysis in the days following their visit to the theatre. There is limited availability and will be provided on a ‘first-come’ basis. A resource pack will be provided to participating teachers. The pack will provide a focus for exploration and discussion of themes raised through the play. There is a special school group ticket rate of €10 with teachers attending for free.

Dates: 10am & 12pm, 25 May – 10 June 2022

For more information or to book, see barnstorm.ie/swansong/

Teacher-Artist Partnership (TAP) & Kids’ Own Publishing Partnership
Video resource

The Teacher-Artist Partnership (TAP) Programme in partnership with Kids’ Own Publishing Partnership are delighted to launch a video series developed as part of a special initiative aiming to support teacher-artist pairs in documenting and engaging collaboratively online.

This video resource explores 4 different questions: Why is the Teacher-Artist relationship important, why is it important to document your projects, what is the value of the arts in the classroom and lastly, what does a child-led process look like? The four videos feature the Teacher – Artist pairs who participated in the TAP Special Initiative Project which took place over 2021.

These videos form part of a wider programme facilitated by Kids’ Own Publishing Partnership. Participants took part in a 5-session online documentation training programme. These in-depth workshops covered topics such as what is creative documentation, digital tools for creative collaboration and documentation, documenting as part of your process, presenting your creative self and work and lastly, editing and curating your work.

Watch the videos here:

What does a child-led process look like: https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/706103042
What is the value of the arts in the classroom: https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/706105556
Why it is important to document your projects: https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/706107812
Why is the Teacher – Artist relationship important: https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/706110192

The Teacher-Artist pairs also took part in 6 mentoring sessions, choosing a mentor that best suited their project from a curated panel. During these mentoring sessions, the pairs got the chance to delve deep into their practice together, offering a space for reflection. The final element of the Special Initiative will consist of a digital publication sharing the learnings of this documentation training programme.

TAP Face-to-Face 2022 runs from Monday 4th July – Friday 8th July. The Teacher Artist Partnership Residency programme 2022 – 2023 will be available to eight participating schools in all 21 full-time Education Support Centres. Only schools whose teachers participated in the summer course 2022 will be eligible for a residency.

Register on your local full-time Education Support Centre’s website. See link to find your local Education Support Centre https://esci.ie/

Ulysses, Ulysses 2.2

This month in Branar we have been working on adapting Ulysses by James Joyce for children aged 7 to 12. This is a challenging project, but equally rewarding as we get to engage with the amazing text that Joyce wrote 100 years ago. We had to explore ways in which we could adapt that text to make it interesting and suitable for younger audiences.

The MOLI museum, Landmark Productions and ANU Productions created a yearlong celebration of the 100th anniversary of the printing of Ulysses, Ulysses 2.2. They commissioned 18 contemporary artists to respond to various episodes of the book using different art forms.

Obviously, Ulysses wasn’t written for young audiences and there is a lot of content, plots and subplots that are not really suitable for children. But there’s also a lot of magic in it, in its content, language and in the story, one city in one day, the 16th of June 1904.

We made the decision to follow Stephen Dedalus and Leopold Bloom, (the main characters) on their journey through the city during this summer’s day. They are two very different characters; one is sad mostly and thinks in poetry the other happier and thinks in short sharp thoughts. This allows the audience to clearly identify them as we travel through the day switching from character to character.

After reading the book I decided on the images that would best represent the action for each of the episodes, then working alongside my colleague and friend Maeve Clancy, paper artist, we decided on what those images would look like, and Maeve created a pop-up book version of Ulysses. The pop-ups are animated by performer Helen Gregg, who worked with me in the adaptation of the piece.

The pop-up book allows us to create new scenes quickly but also adds an element of magic and an element of surprise that will allow the children to really engage with the story and with the people within that story. There are 39 pop up images and two for each of the of the episodes, none of the pop ups work in the same way so there’s loads of visual content for the children to follow.

The text of the story is delivered brilliantly by Helen Gregg. Michael Chang, our composer, created a score that would complement all these elements. Adrian ferry, sound designer added a sound to the world and together with James Ryan who filmed it and we have created a film version of this pop-up story that will be available to schools nationwide they will be able to watch it and engage with the story and ultimately understand that Ulysses is a story about many many different characters in one city in one day.

The show is an invitation is to children two created their own story of their day on the 16th of June 1922 Bloomsday. All of these stories will be gathered by the MOLI museum and then they will be archived and the children will be able to access their stories online later in this year.

Kids’ Own Publishing Partnership
Deadline: 3 May 2022

Kids’ Own are seeking to appoint an Operations Manager and Project Manager to join their team in Sligo. See details below:

Operations Manager

Kids’ Own is now seeking to appoint an Operations Manager to support the smooth running of all of our operational activities.

Job Description:
Reporting directly to the CEO, the Operations Manager’s duties will include, but not be limited to, the following:

Governance Code compliance: Monitoring and supporting updates to, and implementation of, policies and procedures, in line with Charities Governance Code.
Company Secretary duties.
Management and monitoring of operational risk.
Responsible for data storage and management of all company databases.
Top-level administrative and filing duties.
Management of company calendar.
HR supports: Overseeing updates to the company staff handbook, filing of staff contracts and organising relevant training for staff members and associate artists.
Building oversight and maintenance.
Managing stock: Responsible for book storage, postage of book orders and other dissemination initiatives.
Publishing duties: Registering ISBNs, recording titles with Nielsen, sourcing print quotes—in collaboration with CD/CEO.
Some accountancy supports, where required.
Support company development, where required.

Terms: This is a part-time post, 3.5 days p/week. Fixed-term contract of one year, with a view to extension.

For full details go to kidsown.ie/job-opportunity-kids-own-seeks-operations-manager/

Project Manager

Kids’ Own has an exciting opportunity for an experienced individual to lead on the ongoing delivery of our collaborative initiatives with children and young people.

The Project Manager will report to the CEO and will work closely with our small team to support the delivery of our strategic aims through our projects and programmes with children and young people.

Key Responsibilities
The project manager’s duties will include, but not be limited to:

Plan and manage a diverse range of projects on an ongoing basis, in line with Kids’ Own strategic objectives.\
Co-ordinate and oversee all practical elements of project management, including:Scheduling planning and review meetings.
Appointing and contracting artists.
Working with partners to identify participant groups; or open recruitment.
Organising project details: dates, venue, materials and documentation methods.
Organising launch events for published outputs.
Issuing consent forms to participants in line with Kids’ Own’s Child Protection Policy.
Ensuring safeguarding procedures are strictly adhered to.
Responsibility for evaluation, and processing of outputs.
Draw on expertise and knowledge to support decision-making in relation to projects.
Work collaboratively with project artists, teachers and partners to ensure the smooth and timely running of projects.
Develop and maintain effective relationships with key partners and funders.
Support grant-writing for project income and submit activity reports to funders.
Manage project budgets, in collaboration with the Creative Director and Finance Officer.
Support marketing and publicity activities related to specific projects.

Terms: This is a part-time post, 3 days p/week. Fixed-term contract of one year, with a view to extension.

For full details go to kidsown.ie/job-opportunity-kids-own-seeks-project-manager-part-time/

Applications:
Candidates are requested to send a detailed CV and cover letter to:
Jo Holmwood, Creative Director of Kids’ Own, jo@kidsown.ie by Tuesday 3rd May at 5pm.

Class Dance!
Dates: 24 & 31 May, 7 & 14 June

Gain skills and confidence in putting dance ideas into practice with the children you work with. Join this new series of online workshops hosted by dance artist and teacher, Lisa Cliffe.

‘Class Dance’ is an online creative professional development programme for primary teachers and practitioners of all forms of dance working with children from ages 6 to 12. Together, participants will explore and share ways of engaging children creatively in dance. Perhaps you have an idea you would like to develop or you are looking for new inspiration? The four sessions are your opportunity to move, gain skills, celebrate creativity through dance and connect with your peers across the country. Working in small groups, participants will discover new approaches and build confidence in planning and delivering creative tasks and dance sessions.

The series is devised and facilitated by experienced dance artist and qualified primary school teacher Lisa Cliffe. Participants need to commit to all four online sessions, 7pm to 8:45pm on Tuesdays: 24th & 31st May, and 7th & 14th June. The closing date for registration of interest is May 19. Please note that places are limited. The research and development of this series of workshops has been funded through the Arts Council of Ireland.

Fee: €60

Read more about Lisa – www.danceireland.ie/members/directory/lisa-cahill

The Ark
Date: 4 May 2022

Calling all primary & preschool teachers! Join The Ark team for a cup of tea and learn more about their classroom resources and our Summer CPD courses.

The Ark are delighted to be able to welcome you back! This will be an informative and relaxed chat with like-minded teachers and the Ark team. There will be a short presentation by The Ark team highlighting the classroom packs and resources available which have been designed to complement the primary school curriculum. You will also get to hear about their exciting Teacher CPD Summer Courses on offer in-person at The Ark this year.

You’ll have plenty of time to chat and catch up with colleagues and The Ark team.

This event is free to attend but we do ask that you register your attendance.

For further information and to register go to ark.ie/events/view/teachers-afternoon-tea

Solstice Arts Centre
Dates: Thursday 26 May, 9:30am – 11am or 11:30am – 1pm

Solstice Arts Centre invites 1st – 6th class primary school students to this hands-on workshop which will focus on the contrasting painted artworks in their current exhibition ‘Golden Fleece: 21 Years’. Artist Claire Halpin will begin with a Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) tour of the gallery to engage students in peer-to-peer conversation on the multiple perspectives and themes explored by the exhibiting artists. Students will then have the opportunity to respond and engage in a range of artistic and creative techniques, including 2d and 3d drawing, layering and collage.

This multimedia approach to image making will be inspired by the aspects of everyday urban and domestic environments depicted in the works of Kathy Tynan, the controlled brushwork and cropping of his subject matter seen in Marcel Vidal’s triptych, the atmospheric paintings by Paul Hallahan, focusing on how we relate and interact with nature or the subtle depictions based on gender, class, and identity within Irish history in an artwork by artist Jennifer Trouton.

Curricular links made during this workshop will include oral and visual literacy, visual art appreciation, drawing, collage, colour, history, SESE, SPHE as well as problem solving and collaboration.

Dates: Thursday 26 May, 9:30am – 11am or 11:30am – 1pm

Workshops cost €3 per pupil. To book, see solsticeartscentre.ie/event/image-making-meaning-with-artist-claire-halpin or contact Deirdre at deirdre.rogers@solsticeartscentre.ie.

National Museum of Ireland – Country Life
Dates: 1 May to 30 June 2022

The Irish Architecture Foundation and the National Museum of Ireland invite you to Architects in Schools Exhibition. This is a national exhibition created by Transition Year students, teachers and architects responding to themes of Community, Sustainability and Home.

This exhibition features 2D drawings and 3D models and were made in workshops by young people, in collaboration with architects and teachers. The exhibits are displayed in different locations throughout the Museum. An exhibition map is available to guide you on this exhibition trail. There are a number of objects in the Irish Folklife collection that link to the exhibition themes so keep an eye out for them!

The National Museum of Ireland is facilitating Student Response Workshops in response to the Architects in Schools Exhibition. These school visits are an opportunity for students participating in Architects in Schools to meet each other and share their views and ideas. As part of their visit, they will participate in a workshop facilitated by an architect.

Dates: 1 May to 30 June 2022

For more information on the Architects in Schools Exhibition or to book your school slot on a Student Response Workshop, please see www.museum.ie/en-IE/Museums/Country-Life/Exhibitions/Architects-in-schools

Solstice Arts Centre
Dates: Until 4 June 2022

Solstice Arts Centre invites schools to explore artworks from over 40 artists and craftspeople in their current exhibition, ‘Golden Fleece: 21 Years’, using Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) to expand students’ thoughts on ‘what’s going on in these artworks’. Guided by Deirdre, our learning and engagement coordinator, students will be encouraged to engage in peer to peer discussion, and have the opportunity to focus and reflect on multiple perspectives, enhancing their engagement and enjoyment of learning through art. To conclude, students will learn about the artist or craftsperson who created the works, and may even be inspired to create artworks of their own!

Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) is a research-based teaching methodology VTS encourages oral and visual literacy, problem solving and positive collaborative interactions among peers. Based on the work of cognitive psychologist, Abigail Housen and veteran museum educator Philip Yenawine, VTS supports learner-centred thinking and feeling when looking at art objects.

Date & Time: Continues throughout the exhibition until 4 June 2022, various dates available (duration: 60 mins)

Ages: Primary 2nd – 6th class & Post Primary (all ages)

School Cost: Free, booking essential.

For more details and to book dates for your class group please contact Deirdre: deirdre.rogers@solsticeartscentre.ie

For further details go to solsticeartscentre.ie/event/school-gallery-tours-using-vts

The Ark
Date: 14 May 2022

Celebrate the beauty of Spring through this interactive dance workshop with The Ark’s John Coolahan Early Years Artist in Residence Monica Muñoz.
Meet Blossom, she is delighted that finally spring has arrived. Join her in a sensory movement adventure around a spring day: Hopping, skipping around flowers, leaping and jumping over rivers, meeting caterpillars and butterflies and touching the most perfect sky!

This delightful interactive dance workshop invites little ones and their grown-ups to enjoy imagining and moving together. So if you’re a parent, grandparent, uncle, aunty, godparent or carer, come along with a 2 to 4 year old and join in the fun.

Reminder: Please wear comfortable clothes

Date: 14 May 2022

For further information and to book go to ark.ie/events/view/bloom-bloom-interactive-early-years-dance-workshop

Dept of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
Deadline: 12 May 2022

The Dept of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media has launched a new and pioneering pilot scheme to support artists and creative arts workers. The Basic Income for the Arts pilot scheme will examine, over a 3 year period, the impact of a basic income on artists and creative arts workers. Payments of €325 per week will be made to 2,000 eligible artists and creative arts workers who will be selected at random and invited to take part.

The overarching objective of the scheme is to address the earnings instability that can be associated with the intermittent, periodic, and often project-based nature of work in the arts. The scheme will research the impact on artists and creative arts workers creative practice of providing the security of a basic income, thereby reducing income precarity.

Its intention is to research the impact a basic income would have on artists and creatives work patterns by providing the opportunity to focus on their practice, and to minimise the loss of skills from the arts as a result of the pandemic and to contribute to the sectors gradual regrowth post pandemic.

The delivery of the pilot is a key priority for Minister Catherine Martin, Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, to underpin the recovery in the arts and culture sector and provide much needed certainty to the artists and creatives who choose to avail of the pilot scheme.

The pilot scheme will be open to eligible artists and creative arts sector workers.

Deadline: 12 May 2022

To apply, see www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/09cf6-basic-income-for-the-arts-pilot-scheme/

The Portal Team are delighted to announce the second of the two recipients of the 2022 Arts in Education Portal Documentation Award. We are very excited to be working with each recipient in the coming months to document their projects. These projects will be showcased on the portal as the documentation progresses.

About the recipients….
Project title: ‘Finding the Common Thread’ International Teacher Artist Partnership Project

This project “Finding the Common Thread” is an International Teacher Artist Partnership (I-TAP) residency project between teacher Breeda Kenny and visual artist Vera McEvoy in collaboration with the 6th class pupils of St Kilian’s National School, Mullagh, Co Cavan.

This project will integrate aspects of the SESE Curriculum with the Arts Curriculum. This will be done by developing an innovative way of combining the pupils learning about the local bog environment with learning traditional lace making. This project will reinforce the work covered in the Primary Curriculum in the areas of English, Science, History and Geography. The processes that will be employed will include looking at the heritage of lace-making in the area and learning the particular stitches and techniques synonymous with Carrickmacross Lace. The pupils will be afforded opportunities to design patterns for their lace pieces based on their visit to the bog and their exploration of flora and fauna in this unique environment. Kinaesthetic and enquiry-based approaches will be used throughout the project to encourage critical thinking and innovation but more importantly to develop the pupils’ own individual creativity. The voice of the child will be paramount throughout the project.

The Portal Documentation Award will be an exciting opportunity for the pupils to create a record of their learning journey within the Arts curriculum through the creation of “Bog Books” incorporating sample lace pieces and the pupils own reflections on the process.

Artist: Vera McEvoy

Vera McEvoy is a Kildare based visual artist, educator and graduate of the National College of Art and Design, Dublin. Vera is a multidisciplinary artist working in collaborative and participatory art projects. She aspires to encourage more creativity in all ages, providing opportunities to explore, experiment and create using various art processes, techniques and materials. She is a lecturer in Visual Art Education, Froebel Dept. of Primary and Early Childhood Education, Maynooth University. Since 2019 she has been a member of the Helium Artist panel and a Creative Associate with the Creative Schools programme.

‘My partnership with Breeda has been of great benefit to my professional practice and development and to me personally. I am excited as I look forward to expanding our partnership as part of the Arts in Education Portal Documentation Award,’ Vera. See more of Vera’s work at www.veramcevoy.com

Teacher: Breeda Kenny

Breeda Kenny is Deputy Principal in St Kilian’s N.S., Mullagh, Co.Cavan. She currently teaches 6th Class. She is a graduate from Mary Immaculate College of Education. Breeda has always been interested in the arts, in particular Music. She has been responsible for the delivery of summer courses in this area in Monaghan Education Centre in the past. She has worked with Vera McEvoy since 2016 on the Teacher – Artist Partnership (TAP) course.

Breeda completed a M.Sc in Education and Training in DCU in 2013. The title of her dissertation was “How can I demonstrate the importance of the Creative Arts in my practice as a primary school teacher through the medium of video?” As part of her role as Deputy Principal, she is currently responsible for the development of the creative arts in St Kilian’s.

Arts in Education Portal

Date: Saturday, 7th May 2022

The Arts in Education Portal’s regional tour continues this spring with our first in-person event in 2 years! On Saturday, 7th May join us and our hosts at Kildare Education Support Centre for a series of discussions and creative workshops sharing experience and best practice from the sector in the Mid-East.

The programme for the day includes a presentation with artist Penelope Monaghan and Deirdre Rogers, Visual Arts Learning & Engagement Coordinator at Solstice Arts Centre sharing their experience on the recent BLAST project with Stackallen National School, Co.Meath, along with a panel discussion chaired by Jennifer Buggie, Teacher and Teacher-Artist Partnership (TAP) Lead Facilitator exploring the question ‘How do we ensure the voice of the child is heard?’ with panel speakers Dr Triona Stokes from the Froebel Department of Primary and Early Childhood Education, Maynooth University; Michelle Furlong, Portal Committee member and Creative Schools Manager with the Arts Council of Ireland and Mark Ball, Theatre-maker and Artistic Director of Super Paua.

In the afternoon join Kildare based photographer Brian Cregan for a hands-on practical session to explore composition, framing, apps and editing techniques to learn and improve photography skills using smartphones and tablets.

The morning discussions will be live streamed to ensure accessibility for those who cannot travel to the event in-person. In the afternoon for those joining us online a virtual creative workshop ‘What is left and what left to lose?’ will explore the Ardee Bog in County Louth and connections to land, place and nature with artist and writer Helen Flanagan on zoom.

Please note: ISL Interpretation will be available at the venue and online.

If you are joining us in-person or online book your place for this FREE event at www.eventbrite.ie/e/arts-in-education-portal-regional-day-mid-east-tickets.

Schedule

10:00am —registration & coffee

10.30am — Welcome

10:45am — The Portal: a brief introduction Emma Kavanagh, Kids’ Own Publishing Partnership (Portal Content Managers)

11:00am — Project Presentation ‘Creative Connections’: Visual Artist, Penelope Monaghan in conversation with Deirdre Rogers, Visual Arts Learning & Engagement Coordinator Solstice Arts Centre sharing their experience on the recent BLAST project with Stackallen National School, Co.Meath

11:45am— Panel Discussion: Dr Triona Stokes, Educator and Drama Practitioner with the Froebel Department of Primary and Early Childhood Education , Maynooth University; Michelle Furlong, Teacher and Creative Schools Manager with the Arts Council of Ireland; and theatre-maker, Mark Ball Artistic Director of Super Paua in conversation with Chair Jennifer Buggie, Teacher and Teacher-Artist Partnership Lead Facilitator.

1:00.pm — Q & A: whole panel of presenters

1:15pm —Lunch & networking

2.00pm — Hands-On Creative Workshops

In-person Creative Workshop: ‘Smartphone and Tablet Photography Skills’ with photographer Brian Cregan
Virtual Creative Workshop: ‘What is left and what left to lose?’ with artist and writer Helen Flanagan. Separate booking is required for this workshop as capacity is limited – Book here.

3:00pm—wrap up

For further information email events@artsineducation.ie.

Backstage Theatre
Date: 11am & 1pm, Friday 20 May 2022

Backstage Theatre invites primary schools to Lúminaria, a theatre show for ages 6+. With an array of wonderful characters played by three amazing actors, colourful puppets and original music, Lúminaria brings the audience on a whimsical journey into the unknown.

There is an emergency in the village of Lúminaria and only Lúna can save them. Join Lúna on an adventure into the sky as she tries to find the light to protect her mother and the villagers from darkness. As Lúna faces her deepest fears, we learn about courage, love and finding light in the darkest of moments.

Writer Fionnuala Gygax & Director Maisie Lee carried out a number of workshops with two local Longford schools in Lúminaria’s development stage, incorporating the childrens’ feedback into this imaginative show.

Date: 11am & 1pm, Friday 20 May 2022

Tickets cost €6. For more information or to book tickets, see backstage.ticketsolve.com/shows/1173621455

Hawk’s Well Theatre
Dates: Monday 25 or Tuesday 26 April 2022

Hawk’s Well Theatre is bringing Super Paua to Sligo to deliver three different in-person workshops in local primary and secondary schools. Super Paua is an Irish artist-led collective whose workshop programmes encourage young people to question what they know and how they’ve come to know it, creating space for them to harness their creative ideas and to come together to connect in a new way.

There are three workshops: ARTificial; Is Peace Possible? Zine Workshop; and Getting Lost- Ag Dul Ar Strae – Multilingual/Super Paua Stories Workshops.

ARTificial
This art and science workshop explores artificial intelligence, machine learning and fake news. Using practical, creative, and discussion based activities, Super Paua explore with the young people the impacts that technology and fake news have, and could have on our world and future.

Is Peace Possible? Zine Workshop
In 1957, Kathleen Lonsdale wrote her book Is Peace Possible? Kathleen was a pioneering chemist, crystallographer and activist who was extremely aware of the social and political impacts science can have. In this zine workshop, participants will develop your artistic and storytelling skills to create your own zines based on the question Lonsdale poses in the title of her book. What would peace look like to you? What do young people, scientists, artists and citizens need to engage with to make peace a possibility?

Getting Lost- Ag Dul Ar Strae
In this workshop, you will be playing with idioms and proverbs to create stories together, and to celebrate different languages (Irish, English and the other languages in your class!). Participants will use drama, images and conversation to create imaginative stories from unique poetic phrases in our native languages, chosen by the children. This workshop is based on Lara ar Strae from Scéalta Super Paua, a bilingual podcast for children.

Dates: Monday 25 or Tuesday 26 April 2022

For more information, visit www.hawkswell.com/events/event/super-paua-school-workshops. To book, call the Hawk’s Well Theatre box office on 071 9161518 (Mon – Fri 10am – 2pm) or email boxoffice@hawkswell.ie.

21 years of stories.

We are delighted to be celebrating our 21^st year of making work for children this year. We have the great privilege as arts to be allowed to create arts experiences for young citizens aged 0- 12 years. This privilege comes with a great responsibility also, because the day we meet a new audience member could be their first ever experience of the arts and it also could be their last.

Therefore, we must ensure that each and every artistic encounter we have with children is excellent, because we believe every child should have the best childhood possible and that excellent art made especially for them should be part of it.

We insist on calling our audience young citizen because as citizens they have the same rights as adults and therefore are entitled to every opportunity that an adult is entitled to.

Article 31 of the UN Convention on the Rights of The Child (1989) states that ..

“State parties shall respect and promote the right of the child to participate fully in cultural and artistic life and shall encourage the provision of appropriate and equal opportunities for cultural, artistic, recreational and leisure activity.”

The importance of arts and culture for children cannot be understated and it is this belief that is the core of what we do at Branar.

We love stories, and we promise to create stories that children can enjoy. Branar was founded 2 April 2001, with the aim of creating arts experiences for children so that they and their imagination may thrive. Over the years, we have created over 22 shows, working with an ensemble of exceptional artists and creative partners including The Ark, Baboró, NIE (England), Starcatchers (Scotland), and many leading Irish arts centres and festivals.

This year we have also launched Meitheal, our new support initiative for artists creating work for young audiences across the performing arts disciplines. With this initiative, we aim to help independent artists create exciting new work for young audiences.

Over the next few blog posts, we will be giving some behind the scenes sneak peaks into one of the projects the team will be working on in the coming months.

The Portal Team are delighted to announce the first of the two recipients of the 2022 Arts in Education Portal Documentation Award. We are very excited to be working with each recipient in the coming months to document their projects. These projects will be showcased on the portal as the documentation progresses.

About the recipients….
Project Title: ‘Music Makes Me Happy’ BLAST Project

This project began as a Creative Clusters Project between St Brigid’s National School, St Patrick’s Girls National School and St Patrick’s Boys National School in Limerick.

As part of the project, we engaged with the school self- Evaluation process and identified music as an area for improvement in all three schools in the cluster. We agreed that we would like to create more opportunities for our pupils to learn an instrument, listen to live music and perform. We connected with local musical groups such as Comhaltas, The BUG’s ukulele group, St John’s Brass and Reed Band and local musicians. We designed a programme of work for the year to include opportunities for the children to learn ukulele, tin whistle whilst also bringing live musicians to our schools. We also set up after school ukulele clubs for both pupils and staff. This was led by Robert Moloney, a teacher in St Brigid’s National School.

We worked collaboratively to identify a theme for the project. The overarching theme of the project is ‘Music Makes me Happy’. The focus of the project is on participation and enabling as many children as possible to actively engage with the project. Pupils were involved in the early stages of planning through our Student Council.

Pupil voice will be key to the BLAST project. This will be achieved in very real terms with pupils in 5th class composing a Music Makes Me Happy inspired anthem in conjunction with Fiona Linnane, our BLAST composer. A staff ukulele group has also been established between the cluster to ensure the longevity of the project can be sustained through teacher CPD. Wellbeing has been an added bonus with staff being inspired by the project and creating an overall sense of excitement and fun.

Creative Cluster Artists

The Creative Cluster project currently engages with two musicians namely Paula O’Regan, a connection made through Comhaltas and Mike Hogan, a connection made through The BUGS ukulele group. These musicians visit the three schools weekly to teach tin whistle and ukulele.

BLAST Artist: Fiona Linnane

Composer Fiona Linnane will be working with St Brigid’s National School as the association BLAST artist.

Fiona Linnane is a composer based in County Limerick. Fiona is a Teacher – Artist Partnership Programme trained Lead Artist and has been involved in Artist in Schools schemes for almost 20 years. Her workshops are enthusiastic, energetic and fun and aim to give students a new perspective on sound, music and composition.

Fiona was awarded the Limerick City and County Council Individual Arts Bursary in 2018 and 2019, for work in the field of opera and Art song. She is a recipient of the Arts Council of Ireland Music Bursary Award 2020 and has been commissioned by Opera Workshop supported by the Arts Council of Ireland Commissions Award 2020.

Fiona will be working on the composition aspect of the music curriculum with the pupils in Mrs Sinead Nihill’s 5th class to create a ‘Music Makes Me Happy’ inspired anthem. All of the pupils will be incorporated into the composition process in various ways including our ukulele and tin whistle classes as well as our Peace Proms group.

Teacher: Avril Cross

Avril Crosse is a primary school teacher in St Brigid’s National School, Singland, Limerick. She graduated from Mary Immaculate College in 2013 after completing a Bachelor or Education with a specialism in Gaeilge and has recently completed a Masters of Education in Educational Leadership and Management. Avril has always been interested in the creative arts and bringing learning to life; she tries to incorporate fun and playful learning experiences in the classroom including that of music. Avril is part of the staff ukulele group and can play the tin whistle and piano.

BLAST Artist: Chelsea Canavan

Chelsea Canavan is a Limerick based multidisciplinary artist interested in exploring ecological and naturalised belonging. Looking at invasive and naturalised plants as a way to challenge constructed narratives around globalised society within landscapes and nationalism. Chelsea received the Arts Council Agility Award 2021 to explore a practice drawn from kinships with invasive species through hyper-connected thinking similar to that of Anna Tsing, Timothy Morton, and Deleuze and Guarttari’s ‘Rhizome’ theory.

Chelsea is also involved in the Creative Schools Programme, Teacher-Artist Partnership Programme and BLAST Schools’ Project.

Chelsea Canavan will be working with St Patrick’s GNS as their associated BLAST artist.

Teacher & Creative Coordinator: Evelyn Hartigan

Evelyn Hartigan has been a teacher in a primary school setting since 1999. She has a keen interest in the Arts, and feels that exposing children to art in its many genres is a very important part of the curriculum. Currently teaching in SET and use various art forms weekly as a source of well-being for children with additional needs. Evelyn completed the Teacher-Artist Partnership project in 2019 which involved working with an artist where 2nd class learned all about the Ilen ship and signal flags. They designed and created their own flags, one which made it to a school in Madeira and another hangs in Limerick City Hall. Evelyn am currently involved in coordinating on both Creative Cluster and Blast projects at St Patrick’s Girls National School.

Teacher: Clare Farrell

Clare Farrell is the current fifth class teacher and Deputy Principal in St. Patrick’s Girls National School in Limerick. Clare have been teaching there since she graduated in 1999. She have always been interested in Art and using all strands of the art curriculum to enhance and promote, not only, creative thinking and expression in each student but also a love and appreciation for art in the world around us. “Allowing students to experience area of the curriculum permits opportunities for pride in their work, not limited by how well or not they can draw, write, or even complete mathematical equations. Art also allows the students exposure to personal expression and choice in a way that no other subject really does. Freedom of expression of personal choice and acceptance of difference of opinion is activity encouraged and developed in the looking and responding aspect of the curriculum. Having a real artist in the classroom encouraging and inspiring their ideas and work is an opportunity that cannot be underestimated”.

Highlanes Gallery
Dates: April – Nov 2022

Highlanes Gallery are offering both primary and post-primary school programmes running from April – November 2022 that engage your students with art & ideas.

The primary school programme involves 4 free sessions where teachers will explore art with your class, looking, thinking and making, focusing on Highlanes’ current exhibitions.

Facilitated by artist Claire Halpin, you and your class will visit Highlanes Gallery in-person in Session 1 to view the exhibition where Claire will use Visual Thinking Strategies methodology to activate reflection and discussion. Session 2 and 3 are practical and involve Claire visiting your classroom where you and your class group will work with ideas and materials liked with the exhibition. Session 4 concludes with a reflection and discussion session back in the gallery and with the other class groups (2) who will also have taken part in the programme.

Recent Acquisitions (Summer)
Wed 11th May Gallery Visit
Wed 18th May Classroom Session
Wed 25th May Classroom Session
Wed 1st June Gallery Feedback Session

Eithne Jordan Solo Exhibition (Autumn)
Wed 7th Sept Gallery Visit
Wed 14th Sept Classroom Session
Wed 21st Sept Classroom Session
Wed 28th Sept Gallery Feedback Session

Brian Fay – The Most Recent Forever (Winter)
Wed 12th Oct Gallery Visit
Wed 19th Oct Classroom Session
Wed 26th Oct Classroom Session
Wed 9th Nov Gallery Feedback Session

Also on offer are post-primary guided tours of Highlanes’ current exhibition ‘We are here’. This exhibition which was co-curated by a group of artist-art teachers and lecturers continues until 16th April. The guided tours will focus on the Leaving Cert Curriculum and/or other approaches that are of interest to your students.

Dates: April – Nov 2022

Both programmes plus materials are free to teachers and their students. To book your place, or get more information, please email Simon Colfer at info@highlanes.ie

RTÉ and Creative Ireland Programme
Deadline: 1 May 2022

Calling all artists of all abilities – This Is Art! Competition is back. RTÉ and Creative Ireland Programme are inviting artists aged 18 and under who live anywhere on the island of Ireland to create and submit an original piece of visual art with the theme ‘This Is Extraordinary’.

Snap or scan a digital version of the artwork and upload it, together with a brief artist statement, to an online art gallery where it will be shown for for generations to come.

There are five categories: Age 7 and under, age 8 – 11, age 12 – 15, age 16 – 18 and a group category. A prize fund of more than €10,000 will be awarded across the different categories for further education and art related vouchers. The competition aims to promote artistic practice among young people and encourage and support creativity, originality and self-expression. All visual art disciplines are welcomed.

Deadline: 1 May 2022

For further information go to: www.rte.ie/thisisart/competition

The Ark & Dublin Dance Festival
Date: 24 May

Explore how to use your creativity and inspire young audiences with dance artist Takeshi Matsumoto. The Ark and Dublin Dance Festival present a dance workshop for professionals interested in working with young audiences.

Join Takeshi Matsumoto for a workshop exploring a multi-disciplinary practice in working with and making performances for children and young audiences.

Combining contemporary dance, somatics, meditation and dance movement therapy practice, participants are invited to reconnect with their own senses, creativity and playfulness through dancing, drawing, reflecting and sharing.

This workshop is suitable for professional dancers and dance students interested in creating work for young audiences.

Tickets
This event is free but ticketed. Please register to attend via ark.ie/events/view/workshop-for-professionals-with-dance-artist-takeshi-matsumoto

Dates & Times
3.30pm-5pm, 24 May

For further information and booking go to ark.ie/events/view/workshop-for-professionals-with-dance-artist-takeshi-matsumoto

National Gallery of Ireland
Date: 4-5pm, 11 May 2022

National Gallery of Ireland invites teachers to an online CPD for Teachers: Mindfulness & Art. Join Maria Broderick, gallery tour guide and primary-school teacher, for a practical workshop that will equip you with tools and ideas for including mindfulness in the classroom.

The session will support teachers using the National Gallery of Ireland’s schools resource Art & Mindfulness, and will include peer learning via group work to enable you to develop cross-curricular creative strategies.

This is an online event via Zoom. A link will be sent via email to all ticketholders before the event. Booking closes an hour before the event is scheduled to begin.

Date: 4-5pm, 11 May 2022

For more information or to book, see www.nationalgallery.ie/whats-on/online-cpd-teachers-mindfulness-art#na

Creative Clusters
Deadline: 13 May 2022

The Minister for Education Norma Foley TD invites primary and post-primary schools across Ireland to apply for Creative Clusters, an initiative taking place as part of Creative Ireland and under the Schools Excellence Fund. The Department of Education’s budget for Creative Clusters in 2022 is €595,000.

Minister Foley said:

“This is a wonderful opportunity for schools to work together on a project of their choice. Schools are given complete freedom to design and develop their own project, with support from a local facilitator and their local education centre. I hope that this exciting initiative will help schools to further enhance creativity in their classrooms. It is important that our children are enabled to express themselves and learn to adapt and collaborate. ‘Creative Clusters’ gives students of all ages the opportunity to develop these essential skills, enjoy and explore artistic and creative expression.”

To date, the Creative Clusters initiative has seen schools around the country work together to develop creative projects and collaborate on new ideas based on their local experience and unique perspective. The Schools Excellence Fund of the Department of Education sets out to encourage and recognise excellence and innovation in our schools. This initiative will help deliver on the Creative Youth pillar of Creative Ireland, which sets out a commitment that every child in Ireland has practical access to tuition, experience and participation in music, drama, arts and coding.

Application Deadline: 13 May 2022

Each Creative Cluster will receive grant funding of €3,000 per school over a two-year period to implement their project in the 2022–2024 school years (e.g. a cluster of 3 schools would receive €9,000 over two years while a cluster of 5 schools would receive €15,000 over two years). Clusters will receive 50% of the total grant funding in Year 1, with the second 50% being provided in Year 2. In addition, but separate to the grant funding, all successful clusters are further supported with: A fully paid Creative Cluster Facilitator; paid Teacher Substitution to attend training and meetings; room hire, travel & subsistence.

Please see the following link for more details: Creative Clusters.

Schools can apply as part of a cluster which may be an existing network of schools.
A school nearing the end of year 2 of an existing Creative Cluster can reapply to be in a new cluster where the other schools in the new cluster have not participated before.
Schools nearing the end of 2 years with Creative Schools are eligible to apply.
The local Teacher Education Support Centre will have a key role in identifying and supporting a Creative Cluster for their local area.
A total of 21 Creative Clusters will be selected nationally – One successful Creative Cluster per Education Support Centre.

Applications should be sent to the local full-time Teacher Education Support Centre (list at Appendix 1 of Guidelines document on DoE website) or use this link Appendix 1.

Any queries, please contact your local Education Centre or email Arts in Education Administration artsineducation@edcentretralee.ie

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

Cork City Libraries and Ó Bhéal
Date: Wednesday 4 May 2022

Cork City Libraries and Ó Bhéal are delighted to announce the 18th edition of The Unfinished Book of Poetry (2022) features new poetry from transition-year writers representing five Cork schools. This edition will be launched at Cork City Library, Grand Parade, at 12pm, Wednesday 4th May 2022. All are welcome to attend and listen to these young writers read from their work.

Each year these student writers undergo a series of workshops led by established poets, over nine sessions. The workshops take place between November and March and the book is then launched by the Lord Mayor of Cork each year.

This year’s schools include Bishopstown Community School, Gaelcholáiste Mhuire, A.G., Mayfield Community School, St Aloysius School and Coláiste Chríost Rí.

Date: Wednesday 4 May 2022

Since 2005 over thirty writers have provided workshops for Transition Year students from over twenty Cork schools, with almost 700 young writers find their way into print. Ó Bhéal has been curating the project since 2012. To find out more about this project, see www.obheal.ie/blog/the-unfinished-book-of-poetry/

The Arts Council’s Creative Schools Initiative
Date: 9 – 13 May, 2022

Where does wondering happen in schools? When do students explore ‘What if’ questions? How is inspiration and imagination expressed? Creativity is developing and flourishing in all school environments. The Arts Council of Ireland is delighted to announce Creative Schools Week. This week provides a space in the calendar to recognise schools as centres of creativity, highlight those areas where creativity is at work, and give students an opportunity to share their creative exploits.

‘Creativity Lives Here’ is the theme for this year’s celebration. It presents an opportunity for school communities to pause and reflect on where creativity is evident in every class, in every department 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 creativity lives in each school.

The Creative Schools online programmes from the 2021 celebration provide a great snapshot of creative activities and events in a variety of school settings and age groups. These episodes are available to watch on www.artscouncil.ie/creative-schools/celebration-2021/

Date: 9 – 13 May, 2022

Creative Schools Week is open to every school. Schools will receive a brochure with lots of ideas and ways to become involved in the celebration. Creative Schools will send some updates in the weeks leading up to May 9th with further ideas for activities and information about how your schools can celebrate. To further information or to get involved, please contact creativeschools@artscouncil.ie

The Ark
Date: 12 March 2022

The Ark are delighted to announce this CPD workshop for teachers, were you will learn a range of easy, accessible skills which delve into the world of fabrics, textiles and the ways in which you can bring your learning into your classroom.

During this workshop, experienced arts educator and artist Carrie Lynam will discuss the building blocks needed for the delivery of the Fabric & Fibre and Construction strands of the visual arts curriculum. This workshop focuses on understanding the materials and tools needed for success and learning techniques that transfer to a busy classroom.

Often within the hustle and bustle of the classroom, the design process and preparation can become overlooked and focus can often lie on the finished products. This workshop will allow you to take the time to rediscover the importance of design research, experimentation and the creative process.

Attendees will explore the design process, discussing research, gathering stimuli, ideas for open ended experimentation with materials and the planning stages of creating an artwork. In this hands-on workshop participants will create their own unique samples to support in-classroom delivery.

Date & Time

Saturday 12 March at 10:30am to 12:30pm

Tickets

€15 (*€13.50 for ArkEd Members)

For further information and to book go to ark.ie/events/view/teachers-cpd-explore-make-respond

Arts in Education Portal Events
Date: Saturday, 7th May 2022

The Portal Team is delighted to invite teachers, artists and anyone with an interest in arts in education to save the date and join us for our first in-person event in two years! The Portal Spring Regional Day will take place on Saturday, 7th May 2022 at the Kildare Education Support Centre, showcasing arts in education projects and creative practice in the Mid-East.

This event will be live streamed to ensure accessibility and an online creative workshop will be available for our audience joining online.

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

Graffiti Theatre Company
Online workshop

Graffiti Theatre Company are delighted to present The Voyage, a new interactive theatre workshop for Primary classes (8+) and their teachers. This participatory well-being workshop offers an opportunity to reflect on the year gone by, and equips students and teachers with skills they may need for future change and transition.

Designed and developed by Graffiti’s Creative Learning team in consultation with educational psychotherapist Marie Delaney, The Voyage offers:

A pre-workshop discussion with a Creative Learning Team Member
Resource activities in preparation for the workshop
An interactive workshop for the class group, delivered online by Graffiti Theatre Creative Learning facilitators
Follow up resources for additional teacher-lead workshops

This workshop has been designed during Covid restrictions to address some of the anxiety and well being issues faced by young people associated with the pandemic. This workshop has been designed to be delivered virtually, and will continue to be offered online when restrictions are lifted.

How to book

The Voyage cost €250 per class and the interactive workshop element lasts for 60 minutes. To book, contact Julie on 021 437 9111 or at julie@graffiti.ie. For more information, see www.graffiti.ie/workshops/creative-learning/the-voyage/

Draíocht
Dates: 1-31 March 2022

To celebrate 25 years of World Book Day on March 3rd, Draíocht invites primary schools to this fun workshop which brings books to life.

Using themes of well-loved and known fairy-tales as a starting point, these workshops introduce students to the wonderful world of books through imaginative storytelling and fun collective group games. The workshops will explore ways of engaging the imagination, of thinking creatively, seeing, listening and expressing yourself through theatre games. Pupils will work together towards a common goal of creating a short performance based on stories they already know and giving them the opportunity to experience the creation of something from nothing!

The programme is offered on a first come first served basis and is restricted to schools within the Dublin 15 area. Cost per day €120. All materials are provided. Subject to artist availability, this subsidised workshop price is limited to two days per school.

Dates: 1-31 March 2022

Workshops can take place from 1-31 March 2022 on a date of your choosing. Closing date for Bookings is 11 March 2022. For further details please see www.draiocht.ie/whats-on/bringing-books-to-life

National Print Museum
Ongoing

The National Print Museum offer a fun and interactive Mini Printer and Storytelling Workshop for pre-school/early Montessori groups. These workshops are most suitable for children aged from 3 – 5 years old.

The workshop takes place in the Museum’s Education Area, which is prepared for the children before their arrival. Children first join a storyteller who, using props and involving the children throughout, will read a fun and engaging story from the Museum’s Junior Library. The aim is that all stories are linked in some way to printing, books, museums or libraries.

Once the storytelling session is complete, children will don a mini apron and using crayons and ink stampers decorate their very own printer’s hat. Children are free to move around the Education Area to choose the items with which to decorate their hat. Once complete children become qualified mini printers!

How to book

The workshop is 45 minutes in duration and can accommodate up to 24 children. There must be a minimum of 10 children in the group and the National Print Museum require at least 1 adult per 4 children visiting. The cost per child is €2.00 and all leaders/ teachers go free. To make a booking for a pre-school visit please see www.nationalprintmuseum.ie/education/schools/preschool/ or contact the Education Officer education@nationalprintmuseum.ie.

Minister Martin announces government decision to extend Creative Ireland, the culture and wellbeing programme that transforms people, places and communities through creativity. Committed to the vision that everyone should have the chance to realise their creative potential to the full, the innovative all-of-government culture and wellbeing programme will be extended, in principle, for five more years until 2027.

In 2017, Creative Ireland was launched as an all-of-government culture and wellbeing programme committed to the vision that every person should have the opportunity to realise their full creative potential. Established as a legacy initiative of the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme, it is the only programme of its kind in the world.

The founding vision of the programme is that creativity must be at the heart of public policy and that participation in cultural and creative activity promotes the wellbeing of the individual, the community and the nation at large. Creative Ireland collaborates across government and with arts, community and voluntary organisations to deploy creativity as a strategy for wellbeing, social cohesion and economic success.

Alongside its very successful Creative Youth initiative, the programme’s Creative Communities partnership with the 31 local authorities, and their delivery of over 5,700 creative projects to date, has been key to enabling community-led nationwide engagement.

Minister Martin said:

“I warmly welcome the Government’s decision to implement the all-of-government Creative Ireland Programme for another five years, and to work with me in the coming months to develop its framework. This programme has been innovative and effective in delivering the opportunity for people to explore their creative potential. Key initiatives such as Cruinniú na nÓg and Creative Schools have become embedded in the country’s cultural infrastructure. New projects that respond to contemporary social issues such as climate action and loneliness have emerged. With the support of my Cabinet colleagues, I look forward to developing a Creative Ireland Programme that will continue to enhance people’s lives in the coming years.”

The Government’s decision in principle will be for the Creative Ireland Programme to continue for a further five years, encompassing the period 2023-2027, and to focus on the following areas:
I. Creative Youth;
II. Creative Communities;
III. Creative Industries;
IV. Creative Health and Wellbeing; and
V. Creative Climate Action and Sustainability.

It is anticipated that a final framework of Clár Éire Ildánach/Creative Ireland Programme 2023-2027 will be brought to Government for its final agreement in Autumn 2022 prior to its publication, launch and implementation on an all-of-government basis.

For more see www.creativeireland.gov.ie/en/news/creative-ireland-programme-extended-to-2027/

Mayo County Council Arts Service & Kids’ Own Publishing
Primary school resource

A Splash of Blue is a Schools Exhibition and classroom resource available on loan from Mayo County Council Arts Service to primary schools in County Mayo. The artworks in the exhibition are part of the Mayo County Council Collection and are by artists from or living in Mayo, or who had an exhibition in the county.

A Splash of Blue is an initiative of Mayo County Council Arts Service in collaboration with Kids’ Own Publishing and was developed to make the collection accessible to schools and show children how to explore artworks through looking, thinking, talking and responding in creative ways such as art, writing, music and more.

The collection and accompanying resource A Splash of Blue is available now to tour to schools in County Mayo. This booklet is jam packed with children’s thoughts and ideas on how to engage with the artworks in a fun way while they are at your school. So now you can become a creative explorer too and use this booklet to support you on your journey of discovery of the Schools Exhibition.

If you would like your school to become a creative explorer and to use ‘A Splash of Blue’ to support you on your journey of discovery of the Schools Exhibition, simply email mayoarts@mayococo.ie or call 09490 64666 to arrange a tour of the collection to your school.

For more information see: www.mayo.ie/arts/programme/youth-art/schools-exhibition

Solstice Arts Centre
Dates: 10:00 – 11:30 & 13:00-14:30, 16 February 2022

Solstice Arts Centre invites 1st – 6th class students to a guided tour and creative workshop using their latest exhibition ‘There is a forest in my backyard but my house is built from trees grown far away’ as a starting point.

Seeing architecture as a collaboration between humans and the environment, as co-organisms, WE ARE HERE will question if the structures we build can mimic how bees form their hives, a tree generates rings with each year, or a forest continually regenerates itself as a home for other organisms. Can a building be alive, breathing, growing, responsive, rather than something static and monumental? And what could this mean for the wellbeing of the people who use them and the wellbeing of our planet?

Following a tour of the exhibition, artist Anne Cradden will lead students through processes of experimentation with raw wood and plant products such as branches and twigs, as well as materials processed from wood and plants such as cardboard, paper, pulp forms, charcoal, MDF, wood chips and hessian. Thinking of building as a continually ongoing process rather than something with a predefined start and a final product, students will see what forms make-up their ideas before considering how humans can best use these structures. This workshop will touch on a broad range of cross-curricular topics including design, construction, mathematics, language, literacy, SESE, sustainability and co-operation.

Dates: 10:00 – 11:30 & 13:00-14:30, 16 February 2022

For more information and to book, see: solsticeartscentre.ie/event/we-are-here

Creativity and Change, Crawford College of Art & Design
Various dates

Creativity and Change Deep Dives are an opportunity for inspirational, intensive and in depth creative engagement over two days. Delivered by facilitators with specific expertise and experience, the programme is designed around the identified gaps and expressed interests of practitioners. Each creative workshop is a deep dive into a specific method that can be used to explore change-making, global citizenship and social justice.

These masterclasses explore a wide range of creative methods of storytelling, visual communication, podcasting, street art, drama and more. Masterclasses include:

1. The Story of Self with Clare Mulvany: Craft a compelling leadership story for social change
Sat 12th and Sun 13th of March
Cost €60

2. Visual Facilitation for Global Citizenship Education with Eimear Mc Nally
Sat 26th and Sun 27th March
Cost €60

3. Art + Activism = Artivism with Helen O Keeffe & Claire Coughlan
Sat 2nd and Sun 3rd April
Cost €60

4. Podcasting with Ainle ó Cairealláin from Rebel Matters Podcast
Sat 9th and Sun 10th April
Cost €60

5. Theatre of the Oppressed & Forum Theatre with Julian Boal
(Yes! That Boal!)
Friday 22nd, Saturday 23rd & Sunday 24th April
Cost €150

For more information on these creative workshops, see www.creativityandchange.ie/deep-dives/

Tipperary County Council Arts Office
Deadline: Friday 18 February 2022

Applications are now open for Tipperary Arts Office‘s Artist in Primary School Scheme 2022. The scheme provides funding to a professional artist of any discipline to work in a school for 50 hours on a project designed collaboratively between the school and the artist. The scheme provides opportunities for children to access and to engage with an artist and the language of creativity at an early age; and for schools and teachers to work collaboratively across curriculum areas.

Projects funded in 2022 must take place within the following timeframes: March – June 2022 or September–December 2022. This scheme is open to applications from all primary schools in Tipperary. Please note that schools that have been successful in their application for the scheme in 2020 and 2021 are ineligible to apply under the 2022 scheme. Artists must be Garda Vetted by the Arts Office before projects can commence.

The scheme is open to art projects in all art forms including visual arts, music, dance, drama, literature, film, photography, architecture and new media.

Deadline: Friday 18 February 2022

For more information, see www.tipperarycoco.ie/content/artist-primary-school-scheme-2022

Now it’s your turn! Here is a new toolkit to get you started

I am sure that by now, after reading previous blogs, you are ready to embark on a multilingual journey!

In this last blog I would like to share with you some practical tools and ideas that you can use and adapt to your environment.

Multilingualism in your day to day practice

If you are interested in shifting towards a multilingual approach, you will find many ideas for whole school approaches in One school, Many Languages, an interactive repository of resources, from blogs, to lesson plans, videos and podcasts, as well as articles based on the latest research and best practice from around Europe.

A fantastic example of some of these ideas put into practice can be found on the St.Mary’s Primary School website.

Celebrating multilingualism

As we approach International Mother Language Day, we can all get creative and imagine new ways to celebrate multilingualism with our children and our community. International Mother Language Day is a celebration marked by UNESCO on 21st February to highlight the importance of cultural and linguistic diversity for sustainable societies to foster tolerance and respect for others. All over Ireland, people are now getting ready to mark the day on 21st February, and using this toolkit you can get involved too!

Toolkit – mothertongues.ie/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/IMLD_lang_garden_up.pdf

Ideas shared by teachers

Here is a list of ideas shared by teachers on how to create a special celebration around multilingualism. Of course, these can work any time of the year, and you could turn some of these into regular events!

A storytelling session where parents/grandparents tell stories in their mother tongue
A podcast showcasing everyone’s language
A blog to highlight the importance of International Mother Language Day
An activity to reflect on words that are difficult to pronounce or on the pronunciation of names
An activity around idioms or metaphors from around the world
A child-led survey of languages spoken in the school
Translating school signage in all the languages of the children
A multilingual mural with words in many languages
A video or written piece where children tell a story about their language, where it comes from, facts and figure

I hope that these blogs have brought you to think in a new way about languages and multilingualism!

Read the previous blogs in this commissioned series by Dr Francesca La Morgia here.

Chester Beatty
Online resource

The Chester Beatty Learning and Education Department has collaborated with the Junior Cycle Religious Education Team and co-produced a number of learning resources for the RE curriculum, using artworks from their multi-faith collections as a starting point.

This collaboration is the result of the museum’s research and development of its intercultural school’s programme (launched in March 2020).

Teachers of the Junior Cycle RE curriculum attended an onsite CPD in March 2020 exploring how to work with the Chester Beatty multi-faith collections. Participants learned about key faiths with an object based handling session (OBL) looking at every day faith-based objects.

The Chester Beatty launched an updated website in December 2021. It features a new School’s page chesterbeatty.ie/learning/schools-page/ including a tailor-made section for the Junior Cycle Religious Education Curriculum. Teachers and students can learn about various aspects of the new curriculum through the incredible Islamic, East Asian and European collections with particular focus on key areas including developing knowledge, understanding, skills, attitudes and values to enable young people to come to an understanding of religion and its relevance to life, relationships, society and the wider world. The course is built around three interconnecting strands: Expressing Beliefs, Exploring Questions and Living our Values.

Teachers and students can find Ways of Seeing II – a resource that looks at key faiths as reflected in the Chester Beatty collection as well as in Ireland and Northern Ireland chesterbeatty.ie/assets/uploads/2021/10/CBL_WaysofSeeing2_Junior_Cycle_RE_Resource.pdf

Originally co-produced with the Intercultural Education Service of Northern Ireland and Ulster Museum, the updated resource is in line with the new Junior Cycle Religious Education Curriculum.

Ways of Seeing II is best used with these teacher-friendly PowerPoints and focus on themes including Journeys: Islam, Celebrations: Hinduism, Parables: Christianity, Migration: Judaism, Lifestyle in the Past: Ancient Egypt and Creation: Similarities between Islam, Christianity and Judaism, see chesterbeatty.ie/learning/schools-page/junior-cycle-religious-education/2-3-stories-narratives-religious-non-religious/.

For further information and to access resource go to chesterbeatty.ie/learning/schools-page/.

The Playhouse
Deadline: 5pm, Thursday 3 February 2022

The Playhouse is seeking an Education Officer. The Education Officer will work with the Head of Engagement and the wider Engagement Team to support learning and participation work in formal and informal settings and in the organisation’s role as an Open College Network Centre.

This is a part time role (2.5 days per week) in which you will help to ensure that The Playhouse develop pathways for people of all ages and abilities to engage in creative learning and participation.

The ideal candidate will be someone passionate about the value of education and motivated by engaging people in the learning that matters to them. You will understand and believe in a cultural democracy, in the value of the arts as part of our everyday lives and as a force for good in the world.

Deadline: 5pm, Thursday 3 February 2022

For more information on how to apply for the role of Education Officer, please see www.derryplayhouse.co.uk/vacancies

The National Gallery of Ireland
Deadline: 18 February 2022

Following a successful programme in 2021, the National Gallery of Ireland is delighted to bring art to classrooms across the country again this year with Your Gallery at School, an innovative education initiative.

Your Gallery at School aims to break down the barriers that prevent engagement with the arts through holistic programming that ensures children transition to adulthood equipped with the life-changing benefits of art. They also aim to build in students a sense of ownership of their National Gallery so they have a positive place to turn to in adulthood. Engagement occurs in three key strands: learning through and about art, wellbeing, and creative careers.

Over the course of 2022–23, they will work with schools who would not usually be able to visit the Gallery. Participating schools will be selected via an open application process.

Selected schools will not have visited the Gallery in the past three years and will be from one or more of three key groups:

DEIS schools to address socio-economic barriers to accessing culture.
Boys’ schools to address the gender barrier to accessing culture.
Schools geographically far away (over 2 hours away from Dublin) to address the geographic barrier to accessing culture.

There will be two windows of opportunity for primary and post-primary schools to apply, giving schools the option to choose what time of year suits them best to take part:

Round 1 applications accepted 24 January–18 February 2022 (workshops take place March–October 2022)
Round 2 applications accepted 29 August–15 September 2022 (workshops take place November 2022–June 2023)

The deadline to apply for Round 1 is 18 February 2022.

For further information and to access the application form go to https://www.nationalgallery.ie/explore-and-learn/schools/your-gallery-school.

Or contact Catherine O’Donnell on 087 6436310 or codonnell@ngi.ie

Bell Table
Date: 12pm, 23 February 2022

Bell Table invites primary schools to ‘Science Magic Show’. Triple award-winning Irish comedian & scientist, Donal Vaughan, brings his hugely popular science and comedy show to Belltable this February. In Science Magic Show, using only things you find around the house, Donal will perform amazing tricks to show how magical science can be. Want to see a potato rocket launcher? Or conjure dragons breath? How about a vomiting unicorn? Of course you do.

Ticket price per student is €8. Book your school via box office only.

Date: 12pm, 23 February 2022

For more information, see limetreetheatre.ie/events/science-magic-show/

Ireland’s National School Photography Awards
Deadline: 12am, 9 May 2022

The INSPA’s are once again open to all Primary Schools in the Republic of Ireland. INSPA is a national children’s photography competition and Positive Primaries Programme which introduces Creative Well-being into the lives of primary schools by engaging with the magic and art of photography.

This year’s theme ‘Me, Myself, and I’ is looking for images that explore ‘Self-Portraits’ in new and imaginative ways. Therefore, INSPA reminds schools that a ‘Self-Portrait’ is not necessarily a ‘Selfie’ and can incorporate many different things such as, objects, activities, and environments.

To help you along the way, INSPA have developed a 5 step Positive Primaries Programme which includes a series of free Creative Wellbeing Activities, all designed by professional artists and qualified mental health first-aiders. These will help you integrate the camera into your school-day and allow the children to explore Creative Wellbeing in their own unique ways. Once you activate your school account, you will be able to upload your school activities, share ideas and engage with other Positive Primaries as they prepare to enter the awards.

The INSPA’s are having a massive impact in classrooms nationwide, helping to boost the well-being of students by simply integrating the camera into your school day. Participating in the awards helps your students increase their Confidence, Resilience, Connection, Kindness and Readiness. It also gives a platform for teachers to creatively explore their wider curriculum, allowing students from all backgrounds to actively engage with subjects in new and exciting ways.

This year, the awards are offering a range of fantastic prizes for the whole school community including; Weekend breaks away to the Amber Springs Resort Hotel, free Instax cameras and printers, Positive Portrait fundraising days, certificates and of course your schools Positive Primaries Flag. All entries will be judged by a national panel including Joe McKeown (INTO President), Enda Bowe (Photographer for Normal People and winner of the Zurich Portrait Prize), Brian O’Doherty (IPPN President), Fiona Foreman (Author and Teacher-Trainer), Majella McAllister (CEO The Museum of Childhood), and Richard Carr (Artist and Founder of INSPA).

Deadline: 12am, 9 May 2022

For more information and to register, see www.inspa.ie

Linenhall Arts Centre
Date: 10:15am, Tuesday 22 February 2022

Linenhall Arts Centre invites your school to ‘Wire, Strings & Other Things’. This music performance encourages you to always be curious. To listen, respond to and communicate through the sounds, music and stories that are all around you – wherever you are and whoever you are with.

Meet Ed, Andrea and James, three totally different people with one thing in common – they are crazy about music and sound. Anything can happen as they find each other and start to invent music together. What stories will they share when, with your help, they explore the magic and mystery of how to compose, perform and improvise?

Perfect for all primary school classes, Wires, Strings and Other Things links in with the Listening and Responding strand units of the Music curriculum. It fosters a sense of excellence in and appreciation of new music. Through storytelling and composing, this show encourages an awareness and sensitivity to the inter-related elements of music and musical understanding. Experiencing this live music performance means children will see and hear outstanding musicians performing brand new music on a range of instruments including the viola, bass clarinet and improvised musical instruments made from a variety of objects.

Date: 10:15am, Tuesday 22 February 2022

Suitable for students ages 6 and up. Pre-booking essential.
For more information, see thelinenhall.ticketsolve.com/shows/873630591

Solstice Arts Centre
Available Online

Solstice Arts Centre are proud to present A-do-le-TA! This highly imaginative piece shows a day in the life of two friends. Joy and Sky are in a world where everything is possible – a tent can be a crab, an umbrella can be a cloud and the moon can sing! Through play, two friends overcome differences and together imagine, create and expand their reality and yours.

Enjoy a screening of the show in your classroom and continue the fun with their colourful and interactive AdoleTA! Play Packs. Each child/teacher will receive their own Play Pack with a link to a short video to watch after the show, where artist Selma Daniel demonstrates some of the fun activities for you to do. The activities include cutting out, sticking, movement and slow dance, all encouraging children to use their fine and gross motor skills.

The performance is based on the importance of play, especially free play during early childhood. It explores the fine line between the contemporary life, where electronic play has a huge role, and the natural instinctive play deep-rooted in human nature. Although digital media and technology have benefits, excessive use of electronic media can have a negative impact on wellbeing and mental health.

Available Online

Good internet access is required. A-do-le-TA! video is 45 minutes.
For bookings, further information and pricing, see solsticeartscentre.ie/event/a-do-le-ta-digital

Dublin City Council & RHA Gallery
Deadline: 12pm, 28 January 2022

Dublin City Council, in collaboration with and curated by RHA Gallery, invites submissions for its 3rd Visual Arts Exhibition Commission to be created for children, schools and families, which will be located in an exhibition room in Ballyfermot Library for 8-12 weeks in the Autumn of 2022. Dublin City Creative Hubs initiative, in collaboration with RHA, seeks to commission an engaging Visual Arts Exhibition for children that will stimulate both their curiosity and imagination and meets the following:

1. Provide children (both within and outside of school contexts) with a quality experience of Visual Arts.
2. Take cognisance of the library setting and the location of Ballyfermot.
3. Be appropriately cognisant of the needs, interests, real or imaginative lives of the target age group attending the Visual Arts Exhibition. (The age group identified can be jointly agreed between the Arts Office and the commission recipient(s) but must be under 12 years of age.
4. Be innovative in its approach and utilise the resources of its surroundings to deliver a quality artistic experience to its audience.
5. As part of the award, the successful candidate(s) will be expected to contribute to and help inform an engaging exhibition education and learning programme.

The Visual Art Exhibition Commission Award of €8500 is for research and delivery of commissioned works for exhibition. Technical support for installation will be provided by the RHA Gallery. A separate budget will be allocated for the associated education and learning programme that will take place with Primary School Children and family audiences across the 8 week term of the exhibition. This may involve additional artists as facilitators.

Deadline: 12pm, 28 January 2022

For more information, see mailchi.mp/dublincity/creative-hubs-1375478

Mother Tongues
Date: 10-12:30, Friday 28 January 2022

Mother Tongues is offering an interactive online course ‘Bridging Language Barriers and Building Connection’. In this masterclass, participants will learn about linguistically and culturally responsive strategies that will help them to bridge language barriers and build connections in their work. During the session, participants will get to draft their own language strategy. This course is designed for individuals working in organisations that provide Artistic and Cultural experiences to the public.

Some of the topics covered will include:
– Understanding the types of language and communication barriers and challenges
– Identifying and addressing relevant language and communication barriers
– Building your own inclusive language and communication action plan

Date: 10-12:30, Friday 28 January 2022

About the training:
The course is delivered via Zoom. Participants will take part in group discussions and will be guided through the steps to build their inclusive language and communication plan. All participants receive a certificate of attendance. Cost: €150.

For more information, see discover.mothertongues.ie/shop/courses/bridging-language-barriers-and-building-connection/?mc_cid=dcb2794f78&mc_eid=8a08f8cb24

The Hunt Museum

Deadline: 4pm, January 26th 2022

The Hunt Museum are looking for a self-motivated, collaborative and efficient individual to take on the role of Public Engagement Coordinator for the ‘The Three Muses’ Joint Education programme. They will be required to consolidate, innovate and grow the reach and impact of this visual arts programme which engages primary school aged children from across Limerick with collections at the Hunt Museum, Limerick Museum and Limerick City Gallery of Art.

Are you excited by the unlimited potential the pooling of these collections offers for curriculum linked and creative learning with children? If you have excellent project management, facilitation and administration skills and enjoy working in a busy and creative environment, this role might well suit you. This contract is full time and for two years (subject to funding).

The Public Engagement Coordinator role has three key areas of responsibility:

Programme development and coordination including developing new curriculum linked resources (digital and non-digital), coordination and facilitation of blended learning opportunities with Limerick schools.
Partnership Management, including all related administration.
Promotion of the programme, its resources and results including the preparation and circulation of online publicity materials and networking in the community.

The successful candidate will work across the three partner institutions and with primary schools from across Limerick. A priority area is engaging new schools who have not previously participated in the programme. Given the ongoing challenges presented by Covid 19, the successful candidate will be required to find new ways to deliver online and digital engagement with schools. On this basis, applications from those with excellent IT skills and some knowledge of gamification for learning and open-source learning are particularly welcomed.

Deadline: 4pm, January 26th 2022

For a full job description or to apply, see https://www.huntmuseum.com/about/opportunities/vacancies/three-muses-public-engagement-coordinator/

Deadline: 25 February 2022

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 a key component within arts in education initiatives.

Two awards will be offered through this opportunity.

The process will involve meetings with the Portal Team and a schedule of up to 3 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 work closely with the recipients to ensure all restrictions and protocols in terms of COVID 19 are adhered to during the process to ensure safety for all involved.

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 sited 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:

Have started in autumn 2021 and continuing into 2022, or taking place in 2022. Please note if selected filming of engagement sessions will take place after 21st March 2022.
Have a minimum duration of 8 weeks.
Involve a professional artist working collaboratively within an educational setting (early years, primary or post-primary).
Be underpinned by a strong ethos of collaboration and a commitment to excellence. Focus on the creative process, with children having an active and collaborative role

Additional criteria

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

How to make a submission:

Background on who you are; your professional practice and your ethos or approach towards Arts in Education.
An overview of the project – who is involved, how did the collaboration come about, what processes or approaches will take place, what is the aim or focus of the process?
A statement of interest, explaining why documentation supports would be of value to this project.

Please send your submission to: editor@artsineducation.ie by 5pm, Friday 25 February 2022.

Building and touring the Interactive Museum of Languages for Young Audiences

There is a widespread belief that multilingualism is rare or special and that the norm is speaking only one language. This is far from true. There are more people in the world who speak more than one language than there are monolinguals.

It is often difficult to explain what it is like to have a language inside your mind that is “speaking to you”, that wants to emerge, but that has to stay silent. For years bilingual children in schools have silenced one of their languages (or more) to focus on the language of instruction, and this is something that will speak to Irish speakers all over the country.

This is what made me want to create a visual representation of multiple languages, which are normally invisible and intangible, but are present in our lives.

While this idea of creating a physical piece to increase visibility of languages and act as a starting point for discussion had been floating in my mind for a long time, but it was only a commission from South Dublin County Council Arts Office for Cruinniú na nOg that sparked my interest in pursuing it further. At the time there were several restrictions associated with Covid19, so a touring museum of languages seemed to be the right way to reach children in schools at a time of severe restrictions.

Creating IMLYA

The artist who was ready for the challenge was Tomasz Madajczak, who understood immediately the scope of the project and the potential impact it could have on all children.

Tomasz named his creation IMLYA, the Interactive Museum of Languages for Young Audiences.

Here you can hear Tomasz sharing a message for the children who are about to explore the museum.

In this video Tomasz talks about the different components of the museum.

Touring IMLYA

The museum started touring in May 2021 and has so far reached thousands of children in different parts of Ireland who have engaged with it in their own school, library or arts centre.

Through a collaboration with Wexford library, IMLYA recently visited children in schools across Wexford county and through the skilled facilitation of artist Fernanda Ferrari children created fantastic multilingual books that were then displayed in Wexford library and exhibited for all children, families and other visitors to enjoy. There is something quite magical about IMLYA, and children are immediately drawn to it, they want to touch it and play with it. There is also a very deep connection that children see in some of the pieces, as they remind them of their parents’ languages, of writing systems they see when they visit their family abroad, of sounds that “sound like home”. As an adult, I also am drawn to IMLYA and I see something new every time I look. There is a video of Tomasz himself telling a story in Polish, a poem by film-maker Jijo Sebastian in Malayalam, a fairytale told by artist Fernanda Ferrari in Brazilian Portuguese… so many people have contributed their knowledge, expertise, words and sounds, that IMLYA carries a very special meaning to me and my hope is that it will continue to inspire children around Ireland to be curious about languages and cultures.

Watch out for the next and last blog, where we will be extending an invitation to Celebrate UNESCO International Mother Language Day together!

The Glucksman & First Fortnight Festival

Date: 15 January 2022

Join artist Inma Pavon and University College Cork students for a live participatory performance as part of the First Fortnight Festival.

Art Movements is a newly commissioned performance by Inma Pavon that will premiere as part of the First Fortnight Festival. The performance will invite an online audience to participate wherever they may be. If you are sitting in your office, at the kitchen table or in your bedroom, you too can join the artists and students from University College Cork in this unique event. A set of instructions, information on the project and further details on the event will be emailed to all participants.

In Autumn 2021, the Glucksman art museum in UCC invited university students to participate in a project that would result in the commissioning of a new artwork for the University Art Collection. The project saw students work with artist Inma Pavon over a series of workshops designed to explore mental health. Together they creatively examined aspects of wellbeing, recovery, awareness, and the challenges facing people today. The workshops included discussions, talks, field trips and practical movement and creative sessions enabling different conversations to emerge. These conversations and the content of the workshops have influenced the artist to create a performance titled Art Movements which will be premiered as part of the First Fortnight Festival in 2022.

The performance will be accompanied by the creation of a set of photographs and film documentation which will be accessioned into the university art collection before being disseminated widely to facilitate further discussions amongst the university community, and wider national and international audiences.

Time: Online 2pm – 2:30pm

To register for this event go to www.eventbrite.ie/e/art-movements-tickets-222617844967

Irish Film Institute (IFI)

The Irish Film Institute launches its comprehensive 2021/2022 IFI Schools’ Programme. This year’s programme offers screenings in cinema and also online, on the platform IFI@Schools. Choose from brand new titles for Modern Foreign Languages, prescribed English titles, Irish films, and much more!

The ever-popular Modern Foreign Languages strand, encompassing French, German and Spanish are an invaluable way of promoting language and culture. Included in the 2021/2022 German selection is films Cleo, Zu weit Weg, Das freiwillige Jahr, and Nachtwald which are presented in partnership with the Goethe-Institut Irland. Screenings for the French language selection includes Petit Pays, Gagarine, Man Up!, and Fahim in partnership with the French Cultural Service.

If you can’t get to IFI or one of our partner venues, you can stream the majority of the films on the Schools’ Programme 2021-22 on IFI@Schools. For more information about the streaming platform go to ifi.ie/learn/ifischools-about.

Download the the full 2021/2022 IFI Schools’ Programme at ifi.ie/learn/schools

Or for more information please contact schools@irishfilm.ie.

Baboró International Arts Festival for Children

Deadline: 30 January 2022

Calling creators from underrepresented communities who have passion and curiosity for making theatre for young audiences! Applications open now for LEAP!

LEAP is a four day, paid workshop and community-building project open for creatives from underrepresented, ethnically diverse communities or migrant backgrounds. Facilitated by Moonfish Theatre practitioners, the workshop will encourage participants to share and exchange artistic and creative techniques and tools. Participants will play physical theatre and devising games and explore how to create stories using puppetry, multiple languages, music, and movement.

In partnership with Moonfish Theatre and NUI Galway, the LEAP workshop is a pilot programme and part of Baboró’s EDI strategy aiming to strengthen diversity, equity, and inclusion in the TYA sector.

LEAP is funded by the Arts Council with further support from the Irish Research Council.

Applications are now open and close Sunday 30 January at midnight.

For further details go to www.baboro.ie/news-events/callout-for-leap

The Ark

Date: 7 January 2022

Join The Ark’s Team for a special January virtual coffee morning focusing on artists’ wellbeing, in partnership with First Fortnight.

At this dark time of year, if you are an artist interested in working with children, grab yourself a soothing hot drink and pop into this relaxed online get-together for informal chats and an opportunity to meet other like-minded artists as well as some of The Ark and First Fortnight teams.

Though life is opening up and live arts are slowly returning, challenges undoubtedly remain. These online coffee mornings have proved supportive for many artists around the country to stay connected over the past while. So The Ark is staying online in order to continue to give artists a chance to connect and meet with others regardless of their location.

The team welcome all artists, whether you are new to work with children or just curious, as well as those of you with more experience working with this unique audience.

Selma Daniel is the guest speaker at this artist’s coffee morning. Selma is an Associate Dance Artist with Solstice Arts Centre and has over 20 years’ experience in dance performance, choreography and education.

This is a free event but advance registration is required.

Date & Time: Friday 7 January, 11.30am-12.15pm

For more details and to register go to ark.ie/events/view/artists-virtual-coffee-morning-oct21-2.

The Ark

Dates: 18 – 28 January 2022

Taking inspiration from The Ark’s Winter Light exhibition and music show Tracks in the Snow, children will celebrate the magic of winter light and the variety of elements that are part of the natural world during this season.

In wintertime, light takes on a different more intriguing dimension. With frost glittering on trees and gardens, with ice forming beautiful designs on water and the moon creating magical shadows on a white landscape our imagination soars and stories unfold. There is so much to look forward to!

This workshop for primary school 1st – 6th classes is based on a simple 3D activity aimed at creating a shadow scene using a selection of white paper. Children can work on an individual piece or in pairs.

Artist Jole Bortoli will introduce the workshop through the projection of a sample of images on the theme of winter art and narrative for the children to work from and create their own artwork.

Curricular Links
This workshop links with the construction strand and drawing strand of the curriculum, allowing children to create imaginative and complex 3D structures from paper. They will explore shape, tone, line and form as they use paper in different ways to manipulate light and shadow.

The Ark is pleased to be able to offer these digital workshops for free to targeted schools outside of Co. Dublin, with the support of Rethink Ireland’s Children and Youth Digital Solutions Fund.

For full details and booking information go to ark.ie/events/view/winter-magic-online-workshops.

Arts in Education Portal

Earlier in November, over the course of seven days, more than 250 artists, teachers, and arts in education professionals attended our sixth annual National Arts in Education Portal Day, which this year moved online with a series of virtual events.

Over the seven days, the arts in education community came together to share, learn, talk, be inspired and interrogate best practice in the field. We would like to thank all our guest speakers, artists and all who joined us to engage in the conversation.

Connections, the value of community and relationships, critical thinking and the importance of children and young people being comfortable to make mistakes were all key threads in all discussions across the week. Our keynote speaker professor Adele Diamond, Canada Research Chair Professor of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience at UBC in Vancouver noted;

“The different parts of the human being are fundamentally interrelated. Each part (cognitive, spiritual, social, emotional and physical) is affected by and affects the others. The best and most efficient way to foster any one of those is probably to foster all.”

Sound Walk by Patricia Moriarty craeted as part of the creative workshop ‘Exploring the Sound Walk’ from composer Fiona Linnane

Composer Fiona Linnane facilitated a workshop entitled “Exploring the Sound Walk”. Here is the collaborative audio piece created by participants during the workshop.

‘Two Ducks’ by Kathleen. Stop Motion Animation crated as part of the creative workshop ‘Imagine, Play, Shoot’ with artist Ana Colomer.

For those who missed the discussions they will be available to watch back until the end of December on the Arts in Education Portal Facebook page.

Facebook Live Video Links

Opening Keynote Event with Professor Adele Diamond

In-Conversation Series: Demystifying Arts Career Paths

Documentation Award Series: Songs of Ourselves

Documentation Award Series: ‘Place’ Teacher Artist Partnership Project

In-Conversation Series: Zoom Out – New & Emerging Technologies

In-Conversation Series: Reflections on International Teacher-Artist Partnership (I-TAP-PD)

Session Resources

Opening Keynote Event with Professor Adele Diamond – Presentation Slides
Reflections on International Teacher-Artist Partnership (I-TAP-PD) – Presentation Slides
Creative Workshop: When Reality Ends, Imagination Begins – Reference Document

Fís Film Project

Best COVID Movie, most powerful Irish language production and more announced at 16th annual FÍS Film Awards.

IRELAND: Lockdown, Irish language movies, outstanding contributions and achievements in filmmaking have been recognised at this year’s FÍS Film Awards. The renowned event which celebrates the moviemaking abilities of primary school students took place virtually earlier this month (19th November). Pupils from across the country tuned in to the online ceremony which was hosted by RTE’s Sinead Kennedy.

Guest of Honour, Minister for Education, Norma Foley, TD spoke at the awards filmed at the Institute of Art, Design & Technology’s (IADT) National Film School, Dún Laoghaire. Hosted jointly by IADT’s FÍS Office in collaboration with the Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST TiE). This year’s event was hosted virtually due to COVID, with the ceremony broadcast via www.fisfilmproject.ie. The Aileen MacKeogh Film of the Year Award 2021 went to film titled ‘Son of the Grabber’ made by pupils from St. Hugh’s National School. The County Leitrim 54 pupil, 3 teacher school also received the award for Best Direction for their Irish folklore film. A story, from their parish of Ballinaglera, is about a journey taken in the dead of night and the events surrounding it. It was a unanimous decision by the judging panel to award film of the year to Son of the Grabber.

Some other 2021 winners included:

Gardiner Street Primary School, Dublin – Outstanding Achievement in Filmmaking – Storytelling (Letters from Manresa)
St. Gerard’s Junior School, Co.Wicklow – Award for Best Junior Film (The Party Crasher)
Gaelscoil Shlí, Laois – An Scannán Is Fearr as (Simon & An Sneachta)
Scoil Padraig Naofa Cregmore National School, Co.Galway – Award for Best Covid-19 Film (Covid 19 – 2020 A year of change)
Scoil Riabhach – Award for Curriculum Relevant Films – Science (An Croí)

Shortlisted films throughout Ireland battled it out for the contest with the judging panel shortlisting just 18 films. Counties represented across the award-winning films include Limerick, Donegal, Dublin, Galway, Kerry, Laois, Leitrim, Waterford, Cork, Sligo, Wicklow, Kildare and Tipperary. This year saw a variety of awards up for grabs with accolades for Outstanding Achievement in Film Making for: Costume Design, Sound Track, Adaptation, Special Effects, Best Newcomer, Best Junior, as well as awards for curriculum relevant films that included subject areas such as History, Science and COVID-19. A unique montage of all the award-winning films can be viewed HERE. Each film can be viewed in full at the website fisfilmproject.ie.

The awards ceremony showcased the successes of the FÍS Film Awards project which exposed primary school students and teachers to all aspects of the film-making process. The concept behind FÍS is to help children not only develop essential communication and team working skills, but technological skills to assist them in a digitally driven world. It also aids teachers in developing children’s problem solving and investigative minds and is aligned with the Government’s digital strategy for schools.

This year marked 21 years since the inception of the highly successful FÍS project. To commemorate the occasion, the judging panel introduced a special merit award, to be presented to a school that demonstrated deep learning, imagination, creativity, tenacity and commitment in light of the challenges faced by all schools, pupils and teachers due to the pandemic. The FÍS Film Project 21st Anniversary Special Merit Award went to county Galway school, Scoil Eanna, Ballaun. The school also received the award for Outstanding Achievement in Filmmaking Award for Cinematography for their film ‘Hidden’.

Vie the full winners list here.

For further information please go to fisfilmproject.ie/awards-event.

The Ark
Dates: 10.15am & 11.45am, 7 & 14 December 2021

The Ark invites you to two Early Years workshops this December.

Little Bird
10.15am & 11.45am, 7 December
In this workshop you’ll hear the tale of a hungry little Robin who needs your help. Learn how to make a special bird feeder for Robin and his friends to hang in your garden or window box. Further details and booking information here

Shadowlands
10.15am & 11.45am, 14 December 2021
Join artist Jane Groves and play in the light and the dark and all the shadows in between. Learn how to make a lantern to light your way. Create bright shiny stars to join our lonely star, and make the night sky dazzle and twinkle all night. Further details and booking information here.

Tickets cost €11.50/€9.50 per child with 20% off for members. These workshops are suitable for 2 – 4 year olds.

For more information, please visit www.theark.ie.

National Gallery of Ireland
Date: 4pm, 2 February 2022

National Gallery of Ireland are delighted to announced their new online CPD workshop for teachers. Join Jennie Taylor, curator of the Zurich Young Portrait Prize, and Catherine O’Donnell, Education Officer, for a practical workshop, equipping you with tools and ideas for including portraiture in the classroom. The session will support teachers using their schools resource What is a Portrait?, and will include peer learning via group work to enable you to develop cross-curricular creative strategies.

Please note that this is an online CPD workshop via Zoom.

Date: 4pm, 2 February 2022

For more information see https://www.nationalgallery.ie/whats-on/online-cpd-teachers-portraiture

Watergate Theatre
Dates: 12pm, 2 December & 7pm, 3 December

‘A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings’ is Gabriel García Márquez’s darkly comic tale, brought to the stage in the Watergate Theatre, Kilkenny. Suitable for children aged 8+, the Watergate Theatre are offering special rates for school audiences.

In a kitchen, in a theatre, two storytellers and their audience ﬁnd something remarkable — a very old man with enormous wings. The wise neighbour woman tells us he’s an angel. The priest says he’s an imposter. Pilgrims ﬂock to see him, hoping to be healed by him, hoping for a gawp. They leave with something different than what they expected.

Adapted from Gabriel García Márquez’s ‘Un señor muy viejo con unas alas enormes’, Dan Colley and Riverbank Arts Centre bring this classic piece of magical realism to the stage in search of its beautiful, strange, emotional richness.

Dates: 12pm, 2 December & 7pm, 3 December

Watergate Theatre are offering schools a reduced rate of €8 per student and free for teachers. For more information, see https://watergatetheatre.ie/watergate_events/a-very-old-man-with-enormous-wings/ or contact boxoffice@watergatetheatre.com.

Exploiting the creative potential of multilingualism

It is widely accepted that if you express yourself through art there is no “right way”, because art is about exploring all creative possibilities, and not necessarily by following a set path. When it comes to language, our unique and incredibly creative form of human expression, we are often brought to believe that the right way is the one that is “conventional” and that we can master this art only by following rules in a very strict way.

In this blog I would like to dispel the myth that in order to engage with languages we need to be experts, and share some reflections based on the ‘Language Explorers’ initiative.

Language is power

As Frantz Fanon stated in Black Skin, White Masks, “A man who has a language consequently possesses the world expressed and implied by that language. What we are getting at becomes plain: mastery of language affords remarkable power.”

Language has always been the repository of cultural traditions, behaviours and beliefs passed down from generation to generation. Most importantly, language has an influence on how we think, how we behave, socialise and reason. Language is power because when we feel that we are not understood, we feel powerless. When we see that our mother tongue is considered less valuable than other languages, we feel inferior.

Language is power because if you possess the linguistic skills of those who have power you are privileged, if you don’t you face discrimination. So how do we shift and revisit this power dynamic?

Who is the expert in the room?

I created ‘Language Explorers‘ to offer children a space to listen to each other’s language stories, to examine the neighbourhood they live in and get to know about languages, sounds and linguistic differences. If I am working with a new group of children, I can’t tell if someone is an Irish speaker and whether the same person can also speak Polish until we get to have that conversation. So, my first step is always based on an initial conversation open to everyone in the group. This often starts with me learning to say each name correctly, a small effort which has always paid off, both with children and parents. The workshops in class vary: we use interactive games, art-making, singing, storytelling, story writing, and more.

The biggest challenge in this work lies in accepting that I don’t know much about other languages, and I have no power to decide what is right or wrong. As described by Phil McCarthy and Annie Asgard in this video, for multilingualism to thrive we need to let children be the experts, and by led by them.

A resource I use is the Mother Tongues podcasts, which carry us straight into the world of multilingual families and offer many points of discussion and reflection. Being in English, they are accessible to all, but they also allow for a short immersion in another language and culture, and the scenarios described will be very familiar to many children. It is quite astonishing to see the reaction of the children when different languages are used or heard in the classroom, and I think this is summed up really clearly in Soraya Sobrevía’s article on her experience.

When talking to older children, I enjoy using George the Poet’s poem Mother Tongue because it goes straight to the heart of the challenge that many young people face. The children’s creative responses to this poem have led us to tears multiple times!

Most of our creative work can become multilingual if we allow languages to emerge from silence. There is no ideal lesson plan, because this is mainly a shift in approach. The task of the person facilitating this work is to accept to be in a state of “not knowing the right answer”, and to make a clear statement that welcomes all languages. It might seem obvious or redundant, but since children are normally not offered this opportunity and sometimes not allowed to use all of their language skills outside of their home, this needs to be a clear statement of intent.

You will need to say that your space welcomes all languages, and to show in your own personal way that you are keen to have multilingual poems and songs, that you would like a bilingual dialogue in your next play, that you will regularly offer a creative space where no language is excluded or marginalised, and where English is not your only priority.

Once you create a space for every language to be unleashed and used as a powerful creative tool, you will notice that children will do the rest, and the change you have brought about will be long lasting.

VISUAL Carlow
Dates: October 2021 – January 2022

The VISUAL Carlow invites primary, post-primary and third-level students to The Corona, an animated documentary film, interactive exhibition and series of guided workshops through the gallery, sharing the experiences of young people in their own voices during lockdown.

The Corona foregrounds the experiences of young people aged 3 – 24 in their own voices. The film shows the experience of lockdown from the perspective of children in early years settings, primary schools, afterschool care, young people from Comhairle na nÓg, early school leavers, third level students and children and young people with disabilities.

Schools can book facilitated, guided workshops through the galleries to view The Corona films, engage in facilitated conversation about their experience of the COVID-19 pandemic and contribute their drawings and reflections to the archive of children’s experiences of the pandemic.

Dates: October 2021 – January 2022
Times: Tuesday 10:00 – 11:30 & 12:30 – 14:00, Wednesday 10:00 – 11:30, Thursday 10:00 – 11:30 & 12:30 – 14:00
Cost €50 per group.

If cost is an issue for your school please contact learning@visualcarlow.ie Schools can also come to the gallery any time during opening hours and do a self-guided free visit to the exhibition. Self-guided tours are free but must be booked through boxoffice@visualcarlow.ie or by calling 059 917 2400.

For more information, see visualcarlow.ie/whats-on/the-corona-schools-workshops

Fighting Words
Deadline: 5pm, 22 December 2021

Fighting Words invite submissions from post-primary students for its annual Fighting Words supplement in The Irish Times. They are looking for short pieces of fiction on any theme – as Béarla agus as Gaeilge. Young people may submit one prose submission or two poems for consideration. The maximum word count is 1,500 words.

Fighting Words aim is to help children and young people, and adults who did not have this opportunity as children, to discover and harness the power of their own imaginations and creative writing skills. It is about using the creative practice of writing and storytelling to strengthen children and teenagers – from a wide range of backgrounds – to be resilient, creative and successful shapers of their own lives.

Every year, Fighting Words publishes a magazine of exciting new writing by young people from all over Ireland. While the magazine will be predominantly short fiction, if anyone is working on monologues, scripts, poems, comics etc. they are welcome to be submitted, as are extracts from longer pieces. All work submitted will be considered.

Deadline: 5pm, 22 December 2021

For more information see: www.fightingwords.ie/news/call-submissions-irish-times-supplement-2022

Solstice Arts Centre
Dates: Various times and dates available

Solstice Arts Centre invites schools to explore 3 artworks in their Surveyor exhibition from the comfort of their own classroom. Their learning and engagement coordinator Deirdre Rogers, will use Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) to expand students thoughts on ‘what’s going on in these artworks’. Encouraging peer to peer discussion, this is an opportunity for students to focus and reflect on multiple perspectives, enhancing engagement and enjoyment of learning through art. Students will learn about the artists who created the works explored in their VTS discussion, and may even be inspired to create artworks of their own!

These online school tours are free of charge. They are suitable for students from 2nd – 6th class and students of all ages at post-primary level. The tour and conversations can take place during an in-person visit to the gallery or over Zoom. Good classroom internet access is required if you prefer to attend through Zoom.

Dates: Various times and dates available, please enquire with you preferred date & time.

For more information see: solsticeartscentre.ie/event/online-school-gallery-tours-using-vts or contact Deirdre at deirdre.rogers@solsticeartscentre.ie

Poetry Ireland
Deadline: 5:30pm Friday 31 December 2021

Poetry Ireland are inviting applications from primary and post-primary schools for their Writers in Schools scheme this Autumn 2021. The Writers in Schools scheme part-funds visits by writers and storytellers to primary and post-primary schools in the Republic of Ireland (funded by The Arts Council) and Northern Ireland (funded by Arts Council Northern Ireland).

Writers in Schools visits are available with a range of artists including poets, novelists, storytellers, teen fiction writers, children’s writers and screenwriters. In-person visits are consist of 2–2.5 hours with a selected writer, which can be divided into shorter sessions for different class group. For the duration of the Covid-19 restrictions, Writers in Schools will also be supporting virtual visits by writers. These virtual visits will be one hour in duration and can be split into a maximum of 2 sessions.

Poetry Ireland recommend that schools submit their application as early as possible, as they generally operate on a first-come-first-served basis and unfortunately cannot accommodate every request.

Deadline: 5:30pm Friday 31 December 2021

For more information, see www.poetryireland.ie/education/writers-in-schools.

The 6th annual National Arts in Education Portal Day 2021 is a virtual conference from 15 – 21 November. The National Arts in Education Portal Virtual Conference will welcome hundreds of professionals from across the arts, education, arts in education and creative sector, who will attend various online events to share, learn, talk, network, get inspired and interrogate best practice in the field.

The event represents an important landmark in the calendar for educationalists and arts and creativity in education sector professionals with a shared interest in quality and access to best practice arts provision for children and young people. This year the National Arts in Education Portal Day has once again moved online to ensure accessibly for all audience members as per government guidelines.

The Arts in Education Portal – an initiative of the Arts in Education Charter, a cross-governmental policy launched in early 2013 – is the key national digital resource of arts in education and creative practice in Ireland. This annual event is an extension of the Arts in Education Portal with specially commissioned activities and events that are funded by the Department of Education and supported by the Creative Ireland Programme. This is also part of a wider programme of national initiatives that have been developed as a result of the Arts in Education Charter and form part of the Creative Ireland, Creative Youth Pillar I programme, which was launched by Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar T.D. in December 2017.

This year’s conference programme features an opening keynote address titled ‘How and Why Dance, Music and Storytelling Might Well Support Critical Cognitive Development in Children and Youth’ from guest speaker Professor Adele Diamond, Canada Research Chair Professor of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience at The University of British Columbia, Vancouver. Professor Diamond will share insights into the importance of the arts and creativity for children’s cognitive development.

A series of ‘in conversation’ sessions with artists, teachers and practitioners from across the sector will bring discussion and critical thinking to a range of topics. We’re delighted to welcome the following speakers: Aoibhie McCarthy, Artistic Director of Sample-Studios; artist Kate McElroy; Jürgen Simpson, Director of the Digital Media and Arts Research Centre (DMARC) at the University of Limerick; IMMA’s SPICE Project Researcher, Adam Stoneman; primary school teacher Eibhlin Campbell; teacher and Teacher-Artist Partnership (TAP) lead facilitator Jennifer Buggie; drama facilitator Eirini Marna from the Hellenic Theatre/Drama & Education Network, Greece; and Manja Eland, Head of Education at Kopa in the Netherlands.

The programme also features discussions with the 2021 Portal Documentation Award recipients. The Dock Composer in Residence, George Higgs, teacher Noelle Igoe, artist Tunde Toth and teacher Alyson Hourigan will share insights from their experience on the projects ‘Songs of Ourselves’ and ‘Place’.

There will be a broad range of Creative Workshops delivered by artists and creators, Ana Colomer, Fiona Linnane, Daithí Ó Murchú, Sarah Fitzgibbon and Joanna Parkes. These workshops aim to support artists and teachers to explore new ideas, approaches and techniques to support their own professional development through creative practice. The virtual conference will culminate in a closing event with curator, artist, writer and educator Jennie Guy, who will share her reflections on the week’s events and discussions.

The 2021 National Arts in Education Portal Virtual Conference has been organised by the Arts in Education Portal Editorial Committee, who oversee the content management of the Portal on an ongoing basis, in collaboration with the current editors, Kids’ Own Publishing Partnership.

Please note: ISL Interpretation and live captioning will be available for all publicly broadcast events on zoom only booking in advance is required. artsineducationportal.eventbrite.com

English Version
Irish Version

Cork International Film Festival
Dates: 8 – 11 November 2021

Cork International Film Festival presents five excellent films in this year’s Schools Programme. These specially selected titles are aimed at Leaving Cert students of French, German and Spanish. Presented in association with the Irish Film Institute Education Department, these films will be screened at the Gate Cinemas in Cork, Midleton and Mallow from 8 – 11 November.

Leaving Cert French titles include Gagarine by Fanny Liatard and Jérémy Trouilh, suitable for ages 12 and over; and Petit Pays by Eric Barbier, suitable for ages 15 and over. Leaving Cert German titles include Nachtwald by Andre Hörmann, suitable for ages 15 and over; and Cleo by Erik Schmitt for ages 13 and over. For Leaving Cert Spanish students, the Festival will screen Los Lobos by Samuel Kishi, a Mexican film suitable for ages 12 and over. Tickets are €6 per student and accompanying teachers go free.

Dates: 8 – 11 November 2021

For more information, email schools@corkfilmfest.org or see corkfilmfest.org/ciff-announces-family-schools-programme-intinn-and-journalism-workshop-as-part-of-its-2021-festival/.

The Ark
Date: 10.30am, 6 November

Using The Ark’s Winter Light exhibition as inspiration, artist Liselott Olofsson will lead the group on an exploration of the season of winter through the use of visual arts.

This hands-on workshop delivered live through Zoom will encourage teachers to use art as a tool with their class to investigate, learn and discover seasonal changes in nature during wintertime, giving them tools and techniques to recreate a lesson back in the classroom.

The workshop will focus on the drawing, colour and construction strand of the curriculum, creating a 3D wintry diorama scene that reflects the winter activity of woodland plants and animals.

This is an event aimed at primary school teachers or other educators at the primary level.

For further information and booking go to ark.ie/events/view/teachers-cpd-the-wintry-life-of-plants-animals.

The Ark
Date: 10.15am & 11.45am, 30 November 2021

The Ark invites you to their early years workshop ‘Fallen Forest’ with artist Jane Groves. In the Fallen Forest all the trees have lost their leaves and the branches are bare. But nature is only sleeping: little seeds and big roots are buried deep down within the earth, resting through the cold winter so they’re ready to emerge in spring. Come explore the Fallen Forest with your grown up, discover all the colours and patterns of the forest. Make marks and curious designs with the fallen leaves, create your own squiggly roots and come dig for hidden seed treasure!

Artist Jane Groves loves to connect people, places, and landscapes and specialises in working with young people, inspired by her own observations of nature and informed in part by many children’s lack of interaction with and vocabulary about the natural world.

Tickets cost €11.50/€9.50 per child with 20% off for members. This workshop is suitable for 2 – 4 year olds.

Date: 10.15am & 11.45am, 30 November 2021

For more information, please visit ark.ie/events/view/early-years-workshop-fallen-forest

How to create a culturally responsive environment

When my first child started primary school I was very surprised to be invited alongside all the other parents to spend 15 minutes every week in the class to read together in small groups. It was the first time I walked into a classroom of 4 and 5 year olds where more than 10 different languages were spoken. Each parent was very comfortable speaking to their children in Urdu, Arabic, Chinese, French and Italian, and all the children were quickly accustomed to this immersive sound experience.

For years I studied the development of language in the early years, visited homes to test and assess children, but only when I saw my own children growing up in their dual Italian and Irish cultural and linguistic identity I realised the important role the school community would play in developing their confidence in who they are.

This sparked my interest in developing Mother Tongues with the goal of supporting parents and teachers in making the most of the linguistic and cultural diversity that is already present in our children’s lives. Culturally responsive teaching means making an active choice to leverage each child’s cultural capital to benefit everyone’s learning experience. It shifts the populistic narrative of cultural diversity as a challenge and turns children and families into funds of knowledge, with their lived experiences becoming an integral part of the curriculum and informing the teacher’s approach.

As in the classroom, I think a shift in the conversations and approaches to cultural diversity needs to change in our society, with a stronger emphasis on each individual’s lived experiences as unique and valuable in creating the common space we share.

This is why the work of Mother Tongues takes so many forms in order to enact change inside and outside of the classroom.

In this series of blogs I will take you through some key projects developed by Mother Tongues to achieve our mission and vision, to examine how arts in education can be instrumental in building a culturally responsive environment.

Music Generation
Deadline: 12 noon, 8 November 2021

Kilkenny and Carlow Education and Training Board (KCETB) invite applications for the position of Music Generation Development Officer in Kilkenny. This post is a five year fixed term contract. As the lead partner for Kilkenny Local Music Education Partnership, KCETB seeks to employ a Music Generation Development Officer to implement its plans for the provision of performance music education for children and young people in Co. Kilkenny.

Deadline: 12 noon, 8 November 2021

Application form and further details are available from kilkennycarlow.etb.ie/vacancies-2/musicgenerationdevelopmentofficer/. Late applications will not be accepted.

Branar Téatar do Pháistí
Dates: 29 November – 10 December 2021

Branar, in association with Town Hall Theatre, are delighted to present a new film version of their acclaimed production of How to Catch a Star by Oliver Jeffers. Partnering with 24 venues across Ireland, all schools will have the opportunity to experience this unique and well-loved story.
Based on the beloved book, this film will be available to stream to classrooms throughout the country for a limited period. Schools can book to receive access to the filmed production for a full week and receive access to a dedicated online educational resource pack for pre- and post-engagement.

This adaptation combines an original score by Colm Mac Con Iomaire, puppetry by Grace Kiely and Neasa Ní Chuanaigh, directed by Marc Mac Lochlainn with design by Maeve Clancy. Branar’s signature storytelling creates a show which reminds us all to follow our dreams.

Dates: 29 November – 10 December 2021

For more information, see www.branar.ie/htcas-schools

The Hunt Museum

Deadline: 22 October 2021

Are you an experienced art in education practitioner with good knowledge of the primary school curriculum and established skills and expertise in ceramics and clay? If yes, you really should check out this exciting opportunity.

The Three Muses Joint Education Programme, which comprises the Hunt Museum, Limerick Museum and Limerick City Gallery of Art, are looking for suitably qualified and experienced individuals or teams to design, trial and evaluate teaching resources for the Clay Through the Ages digital teachers pack which they will also deliver. Teaching resources include lesson plans on Clay Through the Ages objects/artworks and instructional videos which will assist teachers to plan and deliver clay based creative activities in the classroom inspired by Clay Through the Ages collections.

Clay Through the Ages is a new primary schools workshop programme currently being developed by The Three Muses. It will be offered to local schools next year. The digital teachers pack is an important component of this programme because it will be used by teachers to prepare their pupils for participation in the workshop but also to extend its learning potential. In addition, the digital teachers pack should also work as a standalone resource for teachers who are not able to bring their pupils to this workshop but want to deliver a scheme of learning on clay.

To learn more about the services required for this project, the timeline and budget available, please go to www.huntmuseum.com/vacancies/call-out-to-art-in-education-practitioners.

All queries and quotes should be sent to stephen@huntmuseum.com.

The deadline for the submission of quotes is 12 noon on Friday October 22nd 2021.

The Arts Council’s Creative Schools Initiative

188 new schools join Scoileanna Ildánacha/Creative Schools

81 additional schools will join the Schools Excellence Fund – Creative Clusters initiative

Catherine Martin TD, Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and Norma Foley TD, Minister for Education today (6 October, 2021) announced the 269 new schools that will participate in the Creative Ireland Programme initiatives – Creative Schools and Creative Clusters.
Announcing the schools selected to participate in Creative Schools, Minister Martin said:

“I am delighted to welcome a further 188 schools as our latest Creative Schools – the largest intake of schools in a single year since the establishment of the programme in 2018. This increased intake of schools, in line with the commitment made in the Programme for Government to expand the initiative, will enable even greater numbers of our youngest citizens to discover and develop new skills and talents that enhance their development and growth, and add to the richness of their overall learning experience through increased engagement with cultural creativity.”

Announcing the creation of 21 new Creative Clusters, Minister Foley said:

“Now more than ever, it is important that our students are supported to develop their creativity and given flexibility to express themselves in a variety of exciting new ways. Today I am delighted to announce the 81 schools that are coming together to form 21 new Creative Clusters. I would like to welcome these new schools into this Schools Excellence Fund initiative, and I look forward to seeing how these exciting projects develop over the coming two years. This year has seen a very significant level of interest from schools applying to participate in the 2021 Creative Clusters initiative across the country. I am hoping to increase the number of Creative Clusters in the 2022 intake.

“In addition, the new BLAST initiative I announced earlier this year will also provide opportunities for schools to collaborate with established artists, supporting our children and young people to collaborate and engage in creative and critical thinking – all crucial skills for their futures. Applications for BLAST closed recently and I look forward to finalising the details of this exciting programme in the coming weeks.”

Maureen Kennelly, Director of the Arts Council of Ireland said:

“The Arts Council is thrilled to welcome the wide range of schools and Youthreach centres across the country that are joining the Creative Schools programme for the period 2021-2023. These schools will participate in a guided journey to establish a Creative Schools Plan bespoke to each and every one of them. This creative and democratic process gives primacy to children and young people’s voices in creativity planning in their schools. It supports teachers in their work to embed creativity in the curriculum, and facilitates schools and centres to develop vibrant relationships with the arts and cultural sectors. This will help sustain artistic and creative practice for schools beyond their participation in the programme, and will help ensure that artistic expression is in abundance for years to come throughout the country.”

In addition to Creative Schools and Creative Clusters, the Creative Ireland Programme continues to support a wide range of both school- and community-based initiatives to enable greater participation by children and young people in all forms of creative activities.

Minister Martin added:

“Our ongoing commitment to Creative Schools and Creative Clusters has meant that in just three years almost 1,000 schools have been given the opportunity to engage with arts, culture and creativity in new ways, helping to enrich the learning experience of thousands of children and young people. Together with our continued investment in an array of community-based initiatives and projects, made possible by the Creative Ireland Programme, young people are being provided with evermore opportunities to engage in creative activities – not only as a support to their learning and development, but also for the sheer enjoyment and hopefully to develop a lifelong love of arts, culture and creativity.”

For further information go to www.gov.ie/en/press-release/368ac-ministers-martin-and-foley-announce-new-and-enhanced-supports-for-creativity-in-schools/.

For more information about the Creative Schools programme go to artsineducation.ie/en/organisations/creative-schools/

Kids’ Own Publishing Partnership
Deadline: 5pm Monday 1 November 2021

Kids’ Own Publishing Partnership seeks an experienced individual to lead on the delivery of their collaborative projects with children from late November 2021 to mid–June 2022. They are a national children’s arts organisation and publishing house, whose mission is to create opportunities for children to collaborate with artists, and to publish and promote the artwork and insights that emerge from these encounters.

The Project Manager will have a base at the office of Kids’ Own Sligo town, but will work both remotely and on-site. Some travel may be required as part of this role. The Project Manager will report to the CEO, and will work closely with our small team to support the delivery of our strategic aims. The role is a full-time post, based on a fixed-term contract to cover maternity leave.

Salary is pro-rata, based on an annual remuneration of €32,000.

Deadline: 5pm Monday 1 November 2021

For a full description, see kidsown.ie/kids-own-seeks-experienced-project-manager-maternity-cover/

Imagine Arts Festival
Dates: 15 – 24 October 2021
Imagine Arts Festival is a unique celebration of the arts in Waterford City. Now in its 20^th year Imagine features live performances, exhibitions and interactive performances for people of all ages, including dance, film, visual art, theatre, spoken word and literature, as well as classical, contemporary and traditional music.

Below are some highlights for children and young people:

Theatre:
The Little Robber Girl
18 – 22 October
A limited audio drama series for children with accompanying posted pack, written and directed by Deirdre Dwyer. The school’s ticket includes a digital teacher’s pack with curriculum-related activities. Join Mattie, her little dog Arthur, and her new friend Finn as they go in search of Mattie’s missing Mammy…and return with much more than buried treasure. Let the listening adventure begin!

School’s Ticket – €50 (limited edition; includes a digital teacher’s pack with curriculum-related activities)

Multimedia art:
Creative Cluster exhibition
15 – 24 October
Under the theme of ‘Horizons’, five Post-Primary Schools in Waterford, supported by Creative Ireland, have come together to form an innovative ‘creative cluster’ aimed at student participation in the arts. This exhibition will feature creative writing, photography and visual art from the Transition Year students of 2020/2021 of Abbey Community College, Ardscoil na Mara, De La Salle College, Our Lady of Mercy School and St Angela’s Secondary School.

Workshops:
Body Percussion workshop for 8 – 10 year olds
23 October
Join Karen from Mini Musos in this FUN and engaging body percussion workshop that uses the body as the instrument to create interesting and creative sounds, through pulse and rhythmic coordination. The workshop will engage memory & sequencing skills as well as promote the use of music as a means of encouraging well-being especially in todays ‘new’ world. By the end of the session the children should be able to perform a short body percussive piece for their friends and families!

Leaflings with Niamh Sharkey and Owen Churcher
24 October
A Field Guide to Leaflings, a family event with former Laureate no nÓg Niamh Sharkey and Owen Churcher. Welcome to the world of Leaflings, the secret guardians of the trees. Among the branches and roots of some of our planet’s most important inhabitants, live the leaflings. These tiny creatures protect trees and help manage their interactions, their cycles and tell their stories.

For more information and to see the full programme, visit www.imagineartsfestival.com/index.php/whats-21

Bualadh Bos Children’s Festival
Dates: 3 – 16 October 2021

Limerick’s only arts festival dedicated to children, all on your doorstep!

Lime Tree Theatre, Belltable are delighted to announce the return of their annual Bualadh Bos Children’s Festival this October. From the 3rd to the 16th of October an exciting programme of live and online events will be presented for families and schools.

The team hope the festival will bring some joy after a very difficult year for children and families. The programme offers a wide variety of events for all age groups, from our smallest citizens right through to our older primary school children.

One of the highlights this year is the Family Day at Belltable on Saturday 9th October to encourage family audiences back into the venue in a safe manner. Best-selling children’s author Dave Rudden will kick off the day with a 40 minute talk, it will no doubt fire up the creative juices of every child attending. Families can also pick up a Modernist Trail map by OpenHouse Limerick and explore the city with fresh eyes for an hour or two. The Bualadh Bos Human Library “drop-in” event will take place in the Belltable Hub throughout the afternoon. Children of all age groups are invited to come with questions about music, dance, writing and illustrations for four professional artists working in these areas every day. Cartoon Saloon’s screening of Wolfwalkers will complete a fantastic family day out. The Belltable Café will feed and water everyone with an appetizing family-friendly menu throughout the day so everyone can stay in the building for the full immersive arts experience.

Outside of the Family Day the festival presents a gorgeous theatre show by Barnstorm Theatre Company Alice and the Wolf, Riverbank Arts Centre presents A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings for families.

For schools they present Glór’s The Wild Atlantic Tales in Belltable and also host streamed events into schools with Music Generation’s Messin’ In The Musical Metaverse, White: The Film and Potato Needs a Bath. One streamed family show to watch out for is Hansel and Gretel complete with songs from Frozen and The Greatest Showman by Verdant Productions. This show is great fun and can be enjoyed from the comfort of your own couch. For the real smallies there is a beautiful show by Anna Newell called I AM BABA and the Bualadh Bos On Tour programme presents a show by Manchán Mangan called Arán agus Im for 5th & 6th class pupils. There is guaranteed something for everyone.

Despite ongoing challenges due to the pandemic the festival team has rallied to present the best possible programme this October. They hope families and schools in Limerick city and county will engage and join in the fun. In order for children to engage all we need is you. The team encourage all grown-ups to have a look at the programme here and book in advance due to limited capacities for many events.

For the full programme of festival events with dates/times/age groups etc go to atwww.limerick.ie/discover/living/limerick-news/lime-tree-theatre-and-belltables-bualadh-bos-childrens-festival-2021

Irish Architecture Foundation
Dates: 15 – 17 October 2021

Open House Dublin returns from 15-17 October with an exciting mix of over 100 FREE events happening across the city and online! This year the IAF are delighted to bring Open House back on-site, with limited building tours making a triumphant comeback! See the city from a new perspective with Open House outdoor tours by boat, bus or bike! The digital programme allows fans of Open House to bring their festival home, with films, virtual tours, live streamed events, the Open House Journal and Open House Junior events all available to enjoy from the comfort of home.

The Open House Junior programme includes workshops and activities both in person and online for junior enthusiasts. Highlights include:

Architrek: A colourful series of specially designed architecture activity sheets for families, full of observation games, sketching and quizzes that guide you along selected routes around Dublin and Dun Loaghaire.
Building Stories: A competition to build a 3D model of your favourite building! This is a nationwide competition designed for families with children aged 5-12. Entries accepted until 30th October.
Digital Design Challenge: Use your creativity and digital skills to design your very own ‘Social Space’. This is a nationwide design competition for children and young people aged 7-18. Entries accepted until 30th October.

For more detail and bookings go to openhousedublin.com/whats-on/strands/open-house-junior/

Baboró International Arts Festival for Children
Dates: 4 – 17 October 2021

Baboró International Arts Festival for Children are delighted to launch their Digital Delegate Pass. With a Digital Delegate Pass you will have access to a variety of talks and online work created by some of the finest makers of children’s art and theatre and a series of talks with artists, sector and academic leaders. For their 25th festival, Baboró will be celebrating the rights of the child with a strand of events and performances dedicated to giving children a platform for their voice to be heard, a space for expression and, of course, a festival experience to be enjoyed with family and friends.

For the duration of the festival, Digital Delegates will have access to:

Six Digital Talks

Exploring ‘Mapping’: a map on the aesthetics of performing arts for early years
Bringing the Rights of the Child into View
Reflecting on RISE and Looking Towards Galway 2020 Legacy
Here’s What I’m Making
Here’s What I Made
You, Fin and the Play Between

Six Filmed Performances & Exhibitions

Birdboy
Mixed Up
Flying the Flag
Mise Mollser
Wild Atlantic Tales
Ta da!
Our Day Out

Three Podcast Series

Super Paua Stories
Into the World Within
Don’t Forget to Wash Your Hands

Dates: 4 – 17 October 2021

For more information on Baboró’s Digital Delegate Programme see: www.baboro.ie/festival/programme/digital-delegate

Music Generation
Deadline: 5pm Tuesday 5 October 2021

Music Generation is seeking to recruit a Quality Support & Development Manager as it builds towards its aim of nationwide expansion by 2022. This is an exciting job opportunity for a skilled professional with expertise in and a demonstrable track record of delivering results and achievement in music, education development and management. Reporting to the Head of Quality, Support and Development, the successful candidate will join a growing team focused on providing strategic support for the implementation of its Quality Strategy with its network of Local Music Education Partnerships.

Music Generation is Ireland’s National Music Education Programme which helps children and young people access performance music education in their local area. Music Generation has been successfully established in 25 cities and counties in Ireland. It has created some 67,000 opportunities for children and young people to engage in music tuition annually.

This position will be offered initially as an 18 month fixed-term contract commencing in January 2022. The Music Generation National Development Office is located in Dublin city centre; this job may be performed onsite or through a hybrid working arrangement.

Deadline: 5pm Tuesday 5 October 2021

For more information on this job opportunity, see www.musicgeneration.ie/news/job-opportunities-at-music-generation For further information, contact Conor Harty at mgrecruit@hartyvirtualhr.ie; or on 086-2406651.

Mapping Outside

We went outside straight away to do some artwork. Tunde gave us a clipboard with two sheets of paper and explained what to do. Firstly we had to draw a bird’s eye view map of the school yard. Secondly we worked in pairs to use a view finder to find an interesting spot to draw. This was tricky as if you were holding the view finder you had to be still, our yard is quite big so it was hard to choose which area to map.

While we were outside, the portal filming crew called us in pairs to a quiet area to do an interview. We were asked questions like

“What was your favourite part?”

“What do you think art is?”

“What was hard about the artwork?”

“Can you tell us about Tunde?”

The interview’s were fun to do but at first it was a little awkward. It was our first time being interviewed so we were a little nervous but we really enjoyed talking about all the work we did this year.

Plaster

We collected materials outside to use to make prints. We collected things like sticks, leaves, flowers, feathers, twigs, grass ETC to put in. We mixed flour, hot water and cold water to make a plaster mixture. We all had a turn stirring the mixture. We poured the mixture into containers. We placed the materials we gathered outside into the containers and we left them to dry. We wanted this plaster to set and go hard so we could use it as a plate for printing, however, when we came back to class after the weekend, our plaster had stunk up the whole class. Unfortunately our plaster had not worked. We think we may have overfilled the containers or maybe used too much liquid. They never hardened and we couldn’t use them. If we were to try this again, next time we could; make the mixture differently and pour less into the containers, or use clay or plaster of paris instead.

Bridges

Our task was to make a bridge that connected or combined something in nature with something man-made. We were given a few materials to construct our bridges with – blue paper, skewers, straws and masking tape. We worked in small groups to make our bridges. We found it tricky to find a place to make our bridge as we had to find somewhere outside that had nature and man-made items. We enjoyed this activity as the materials were easy to use and we enjoyed being out in the sunshine working with our friends.

Bridges - Third Class Pupils, Scoil Mhichil Naofa, Co. Kildare

Recording our reflections

In class, we made a scrapbook to talk about the lessons we did with Tunde and Ms. Hourigan. We stuck in pictures from our lessons, art we made during our virtual, we wrote recounts about our sessions and we were able to write our thoughts and feelings about art in here also.

By Artur, Sochi, Katie and Renata

St. Mary’s Secondary School, Ballina, Co. Mayo
Deadline: 19 November 2021

St. Mary’s Secondary School, Ballina, Co. Mayo, invites proposals for the commission of an Artwork / Artworks to be funded under the Per Cent for Art Scheme in connection with their new school building. Artists / Architects / Designers are invited to tender for the project in a two-stage process.

Proposals are welcome from both individuals and collectives, and from those working across a range of disciplines and a broad scope of creative approaches. The school are interested in physical artwork(s) that integrate into and enhance the public spaces of the school, within the building and / or on the extensive exterior grounds. They welcome proposals that have an interactive and / or engaging element and that are vibrant and innovative in design / approach. They envisage that within the budget, a public art project that results in one or multiple physical artworks may be commissioned by an individual or a collective.

Budget
The value of the commission is €43,500 including VAT and taxes.

Stage One Deadline
Friday November 19th 2021 at 12:00pm

Brief
This is a two-stage open competition. Proposals will be short-listed for development in Stage Two. A fee of €300 will be paid to short-listed artists for further development of their proposal. Please read the brief for further details about the commission, location and school community. The brief, site maps, and a virtual tour of the new building are available on the school website:
stmarysballina.ie/Page/New-School-Development/372/Index.html

Site Visit
Wednesday October 13th 2021 at 2:30pm. Places will be limited. Please book your place by Friday October 8th at 12:00pm by contacting the Curator, Yvonne Cullivan, at percentforart@stmarysballina.ie

Deadline for Queries
Friday November 12th 2021 at 12:00pm. All queries should be directed to the Curator.

The National Gallery of Ireland
Date: Wednesday 24 November 2021, 4 – 5.30pm

The National Gallery of Ireland is delighted to announce a Teachers’ CPD workshop in photography. Join photographer Brian Cregan and Education Officer Catherine O’Donnell for a practical workshop, equipping you with tools and ideas for photography in the classroom. The session will support teachers using their schools resource Medium, Materiality and Magic: Photography at the Gallery. It will also include peer learning via group work to enable you to develop cross-curricular creative strategies.

The National Gallery of Ireland’s Teachers’ CPD programme is designed to support teaching and learning through and about art, via collaborative networking.

Date: Wednesday 24 November 2021, 4 – 5.30pm

This is a free event but booking is required. To book, see www.nationalgallery.ie/explore-and-learn/schools/teacher-network-and-cpd. This event will take place via Zoom.

The National Gallery of Ireland
Deadline: 5pm, 17 Sept 2021

National Gallery of Ireland is thrilled to announce Your Gallery at School, along with the return of lots of new programmes, resources and opportunities, including the return of onsite school visits, digital sessions and teacher CPD. They are inviting post-primary schools to apply to participate in Your Gallery at School, a new holistic outreach programme that brings the Gallery directly to schools. This project builds on the success of the Gallery’s established schools programme and develops new content and partnerships outside of the Gallery walls.

Your Gallery at School aims to break down the barriers that prevent engagement with the arts through holistic programming that ensures children transition to adulthood equipped with the life-changing benefits of art. It also aims to build in students a sense of ownership of the Gallery, giving they a positive place to turn to in adulthood. Engagement occurs in three key strands: learning through and about art, wellbeing, and creative careers.

How to apply
Download and complete the short application form and email it to tours@ngi.ie. Please note that only schools who have not visited the National Gallery of Ireland in the past three years are eligible to apply. They will let you know if your application has been successful by Monday 4 October.

Deadline: 5pm, 17 Sept 2021

For more information or to apply, see www.nationalgallery.ie/explore-and-learn/schools/your-gallery-school

For more information on their onsite and digital school visits, see www.nationalgallery.ie/explore-and-learn/schools/schools-programme-autumn-2021

Crawford College of Art & Design
Deadline extended

The Arts in Group Facilitation Certificate (Level 8, 10 credits) at Crawford College of Art & Design focuses on the practical skills of planning and running creative workshops with groups in a range of non—formal contexts. Participants learn these skills through experiential learning processes, taking part in visual arts, drama, dance and music workshops and reflecting on the experience. The focus is on acknowledging the individual within learning, recognising the importance of play and the need for learning to be engaging. There is a strong emphasis on engaging with diversity and learning to adapt a range of arts approaches to meet the varying needs within a group.

The programme will be delivered through blended learning, involving face to face experiential learning and online learning. The face to face learning is being designed to maximise the potential of creative learning in outdoor environments. Crawford College of Art & Design are adapting to Covid—19 restriction and see the potential of learning in outdoor environments for participants in the programme and for those participants may work with in the future. They are inviting participants to join them with a bicycle to access outdoor learning environments.

The course will provide skills face to face in working in physical workshops, classes, centres as well as facilitation creative engagement online.

For more information, see https://www.cit.ie/course/CRAGRPA8 or contact helen.okeeffe@mtu.ie.

Culture Night
Date: Friday 17 September 2021

The sixteenth edition of Culture Night will take place on Friday 17 September 2021. Culture Night / Oíche Chultúir celebrates all that makes up the richness and diversity of culture in Ireland today, connecting people to cultural activities locally and nationally and aims to open up pathways to ongoing engagement. Doors are opened late and special and unique events are specifically programmed at participating locations. All activities are free of charge, thanks to the continued support of the Arts Council and Local Authorities across the island of Ireland.

Here are a selection of family friendly events taking place for Culture Night:

Cork:
Pitch’d Circus and Street Arts Festival
Time: 6pm – 10pm
The event is a space for friends to catch up, stand awestruck at acrobats flipping and tumbling, or even a place to scratch your head at some silly walkabout characters. Features pop-up performances of Tumble Circus’ “Cycle Circus” and Tom Campbell’s “Rubbish Performance”.

Dublin
Interactive Museum of Languages for Children
Time: 4pm – 8pm
Visit Mother Tongues’ touring Interactive Museum of Languages for Young Audiences in Rua Red. Since 2017, Mother Languages has promoted multilingualism in Ireland. Through artwork, sculptures, and spaces, the exhibit creatively encourages children to interact with different letters and alphabets across languages. This fun, immersive experience promotes both creativity and linguistic/cultural diversity.

Online
Sundown Circus
Event Times: 7.30, 9.30, 10.30
Erebidae Circus preforms an intimate and enchanting circus show with Irish mythology, original music, fire dancing and aerial circus spectacle. They will have three special online performances about three ancient fires: The Fire of the Hearth, The Fire of the Forge, and The Fire of Inspiration.

Zoom Book Clinic with Children’s Books Ireland and Hodges Figgis
Time: 4pm – 6pm
Are you a young reader? Looking for a new series to delve into? Feeling uninspired by your bookshelves at home? Then pop into the virtual Children’s Books Ireland Book Clinic with Hodges Figgis! Chat to the Book Doctor, consult on your favourite reads and leave with a prescription for your next book, as well as a 10% off book voucher.

Live Online Workshop for Teens: Kabuki Actors
Time: 6pm – 7pm
Inspired by the Kabuki theatre, join the Chester Beatty Library and create your very own puppet dressed to dance and entertain. Bring your theatrical creature to life with glamorous costume and heavy make-up of the Kabuki world.

Date: Friday 17 September 2021

See culturenight.ie for more information on events and activities in your local area.

We are delighted to announce the dates of the sixth annual National Arts in Education Portal Day. This year, it will be moving online with a series of virtual events taking place over a week in November – Monday 15th to Sunday 21st.

The Portal Team are excited to welcome guest speaker Professor Adele Diamond, Canada Research Chair Professor of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience at The University of British Columbia, Vancouver. Professor Adele Diamond will open the conference on Monday 15th November.

Adele Diamond is the Canada Research Chair Professor of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience at UBC in Vancouver.

Professor Diamond’s specialty is executive functions (e.g., self-control, problem-solving, mentally playing with ideas, thinking outside the box). She offers a markedly different perspective from traditional medical practice in hypothesizing that treating physical health, without also addressing social and emotional health is less efficient or effective. Adele offers a markedly different perspective from mainstream education in hypothesizing that focusing exclusively on training cognitive skills is less efficient, and ultimately less successful, than also addressing emotional, social, spiritual, and physical needs. She has championed the roles of music, dance, storytelling, and play in improving executive functions and academic and mental health outcomes. When not working, Adele loves to be with her 4-year-old granddaughter and to hike, play tennis, and especially dance.

View Dr. Diamond’s TEDx talk on the power of Executive Function and its impact on learning below:

The full line-up of the conference will be announced shortly. It includes a series of ‘in-conversation’ sessions with artists, teachers and practitioners from across the sector, bringing discussion and critical thinking to a range of topics. It also features series of online processed based creative workshops and a closing event.

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.

Full programme details for the day will be announced shortly. For enquiries please contact events@artsineducation.ie.

Cork County Library and Arts Service
Deadline: Midnight 29 August 2021

Cork County Library and Arts Service is inviting visual artists, designers and craftspeople to apply for role of facilitators for Frameworks, its 2021 – 2022 Art Collection in Schools Scheme. Six primary schools across County Cork will be participating in the scheme.

The purpose of Frameworks is to:

Make visual art available for primary school children to view and engage with in their own schools.
Foster a sense of appreciation and understanding for visual art.
Support the primary school curriculum.
Provide the school with the opportunity to engage with a visual artist, designer or craftsperson.

Cork County Council has a substantial collection of visual art. This civic collection includes works in various media including, painting, drawing, print, photography, video and small scale 3—dimensional work. These artworks were created by emerging and established artists, many of who are living and working in Cork county.

Facilitators will engage with a primary school class for four 2-hour sessions, working with five artworks from the Cork County Collection as their starting point. The artworks will be installed in schools for the academic year 2021— 2022. The art facilitators will create and deliver an engagement plan specific to the artworks and context of the class. This plan should take into consideration the age of the class and other contexts such as geographic, historic or environmental factors.

Deadline: Midnight 29 August 2021

Artists will be paid a fee for these engagements, plus travel costs. A materials budget will be made available to each participating
school.

For more information or to apply, see www.yourcouncil.ie/service/Frameworks___Call_for_Artists

The Ark and Dublin Theatre Festival
Dates: 1 – 10 October, 2021

The Ark and Dublin Theatre Festival present a new show by The Ark Artist-in-Residence, Shaun Dunne. This children’s theatre piece offers a window into one child’s experience of the first lockdown of 2020.

Kyla is throwing a party on her street. Not just any party. It’s a graduation ceremony. It’ll be mad to see the kids from her old class again after so long. Summer 2020 was literally endless.

Now that they’re all in first year, Kyla wants to get the old gang back together. She’s made caps, she has gowns, and she’s even prepared a speech. But there’s one visitor she’s not expecting…

As Kyla attempts to mark an important milestone in her young life, can she and her mother learn to understand each other and bridge the divide left by lockdown?

Informed by collaborative work with The Ark Children’s Council and featuring choreography by the multi-award winning Junk Ensemble, What Did I Miss? is a story of both childhood and parenthood, about growing up, no matter what age you are.

For ages 10+

Dates: 1 & 2 October, 7pm; 3 & 10 October, 2pm & 4pm; 8 & 9 October, 7pm
Tickets: €7.50–€10

To book a ticket for this children’s theatre show, see dublintheatrefestival.ie/programme/event/what-did-i-miss-2

Kids’ Own Publishing Partnership
Deadline: Friday 3 September, 2021

Kids’ Own is seeking an Education Advisor to develop and expand their links with teachers, schools, and academics in teaching and learning over a nine-month period from October 2021. The Education Advisor is a brand new fixed-term role that aims to support Kids’ Own by building new audiences through outreach to schools. The Advisor will also build on the increased interest of teachers, academics, and educational bodies in their work. They will develop new connections with all of the above to ensure Kids’ Own’s work remains linked with sectoral developments.

The Education Advisor will primarily:

1) build links between Kids’ Own and schools, teachers, and teacher training colleges
2) conduct focus groups to understand the links between our books and the current and incoming primary school curriculum
3) make connections with governmental educational bodies
4) advocate for the use of Kids’ Own books within the classroom to demonstrate the value of greater representation of children’s voices and lived experience within the curriculum and the books children encounter in school.

Qualifications and experience needed:

A strong interest in arts in education
A qualification in education or equivalent experience
Up-to-date knowledge of primary education in Ireland
Experience of working with schools, teachers, and primary school student groups
Experience with self-directed projects
Full, clean driving license and access to own transport
Interest in and strong commitment to advocating for children’s voices and rights. Previous experience in this area would be desirable.

Deadline: Friday 3rd September, 2021

To apply, please send a detailed cover letter expressing your interest and suitability for the role, along with a CV to staff@kidsown.ie. Please include a document that outlines ideas you have for how you may approach this role. This should include a breakdown of costings according to the fee that is being offered. There is a set fee of €10,000 offered for this role to take place between October 2021 and July 2022. This is primarily to cover the Education Advisor’s fee, but must also cover any other anticipated expenses, e.g. travel costs, materials etc.

For more information, see kidsown.ie/education-advisor-job-with-kids-own-publishing/

Dublin Fringe Festival
11-26 September

The Dublin Fringe Festival takes place this September with live events in venues across Dublin and online nationwide. Their programme features an outdoor visual art in Dublin 8 and secret locations city-wide, as well as live open-air performances at Dublin Castle and Grand Canal Dock. They will be hosting music and comedy gigs back in beloved venues. Whilst bringing cutting edge interdisciplinary performances to stages in The Abbey Theatre, Project Arts Centre, Smock Alley, Chapel Royal and Draíocht Blanchardstown – as well as events online.

Some of the highlights for children and young people include:

Dublin 8, Yer Lookin’ Great
11-26 September
Free

Emmalene Blake is an internationally recognised street artist based in Dublin. This September, she will create a new mural on Swift’s Alley, inspired by the ideas of children from that neighbourhood. Cities change and grow to suit the people who live in them. The artist asked children from local schools to tell her what makes Dublin 8 great. Children also shared the positive changes in the area that have made life better for them and their friends.

For more information, see www.fringefest.com/festival/whats-on/dublin-8-yer-lookin-great

The Veiled Ones
Dates: 7pm on 10, 11, 12 & 13 Sept; 4pm on 10 & 13 Sept; 12 noon on 11 & 12 Sept
Tickets: €12/€8

Junk Ensemble present a dance theatre production for young audiences. This show explores witches, transformations and the powerful relationship between a grandparent and grandchild. The audience are invited on an intriguing journey through intricately designed rooms with a cast of internationally acclaimed dancers, young performers and live musicians.

To book, see www.fringefest.com/festival/whats-on/the-veiled-ones

Making Plates

We looked at different types of leaves common to Ireland on the board. We chose a leaf we liked and drew it on a card. We had to make sure that they were bigger than our hand.

We stuck foam and corrugated cardboard onto our leaf. We had to make sure that none of the pieces were touching as we wanted mosaic design. This leaf would become a plate for printing. We used a screw to dot texture onto our leaves by leaving marks in the foam.

making leaf plate - Third Class Pupils, Scoil Mhichil Naofa, Co. Kildare

We used view finders to find an interesting view in our nature booklets. We drew what we seen in our view finder on to a piece of card and we enlarged it. After this Tunde called us up one by one to choose materials to stick onto our picture. Some of the materials used were wool, foam, string, piece of a woolly jumper, thread, netted paper, hessian, lace, matchsticks, grease proof paper and many other things. Next we used PVA glue to stick our materials to the plate.

making nature plate - Third Class Pupils, Scoil Mhichil Naofa, Co. Kildare

Printing

Our first printing session happened during our first day filming for the Arts in Education Portal as a part of the documentation award. We were very nervous at first but we soon grew confidence and we can’t wait to see ourselves on the video! Here’s what we did!

We used acetate, a roller, red yellow and blue block print ink to make orange on our acetate. We rolled the ink onto the leaf. We got another sheet of paper and placed it on the leaf plate. We gently rubbed the back of the paper in a circular motion to make sure the print transferred. We carefully removed the page and then ta-dah! Like magic, the print has appeared on the page.

printed leaf - Third Class Pupils, Scoil Mhichil Naofa, Co. Kildare

printing - Third Class Pupils, Scoil Mhichil Naofa, Co. Kildare

We repeated this three times on white, green, and blue paper. We repeated this process using yellow and blue ink on our second plate (nature plate) to make two more prints. We hung our prints on a clothes line in the classroom to draw. It took our prints around a week to dry and our plates are still inky a month later.

We drew a leaf onto green or yellow paper and cut it out. We folded the leaf into quarters and we cut out three triangles on each edge. We opened our leaf to find a diamond pattern inside. We used blu tack to stick our leaves onto a massive, long piece of card. We used pouches made from hessian, cloth and thread, bubble wrap and Styrofoam sponges to create prints on the card using block ink.

Everyone in the class worked on this piece together. This was our teacher’s favourite piece that we made because everyone worked together. We left our piece to dry over the weekend, and when it was dry we removed it the leaves and we were amazed to discover the blank spaces they had left behind.

We really enjoyed using the printing ink and rollers. We liked the way we were able to use plates that we had made ourselves in previous sessions. It was great to have lots of artwork made from the same plate. We enjoyed removing the page from the plate as it was very satisfying to watch the ink appearing on the page.

By Seán, Pippa, Tyra and Ryan

Baboró International Arts Festival for Children
October 4 — 17, 2021

For their 25th Arts Festival for Children, Baboró will be celebrating the rights of the child, inspired by the UN Convention on the Rights of The Child. The arts festival will have strands of events and performances dedicated to giving children a platform for their voice to be heard, a space for expression and, of course, a festival experience to be enjoyed with family and friends.

Two Baboró commissions, a co-commission and a touring exhibition, will be central to these celebrations and part of the festival programme in October. The full programme and box office will be announced at the end of August.

Dates: October 4 — 17, 2021

For more information on Baboró’s festival, see www.baboro.ie/news-events/celebrating-our-25th-festival

Arts in Education Portal
Deadline: Friday 27 August 2021

Update: Conference Dates – Monday 15th – Sunday 21st November 2021

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

The sixth National Arts in Education Portal Day will move online again this year with a series of virtual events taking place across a week in November. The conference aims to bring together members of the arts in education and creative practice community from all across Ireland, to share, learn, talk, network, get inspired and continue interrogating best practice in the field.

The Arts in Education Portal Editorial Committee invites proposals from organisations or individuals who want to share practical approaches, new skills, new insights, open conversation and offer critical thinking from across the field.

This year, the Portal Committee is looking for the following:

‘In Conversation’ Series

Submissions for ‘in conversation’ style online sessions. We invite proposals that seek to explore or interrogate particular aspects of arts-in-education practice and/or that unpick common terminologies through a practice-based lens:

i.e. What do we really mean when we talk about ‘collaboration’?

How do we measure or understand ‘high-quality’?

What does listening to, or giving a platform to, the child’s voice really mean?

What does a child-led process look like?

Where does arts-in-education practice fall short? Who is left behind?

Proposals should clearly demonstrate an innovative approach to online delivery, ideally with dynamic presentation methods which stimulate audience conversation. Please note the committee will be selecting two ‘in conversation’ sessions for the conference.

Creative Workshop Series

Submissions for the facilitation of two online creative workshops over two days (one per day). The workshops should be focused and process-based, aiming to support both artists and teachers to explore new ideas, approaches or techniques to support their own professional development through creative practice.

The workshops will take place over a weekend (Saturday & Sunday) with the delivery of two 90 minute sessions with the same group of participants.

Creative Workshop ‘Sensing to Action’ with artist Kate Wilson as part of the 2020 National Arts in Education Portal Day Virtual Conference

Would like to be included in the programme for this day? If so, please send us your proposal.

Please ensure your proposal includes the following:

Detailed background on presenters and professional experience in the sector;
Some visual examples of work (no more than 5) relevant to the proposal;
Outline of why you think this presentation/workshop is important to bring to the arts-in-education community.
Practical details of how the presentation/workshop will be delivered in the online context.

The Committee will prioritise submissions from people from diverse communities, including but not limited to people of colour, those from ethnic minority backgrounds, migrant communities and those with disabilities.

The deadline for submission of proposals is 5pm Friday 27th August 2021.

Download the submission form National Portal Day Virtual Conference Proposal Form 2021.

For questions and submission please email events@artsineducation.ie.

National Portal Day Virtual Conference Proposal Form 2021

Crawford College of Art and Design

Extending the artist’s practice, grounding it in a social context. Looking at engagement through the intersection between the senses, society and the arts.

Crawford College of Art and Design CIT are delighted to announce a new Masters in Arts and Engagement. A 2 year part time course that prepares graduates to develop a professional practice in arts rich engagement with individual, group, and broader societal contexts. Participants on this Masters programme will develop an understanding of the role of the arts within learning, changemaking and the development of culture.

Employment Opportunities:

Arts in Health/Social Care programmes
Arts programming Production Manager/Developer
Outreach Education programmes
Artist Engaged in Community Issues
Professional Artist
Gallery/Museum Education
Youth work
Community Education
Second Chance Learning
Community Development Officer

MA Arts and Engagement
The course will run part-time, one day a week, plus 2 day block monthly for elective module. Applications are welcomed from graduates of arts (visual arts/theatre or music) or social sciences interested in:

Developing their own arts practice in relation to others
Developing arts-based processes to incorporate into existing work place
Developing arts engagement facilitation skills

This Masters programme builds on a number of existing Special Purpose Awards all centred on learning through expressive meaning-making: Arts based facilitation training, creativity and change-making and art therapy. These programmes educate through and activate different modes of communication, promote learning through experiential and reflective practice, and engage with other perspectives and diverse intelligences.

Participants on the Masters will develop an understanding of the role of the arts within learning and engagement and will develop the skills to apply this to a range of contexts. Core modules over the two-year programme relate to the arts in engaged practices which recognise neurodiversity, equality, social justice, power and autonomy. Through research, reflection, group and practical work participants will explore different ways of learning, investigating the transformational power of the arts in personal and societal regulation through a broad scope of contemporary methodologies.

Duration: Part time over two years (1 day a week + 2-day block monthly for elective module)
Course Fee: EU Applicants: €6,000

For further information go to crawford.cit.ie/courses/ma-in-arts-and-engagement-/or for course enquires email Avril O’Brien avril.obrien@mtu.ie.

Two Additional Special Purpose Awards

Certificate in Eco Arts Practice Level 9
Certificate in Socially Engaged Theatre Level 8

The Glucksman
Free online art toolkits

The Glucksman has released a series of online art toolkits suitable for primary and secondary students. Organised around key themes, their free art toolkits enable you to explore works in the UCC Art Collection. Whether you are an educator, activist, student or individual art lover, these online toolkits are full of ideas and information to support you and your community.

The toolkits focus on the work of Irish artists Fiona Kelly, Deirdre Breen and The Project Twins. Fiona Kelly’s work has a strong environmental interest and
focuses on ideas of urban sprawl and its impact on the Irish landscape and its traditions. Deirdre Breen is a printmaker and designer who makes screen
prints characterized by flat abstract motifs and geometric compositions. The Project Twins, a Cork based collaborative art duo, create bold and playful graphics which explore ideas of absurdity, identity and the mundane.

To download this art toolkit, see www.glucksman.org/discover/digital/toolkits

Based in Cork, The Glucksman is a leading museum nationally and internationally for creative learning and access to the visual arts. For more information about the toolkit, get email education@glucksman.org.

Ireland’s National School Photography Awards
Finalist Mini Expo now online

Ireland’s National School Photography Awards (INSPA) are delighted to launch their Finalist Mini-Expo online. The theme for this year’s National School Photography Awards was Accessible Places | Safer Spaces. A national panel of judges have made the selections from a wide range of entries from primary schools around Ireland. The exhibition is open until October 2021 at INSPA’s online gallery.

The INSPA team would like to take this opportunity to congratulate every primary school who participated in the 2020/21 National School Photography Awards. Through photography, INSPA introduces creative wellbeing into the lives of primary schools, while building a future generation of people who are confident, resilient, connected, kind and ready. This programme provides an inclusive model for children of all backgrounds and abilities to get involved.

The awards are free and offer a range of fantastic prizes including experiences at the Amber Springs Hotel for principals, teachers, pupils and families, cameras for winners and schools, framed photographs, certificates, photo fundraising days and national recognition as a Positive Primary School. To date, INSPA has seen over 450 primary schools register and take their first step on their Positive Primaries Journey.

To view the free online exhibition of photograph, see www.inspa.ie/inspa-enter-exhibition

If your school would like to begin its own journey and participate in the 2021/22 awards, you can register your school at the INSPA website.

The Ark
Dates: 5 Aug 2021, 14 Aug 2021 and more

The Ark, Dublin are hosting a series of art workshops for Early Years this summer.

Workshop 1: Box Baby
Thursday 5 August, 10.15am. €10/€8.50* per child.
In this early years workshop, little ones and their grown-ups can explore, make and play together using old cardboard boxes and packaging to create something new.
Workshop 2: Natural Creators of Magical Sounds
Saturday 14 August, 10.15am. €10/€8.50* per child.
This Early Years workshop will focus on ‘found sounds’ made from everyday stuff you can find around the house and outside in nature. The workshop invites little ones’ natural openness and curiosity through a series of delightful composing, improvising, listening and play activities.

Dates: 5 Aug 2021, 14 Aug 2021 and more

For more information or to book these Early Years art workshops, see ark.ie/events. For safety reasons, a parent or grown-up should be present in the room throughout the session, and if necessary be available to assist your child.

The Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon
Deadline: 5:30pm, 19 August 2021

The Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon has opened applications for their Young People, Children and Education Project Award 2022 (YPCE). 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. The maximum award is for €80,000.

This award has four strands. You should choose the strand that is most suitable for your project proposal. You may only apply to one strand:

Strand 1: Early Childhood Project Award – Ambitious and original projects that engage children aged 0–6 in the arts.
Strand 2: Childhood Project Award – Ambitious and original projects that engage children aged 7–12 in the arts.
Strand 3: Transitions Project Award – Ambitious and original projects that enable children and young people to engage in the arts. This may involve transitioning into or out of secondary education, between Junior and Senior Cycle (Transition Year), or into further education or the field of work.
Strand 4: Connections Project Award – Projects that connect young artists and recent graduates aged 18+ with established arts organisations and arts infrastructure in Ireland.

Deadline: 5:30pm, 19 August 2021

For more information or to apply for this award, see www.artscouncil.ie/Funds/Young-People,-Children-and-Education-Project-Award/.

The Centre for Continuing Education in Art and Design at NCAD (CEAD)

The Centre for Continuing Education in Art and Design at NCAD provides opportunities for part time study leading to a qualification at University Certificate (NFQL7) and Higher Diploma (NFQL8). Each of the certificate programmes carries 30 ects. On completion students can progress to the two year part-time Higher Diploma in Art to achieve a further 90 ects and will be eligible to apply for Advanced Entry to up to the final year of the NCAD full-time undergraduate BA programme in Fine Art, Design or Visual Culture.

CEAD offers credit and non-credit options for adults who choose to study part-time. In an era of lifelong learning, CEAD aims to provide a diverse programme of courses, which offer flexible, quality learning opportunities, that enable access, and support progression and transfer for students who wish to further their visual arts education. Applicants to an accredited course must be 23 years or over.

You can choose from a range of part time evening University Certificate programmes:

VAP Certificate A/C modules
The University Certificate in Visual Arts Practice offers flexibility and variety and can be completed in 1 – 3 years. Alternatively individual modules may be taken in a non-credit (audit) capacity. Applications opening soon.

D+VI Certificate
The University Certificate in Drawing and Visual Investigation signals a departure in the provision of visual arts education and the role of CEAD in creating opportunities for lifelong learning. This one year programme is for mature students who are interested in participating in a challenging learning opportunity in visual arts education.

P+DI Certificate
The University Certificate in Photography and Digital Imaging is a one year part-time programme offering students an opportunity to extend their visual vocabulary and explore the creative possibilities of photography within contemporary visual art and design practice. Applications now open.

CEAD- Higher Diploma in Art
The two year part-time Higher Diploma in Art provides mature students interested in establishing a personal direction in their art practice an opportunity to attend a flexible programme leading, on completion, students will be eligible to apply for Advanced Entry to up to the final year of the NCAD full-time undergraduate BA programme in Fine Art, Design or Visual Culture.

For full course details and application details go to www.ncad.ie/continuing-education/part-time-continuing-education/ or email cead@ncad.ie

The Ark
Deadline: Friday 6 August

Are you a creative young person who loves drama, music, dance or art? If you are going into 4th or 5th Class in September then this could be right up your street!

The Ark Children’s Council is a dynamic and enriching year long experience exploring active citizenship through engagement with the arts as well as amplifying the voice of the child within The Ark, making sure that your voices are included in The Ark’s decision making.

The Children’s Council is FREE but spaces are limited and it does require commitment and consistent attendance to the program. You can find out more information about The Ark Children’s Council at ark.ie/projects/details/the-childrens-council.

Applications are now open for children who would like to join The Children’s Council 2021/2022. This Council term will run from October 2021 until June 2022 with at least one key event per month where attendance will be required. Sessions will commence remotely via Zoom in October with in-person sessions at The Ark in Temple Bar from November 2022 onwards, subject to government guidelines.

Please note that The Ark Children’s Council is strictly for children who will be going into 4th or 5th class in September 2021.

For further information and to apply go to ark.ie/news/post/be-part-of-the-ark-childrens-council-2021-22.

Applications should be submitted by 5pm on Friday 6 August 2021.

Irish Architecture Foundation (IAF)
Deadline: Friday, 6 August 2021

The Irish Architecture Foundation invites applications from architects and architectural graduates to participate in the 2021/22 Architects in Schools initiative. Starting in September 2021, it is a great opportunity to gain CPD points while sharing your knowledge of architecture with young people and teachers in a fun and engaging way.

You will work directly with students in their school, supporting them as they learn how to explore, research, design and communicate their ideas about architecture and the built environment. You will also collaborate with students and teachers to select work for the annual Architects in Schools exhibition in the Museum of Country Life, Mayo, in May 2022.

The Architects in Schools programme is entering into its 9th cycle. It is supported by the Arts Council of Ireland, the Department of Education and Skills and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. In 2020/21 the programme reached 63 schools nationwide (up from 28 in 2019/20). 36 dedicated architects delivered workshops in a wide range of school types nationwide.

There are two programme options for schools. Architects can work across a combination of these options if working with a number of schools:

Programme A: (Full)

20 hours work in total (8 hours preparation, 12 hours delivery) for a fee of €1000 (incl. VAT), on a schedule agreed between you and your assigned school.

Programme B: (Introductory)

4 hours work in total (1 hour preparation, 3 hours delivery) for a fee of €200 (incl. VAT), on a schedule agreed between you and your assigned school.

If you have good communication skills and are looking for exciting ways to expand your practice, we would love to hear from you!

For further information and to access the online application form go to architecturefoundation.ie/news/architects-in-schools-2021-2022-open-call-for-architects/.

For questions email learning@architecturefoundation.ie

Discussion led our project

On our first face to face session with our artist, we had a discussion about nature and mainly the bog. We learned about sphagnum moss. Sphagnum moss is good for the environment as it gives us oxygen. From this discussion on our project became focused on nature

Tunde gave us a booklet which we would add to throughout the project. In this booklet, we drew our favourite nature place or thing. Many of the children drew woods, forests, trees, rivers, campsites and waterfalls. In this session we encountered our first difficulty by not being allowed to use rubbers. This was tricky as if you made a mistake you couldn’t rub out, so you would have to draw over it or turn it into something different.

After we drew our nature places, we wrote 3 words to describe this nature place.

We had a discussion about nature in danger. Sadly we were able to think of lots of places and things in nature which were in danger or in trouble.

Some of our ideas were:

Deforestation: cutting down trees.
Overfishing: which is exactly like its name.
Pollution: which is when you litter in the environment.
Forest fires: especially the recent Australian forest fires
Hunting animals for food and sports

We drew a picture of nature in danger in our booklet. We then chose and wrote three words describing our drawings.

We made nature in danger posters. We used our persuasive writing skills to try and convince people to save our nature places and things.

We liked making our nature booklets as we got to choose what we drew. It was fun to colour and draw in the booklets.

Post by Caoimhe, Igor and Fabian

Nature in Danger Poster - Third Class Pupils, Scoil Mhichil Naofa, Co. Kildare

Coole Music & Arts
Until 26^th July 2021

Coole Music & Arts have launched the Carolan’s Rambles Sound Walk, a unique geolocated audio experience along the banks of the Gort River Walk. This audio experience is the creative outcome of Coole Music and Arts’ music school, where musician Sinead Hayes worked with children and teens via Zoom. In this project, the participants explored the life of Turlough Carolan – a composer and musician who preformed across Connaught, Clare and south Ulster in the 1700s – creating artwork, stories, poems and original music compositions over the past three months.

The free ‘Geo-located Sound Walk’ is the first one in Ireland to use this newly launched sonic maps software, is available until 26^th July 2021 along the River Walk in Gort (entrance beside Aldi). Bring headphones and a smart phone and hold your camera over the QR code on the Carolan’s Rambles poster or download the App through www.coole-music.com.

An e-book containing 19 original musical compositions composed by the children is available to download from their website here: https://www.coole-music.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Carolans-Rambles-Tune-Book-Draft-4-1.pdf. For more information on the project, see https://www.coole-music.com/ or contact Ellie Farrell at info@coole-music.com.

Dublin City Council Arts Service
Throughout summer 2021

Over seven weeks of Summer, Dublin City Arts Office and Libraries are delighted to present Inside Out – a feast of free online and outdoor workshops and performances for children and families. Events are free but booking is required through Eventbrite.

Summer Programme includes:

Underwater Moves: Early Years Dance workshops with Monica Munoz
Dates: 27th July, 28th July or 29th July, 10.15 – 10.45 or 11.45 – 12.15

The Storybook Treasure Trail: Performance based, interactive, outdoor family friendly adventure with the Gaiety School of Acting
Dates: 24th July, 7th August, 14th August, 11-11.45am, 12.45-1.30pm or 2.30-3.15pm

CuriousB: A pop-up festival site that you and your family will dream up, design and play in with ReCreate.
Dates: 4th August, 11th August, 10.15 – 11.00 & 12:00 – 12: 45

Throughout summer 2021

For the full line-up of workshops and performances, see here: Inside_Out_Arts_and_Libraries_Summer_2021.pdf

Events are free but booking is required. Capacity is limited to ensure that this is a good experience for children. To book workshops, see here: www.dublincity.ie/events.

The beginning…

Our project started in March during lockdown. We met our artist Tunde for the first time online. We did two sessions on video call on Google Classroom. Tunde showed us examples of her work and we came up with some ideas of what we might like to do in our project.

We completed our first art task at home. We drew a map of a place when we were at home. Some children drew real maps and some drew imaginary maps. Some ideas include : A map of school, A fairytale map, Memory map of a holiday in Czech, Inside a house, Japan, France, A layout of a ship.

When we got back to school we continued our project in person. We looked at real maps of counties, towns, places, countries. We looked at different symbols on the maps and tried to figure out what they represented. We listed all of our findings on the board.

We drew a map showing our journeys from home to school. We taped a long strip of white paper to our desk. The paper was cash register roll normally used for receipts. We had to draw everything we saw on our way to school. We choose three colours and we only coloured the things on the map which contained those colours. We recorded the sounds that we heard on our journey to school on our map by drawing symbols. We did the same thing for our other senses, what we smelled, touched and tasted.

We enjoyed using lots and lots of long receipt paper. We loved adding our senses to the map as this was something we had not done before. We found this tricky at the beginning because we had to try and remember what we experienced each time but we figured it out.

Post By Noelle, Megan and Linards

Centre for Continuing Education
Dates: 19 July – 9 August

The Centre for Continuing Education at NCAD offers a range of short summer courses in art and design for adults and school leavers (16+) who want to explore their creative potential, learn new skills, or develop an on-going practice.

Summer courses are at different levels; there are introductory courses suitable for beginners, or for those considering returning to or progressing within higher education. If you want to learn something new you can choose beginners courses, and if you have established an arts practice and want to continue to expand and explore your options you can choose advanced courses.

Portfolio preparation courses are suitable for students considering applying to third level undergraduate art and design courses and wish to complete a portfolio in preparation.

Where students are interested in applying to the accredited part-time autumn options or want to progress within art and design they can consider taking one or more summer workshops as a way of developing skills and knowledge in a subject area.

Places on summer short courses are allocated on a first come first served basis. If a course is over-subscribed it is possible to join a wait list for cancellations.

Dates: 19 July – 9 August

For more information, see https://www.ncad.ie/continuing-education/cead-apply/summer-course-descriptions/

National Museum of Ireland
Deadline: 30th July 2021

The Education Department of the National Museum of Ireland is looking for artists working in visual arts, design, drama, film, storytelling, architecture, craft and/or other arts disciplines with experience of designing and delivering workshops to meet the learning styles and needs of a range of audiences, including adults, schools and intergenerational groups such as families.

While currently prioritising online engagement programmes, the National Museum of Ireland are inviting facilitators who are interested in creating both online content and in facilitating onsite programmes. Those eligible will have experience in the delivery of digital-based content in a virtual capacity and should be comfortable operating digital based equipment and programmes.

Facilitators and artists who register their interest in working with the Museum may be invited to work with them, at one or more of its four sites, and/or to create one or more short videos or participate in the Museum’s public engagement programmes through live online or onsite workshops or talks.

See here for artist/facilitator’s brief.
Click here for the application form.

Any queries can be directed to bookings@museum.ie.

Deadline: 30th July 2021

The Gaiety School of Acting

Despite the fact that scientific developments permeate and enrich the lives of young people on a daily, or even hourly basis, studies across Europe are identifying pockets of this demographic that are struggling to relate to and engage with the science curriculum in the classroom. According to Science Foundation Ireland’s 2015 Science Barometer report, young women from less affluent backgrounds are less inclined to identify with science education at second level. This has a direct impact on the number of students from this demographic advancing to third level and ultimately working within the field.

Drilling down further into the statistics, researchers have found that young women from a cultural minority background or who identify as LGBTQIAP+ are even less likely to develop a positive scientific identity, meaning a far reduced number of people from these societal groups tend to aspire to careers in science.

With the aim to address these gaps in science engagement, The Gaiety School of Acting has teamed up with partners from Ireland, Finland, Poland and Holland to investigate ways in which performance, and specifically comedy improvisation, can be utilised by science educators to impact on their students in a new and dynamic way. The three year I-Stem project, supported by the Erasmus Plus fund, began on September 1st 2020.

In its first publication ‘Creative Methods in Science Teaching – Ways Forward!’ an e-book resource for teachers, STEM subjects are related to arts. Use of arts in education tell us something about society: our educational systems and its angles of entry are creating the scientists of tomorrow. The combination of arts and science gives us a better starting point to develop our full potential which is needed when creating something new.

The publication has a preface video from Dr. Niamh Shaw, to view go to istem-project.eu/e-book/

This publication presents research and best practices of using arts as a means of improving pedagogy and classroom practice in STEM education. In these pages “STEAM” represents STEM plus the arts–humanities, language arts, dance, drama, music, visual arts, design and new media. It draws on theoretical understandings of arts in STEM disciplines to illustrate how researchers and practitioners are using creative initiatives to promote inclusive teaching approaches.

The e-book is aimed at post-primary school teachers who are currently using arts within their teaching practice or have an interest in doing so in the future. Examples of STEAM teaching in Poland, the Netherlands, Ireland and Finland are given. It is not intended to provide a fully comprehensive exploration of all aspects of arts in STEM disciplines. The I-Stem Project acknowledges the necessary limitations of this resource, but trusts that it will serve its purpose of guiding you through the main relevant concepts, and that it will give you insights and inspiration for your teaching.

To download the resource go to istem-project.eu/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/I-STEM_e-book.pdf

Music Generation Clare
Deadline: 12noon, 9 July 2021

Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board invites applications for the five year, fixed-term position of Music Generation Development Officer in Co Clare. The Music Generation Development Officer will be responsible for managing a programme of performance music education on behalf of County Clare Local Music Education Partnership.

The successful candidate will have a broad understanding of the diversity of effective, contemporary approaches across the diversity of performance music education – and will have the skills and experience to develop a programme that responds to the specific needs of children and young people.

Music Generation Clare is part of Music Generation – Ireland’s national music education programme, which is co-funded by U2, The Ireland Funds, the Department of Education and Local Music Education Partnerships.

Deadline: 12noon, 9th July 2021

Application form and full job description are available at www.lcetb.ie/mgce/ Completed application forms should be emailed to recruitment@lcetb.ie. Please indicate in the subject line of your e-mail “Ref Number 21/12″.

Visual Artists’ Ireland
Dates: Ongoing

VAI is updating their research into the real impact and experience of the Artists’ Payments Guidelines. They have created a carefully edited questionnaire to capture the information that they need to continue their advocacy work in that area. They want to know about artists working at all levels of experience, and especially to know about artists who may not have generated an income from their practice during 2019 or 2020.

They are also asking organisations questions about their experience of the Guidelines and looking at their realities. They believe that it is important to get both sides of the story, and to understand those who have effectively implemented payment policies as well as those who have yet to do so, as well as the barriers that they may experience in their efforts to support artists.

Visual Artists Ireland is the Representative body for professional visual artists in Ireland.

To fill in the 5 minute survey, see here: https://visualartists.ie/vai-survey-on-artists-payments-and-workplace/

Chamber Choir Ireland
Deadline: 5pm, 24 June, 2021

This July, a group of aspiring composers age 15-18 will have the opportunity to work remotely with professional composers and singers to create their own Choral Postcards—short pieces of music written for four-part choir, in a joint project with Chamber Choir Ireland and the Contemporary Music Centre.

All sessions will be held via Zoom and it is free to participate.

To apply, please send the following to education@chamberchoirireland.com:
1. Any examples of music you’ve written, either for choir or any other instrument/combination of instruments
2. A note outlining your reasons for applying
3. A recommendation from your school music teacher, instrumental/vocal teacher, or choir conductor, outlining your capacity to be involved in a choral composition project with Chamber Choir Ireland

Deadline: 5pm Thursday 24th June, 2021

For more information, see: www.chamberchoirireland.com/learning-participation/choral-postcards/

Creativity & Change, MTU

Applications now open for the September intake of Creativity & Change ’21/’22

Creativity & Change’s accredited, Special Purpose Award programme, targets educators, change-makers, activists, artists, youth and community workers, adult educators, volunteers and anyone who is interested in how creative engagement can nurture global citizenship and empathic action around local and global justice themes.

Based at Crawford College of Art & Design, Cork, Creativity & Change is about creativity and its power to ignite empathy, passion and learning about our interconnected and interdependent world. It is about imagining more humane, just and viable ways to live and to connect with how we think, live, and act in the world. This course explores how we can live as connected global citizens becoming part of the changes we want to see.

In 2020/21, Creativity & Change have developed a new pop-up mobile classroom initiative. They have a new cargo e-bike to carry materials and participants are asked to bring bicycles where possible and they travel together to different locations around Cork City and surrounds, applying learning and creatively responding to the outdoor environment. Allowances are made for participants with mobility difficulties.

The course fee is €680. This is a subsidised fee that is made possible by the support of a grant from Irish Aid’s Development Education unit. Places on this programme are offered to suitable applicants on a rolling basis and will close once they reach maximum participant number.

It is advised to apply for the programme as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

Amplifying Voices Scholarships: Creativity & Change are consistently seeking to improve the accessibility of our programme and would love to provide opportunities to those who may have previously experienced barriers to accessing post—graduate education, such as members of minority groups, those in the Direct Provision system, or Travellers. They are now offering a number of free places on the course to those who may not have otherwise been in a position to apply. To apply for a scholarship, see www.creativityandchange.ie/amplifying-voices-scholarships/

Apply for Creativity & Change here: www.cit.ie/course/CRACRCH9

Please contact helen.okeeffe@cit.ie with any queries or see creativityandchange.ie.

BLAST Arts-in-Education Residencies
Deadline: 30 September 2021

Arts in Education Residency Initiative in Primary and Post-primary Schools

The Department of Education has developed a new innovative Arts-in-Education BLAST Residency Programme in 2021, which will enable up to 400 new Arts-in-Education Residencies in schools each year.

This initiative aims to support the integration of the principles and key skills outlined in the Arts in Education Charter and the Creative Ireland Programme (2017-2022), Pillar 1 Creative Youth.

The aim of this scheme is to give pupils in schools all over the country the opportunity to work with a professional artist on unique projects, to be originated and planned between the artist, the teacher and the school, under the coordination of the Education Support Centres Ireland ESCI’s network of 21 full-time education centres. This initiative supports children and young people for the future, where skills like the ability to connect and collaborate with others, engage in creative and critical thinking and practice inclusivity at every level, will be paramount to peace, stability, sustainable economic growth and equality.

What is proposed is a unique streamlined process whereby schools apply for an artist on the Online Register of Approved Artists, who are already trained for the new BLAST Arts-in-Education Residency Programme, managed by the local education centre. The education centre will also pay the artist which will further remove the administrative burden on teachers and schools.

How this BLAST Residency initiative will work

The Education Centre:
While the programme will be nationally coordinated by the Arts in Education administrative base located at the Education Centre Tralee, schools will apply for a BLAST Arts-in-Education Residency to the full-time education centre in their area, based on the Online Register of Approved Artists. The Register of Approved Artists in each education centre will be arranged by artist and discipline, include relevant required and approved training experience, examples of previous work and examples of relevant or related experience in an educational and community context.

In excess of 300 artists are currently trained and registered on the Online Register of Approved Artists, managed by the education centre network nationally. All artists will have submitted their Child Safeguarding Best Practice Policy (to include Child Safeguarding Statement) and their Certificate of completion of the Children First Training module to the education centre.

What is proposed is a unique streamlined process when schools apply for an artist under the new BLAST Arts-in-Education Residency Programme. The education centre will also arrange for payment of the artist, which will further remove the administrative burden on teachers and schools.

Garda vetting:
Garda vetting for artists for successful school applications will be organised with the individual artist by the education centre in collaboration with the school. Schools may separately (if they wish) request the artist to apply for Garda vetting specifically to work in their school.

The Artists:
Artists from any artistic discipline, who have been trained in partnership working with schools, will be registered with each of the 21 full-time ESCI centres. Artistic disciplines include visual arts, crafts, music, dance, drama, literature and film. Creative disciplines will be expanded as the residency programme develops over the next number of years.

The artists on the Register of Approved Artists will have been previously trained and have engaged in school residencies under the Teacher-Artist Partnership CPD and Residency initiative or the Arts in Junior Cycle Programme which are both approved and led by the Department of Education.

The School:
The schools must be in the catchment of the local full-time education centre. Schools may submit only one application. Schools should make their own selection of artists on the Approved Register, based on CVs/examples of recent work, training and recommendations. Inclusion of artists on the Approved Register is based on training in the education centre (TAP) in addition to suitability/artistic qualification and has taken place in advance to ensure the selected artist satisfies school policies in relation to engagement of external personnel.

Once a school is approved for the scheme, the school has a commitment to the artist, who will have earmarked that time for the project and could potentially turn down other work at the times scheduled to work with the school.

This initiative encourages:

schools, primary and post-primary, that have not recently had an opportunity to participate in such creative initiatives, to apply
schools supporting inclusion and enhanced arts-in-education engagement with students from disadvantaged backgrounds and students with special educational needs to apply
schools that have a track record in teacher-artist partnership working in the classroom and school to apply
a whole-school commitment to the project, but it is not a requirement that all classes work with the artist
projects should have regard to the relevant school curricula where appropriate and have a focus on process

BLAST Arts-in-Education Residency funding:
The artist’s fee is €1,000 per residency. This is funded by the Department of Education via each education centre. The education centre will pay the artist in accordance with agreed guidelines after the artist and teacher/school evaluations have been submitted and received. In certain instances, this may include the payment of two instalments of €500 with agreement.

The artist will be funded for 20 contact hours, including 6 hours planning/development/review time. Participating schools must pay for materials associated with the project and also for documentation of the project through photographs, for example, and any other costs involved including insurance costs. Funded residencies can be delivered throughout the academic year commencing in September in the year the residency was approved.
Schools must acknowledge the Department of Education and the local education centre in all publicity relating to the project.
Successful applications:

Successful schools will be required to sign a short contract with their local education centre accepting the terms of the BLAST Arts-in-Education Residency Programme prior to the commencement of the residency. Successful residencies should not be started until official written notification to proceed has been received from the education centre and once Garda vetting has been completed and this has been communicated to the school.
It is a specific condition of this residency programme that a teacher works closely and collaborates with the artist to plan the learning experience and is present at all times with the artist while working with students in the school and to enhance further teacher-artist partnership. Schools will be responsible for ensuring the residency complies with Public Health advice relevant at the time of the project.

Evaluation:
The education centre will put in place the necessary evaluation for Arts-in-Education Residencies. This will include a school visit, completion and return of the Teacher/School Feedback Form and the Artist Feedback Form. The second instalment of the artist fee will be paid following the submission of the final reports.

Any images submitted by the school either in reports or on completing the project may be used to promote the scheme through print and other media including social media. It is therefore important that the schools have permission for the use of such images, noting in the consent forms that they will be used for this purpose, and only send images to the education centre once parental consent has been obtained.
Guidelines for application

A note on COVID-19 related Public Health Guidance: Schools should base proposals on the best public health advice and guidance available at the time of application.

Completed applications must include:

a completed application form
a written proposal for the project indicating the aims of the project, the theme, materials, processes, anticipated outcomes, deliverability, number of contact hours and number of classes and pupils that will participate in the project

Please also indicate the planned time-frame schedule and planned method of documentation for the project.

The proposal should demonstrate a whole school commitment to the project. (This does not mean that all children must participate in the project rather that the whole school should be supportive and flexible in facilitating the project).

Applications will open on 4 June 2021. The closing date is 30 September 2021.

Download BLAST Arts-in-Education Application Form

For more information or to apply, see http://www.gov.ie/blast/

Irish Architecture Foundation
Date: 2pm, Friday 25 June

In collaboration with the London Festival of Architecture, Irish Architecture Foundation will host a live, virtual panel discussion entitled Together We Care About Public Spaces as part of their ‘Architects in Schools’ initiative 2021.

The panel will include Blaithin Quinn (Irish Architecture Foundation), Muhammad Achour (Places of ARcture), Frank Monahan (Architecture at the Edge) and students and teachers from Holy Faith and Synge Street secondary schools in Dublin, Ireland, and focus on imaginary public realm projects as part of the Irish Architecture Foundation’s ‘Architects in Schools‘ initiative 2021.

In their collaborative work with the students, Muhammad and Frank focused on care, co-creation, pride, citizen engagement and ownership in the design of public space. How we care for our public realm is always relevant, even more so now as we adapt to life in a post-pandemic world.

‘Architects in Schools’ is supported by the Arts Council of Ireland, Department of Education and Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

Date: 2pm, Friday 25 June

For more information, see: https://architecturefoundation.ie/event/architects-in-schools-at-london-festival-of-architecture-together-we-care-about-public-spaces/

Irish Architecture Foundation
Dates: 15 – 30 June 2021

Registration is open for IAF’s International Summer School, a series of live, virtual seminars and workshops exploring the relationship between architecture and media. The Summer School will explore how architecture as culture is mediated, communicated, disseminated, represented, experienced and consumed through the diverse media of filmmaking, podcasting and critical writing.

Events are suitable for post-primary school pupils.

Tuesday 22nd & Friday 25th June – Architecture and Podcasts
Monday 28th & Wednesday 30th June – Architecture and Writing

Attendees can look forward to an exciting lineup of speakers and workshop facilitators including:
Emmett Scanlon (IRL), Matthew Blunderfield (UK), Grace La (USA), Inga Saffron (USA), Mimi Zeiger (USA), Tom Ravenscroft (UK) & Shane O’Toole (IRL).

For more information, see: architecturefoundation.ie/event/international-summer-school-architecture-and-media/

Kids’ Own Publishing Partnership
Deadline: 5pm, 21 June 2021

Kids’ Own Publishing Partnership are seeking 8 professional artists and writers (4 artists and 4 writers) to join their panel specifically for collaborative book-making and publishing projects with children and young people. Are you an artist or writer with a strong professional practice who is interested in exploring collaborative ways of working with children and young people? Would you like join a panel of experts who will lead on developing new publications for Kids’ Own with groups of children and young people?

Having developed an approach to collaborative publishing with children and young people over two decades, they are inviting applications from people who would like to participate in a 2-day funded training programme and subsequently be part of a panel, from which artist–teacher pairs will be selected to work on future projects.

Kids’ Own invite applications from all over the island of Ireland, and especially welcome applications from diverse communities that are reflective of the communities of children they work with, and of artistic and cultural life in Ireland.

Deadline: 5pm, 21st June 2021

For more information or to apply, see https://kidsown.ie/callout-exciting-training-opportunity-for-artists-and-writers-interested-in-working-with-children-and-young-people/

Music Generation
Deadline: 22 June 2021

Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board invites applications for the following five year, fixed-term position:

Music Generation Development Officer (Limerick County)

Ref number: 21/11

A Music Generation Development Officer will be appointed by Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board and will be responsible for managing a programme of performance music education on behalf of Limerick County Local Music Education Partnership.

The successful candidate will have a broad understanding of the diversity of effective, contemporary approaches across the diversity of performance music education; and will have the skills and experience to develop a programme that responds to the specific needs of young people in disadvantaged communities.

Music Generation Limerick County is part of Music Generation – Ireland’s national music education programme, which is co-funded by U2, The Ireland Funds, the Department of Education, and Local Music Education Partnerships.

Application form and full particulars are available here. Completed application forms should be returned BY EMAIL ONLY to recruitment@lcetb.ie not later than 12 noon, Tuesday 22 June 2021.

Please indicate in the subject line of your e-mail “Ref Number 21 /11”. Late applications or CVs will not be considered. It is the responsibility of the candidates to ensure that the application form is received at the stated address before the stated deadline. Canvassing will disqualify. Garda Vetting will apply.

Based on the volume of applications received short-listing may apply. Short-listing will take place on the basis of the information provided in the application form. Depending on the qualifications and experience of applicants, short-listing thresholds may be significantly higher than the minimum standards set out.

Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board is an equal opportunities employer.

For further information go to www.musicgeneration.ie/news/job-opportunity-music-generation-development-officer-limerick-county

The Creative Ireland Programme
Date: 12 June 2021

Earlier this month (May) Catherine Martin TD, Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, announced details of Cruinniú na nÓg 2021, a day of free creative activity for children and young people under the age of 18. Cruinniú na nÓg 2021 is a collaboration between the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, the Creative Ireland Programme, local authorities and RTÉ and is the only event of its kind in the world.

Announcing Cruinniú na nÓg 2021, Minister Martin said:

“Over the past 3 years Cruinniú na nÓg has become a key date in Ireland’s cultural calendar. It provides opportunities for Ireland’s 1.2 million children and young people to be inquisitive, innovative and to fulfil an inner creative talent. The emphasis is always on participation and trying something new like knitting, drumming, stop-start animation, contemporary dance and so much more. All events are free and are accessible online.

This time last year we were forced to bring all our Cruinniú na nÓg events online, yet it proved to be our most successful Cruinniú to date with hundreds of thousands of young people from around the world joining us in our national day of youth creativity. This year we hope to replicate the same level of international excitement with new and exciting projects.”

Building on the success of 2020, hundreds of events have already been planned by Creative Ireland Culture and Creativity teams in local authorities around the country. These teams are key to the successful delivery of Cruinniú na nÓg as their events are planned to respond to the needs of local children and young people. This year we will see events such as Circus Factory in Carraigaline in Cork, a live interactive workshop on Upcycled Clothes in Louth and Dublin Zoo are inviting young people to explore the wonderful world of animals without backbones!

In light of the public health restrictions that are currently in force, the Creative Ireland Programme and its partners have developed a number of creative, cultural and engaging “calls to action” which children, young people and their families can create in their own homes and gardens on Saturday 12th June.

These include:

Knitting Across the Nation: Airfield Estate in Dundrum will send out 400 wool packs to young knitters around the country. These packs will contain wool from Airfield’s own flock of Jacob’s sheep are designed to foster a long term love of craft making, sustainability and creativity in young Irish people.

Nenagh Children’s Film Festival: Working with Cartoon Saloon’s Grainne Fordham, children and young people will learn new film making and the latest in stop-motion animation skills in a series of on-line workshops. Children and young people are also invited to this year’s festival for free which will feature the work of young Irish film makers.

Garageland is a music project that gives young Irish bands an opportunity to step out of their bedrooms and onto Garageland Youth TV, a dedicated online TV channel designed to give young musicians the same opportunities as their older peers. Garageland is proudly supported by RTÉ 2XM.

Let’s Dance is a Dance Ireland project which aims to support youth dance companies around the country, and connect with hard to reach groups who want to find out more about dance in Ireland. An experienced creative team, including a professional choreographer, a digital producer and a dedicated coordinator will be in place to provide a full suite of online resources all aimed at connecting more young people with dance.

Imagine-Orchestra is presented by the world-famous Royal Irish Academy of Music (RIAM) who want to create a world record for the biggest online youth orchestra. No formal musical instruments or training required! Imagine-Orchestra will also provide children with access to digital resources that explore the creation of music and sound, through instruments, the body, and items around the home.

Céilí in the Kitchen: A céilí in the kitchen can happen anywhere in the world and embrace all cultures and traditions. Following on from the success of last year’s céilí, Áirc Damhsa will deliver a series of Meitheal Workshops – connecting young people, youth groups and schools to take part in a set programme across the 4 weeks leading up to Cruinniú na nÓg.

Beat Your Drum: Working with drummer Brian Fleming, the Glór Arts Centre and the Creative Ireland Programme and the Department of Foreign Affairs will deliver an international drumming programme that will start in Ireland on the bodhrán and travel the globe utilising the indigenous drums of Africa, Asia, the Americas and Europe.

TG4, with support from the Gaeltacht division of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, will produce a unique series of Irish language projects including small tailor made features about the Cruinniú na nÓg 2021 national projects, Cruthaím 33 will champion the talents of 33 children and young people from every county in the country as well as a representative of our young diaspora and the day itself will be marked by a TikTok Debs fairy tale from the award winning writer Philip Doherty.

Online supports and resources are provided by the Creative Ireland Programme in partnership with the Airfield Trust, Nenagh Children’s Film Festival, Garageland, Dance Ireland, Royal Irish Academy of Music, Áirc Damhsa, Glór and RTÉ to enable children and young people to unleash their creativity.

Further details and resources are now available from the Creative Ireland website and RTÉ platforms see www.creativeireland.gov.ie and www.rte.ie.

In addition, local authorities will also be hosting a range of cultural and creative activities and online events for Cruinniú na nÓg – full details will also be available at www.cruinniu.creativeireland.gov.ie.

The Ark
Booking closes 1st July 2021

The Ark, Dublin are delighted to present a number of creative courses for teachers this summer:

The Magic of Everyday Materials in the Early Years Classroom
Date: 5–9 July 2021

The Ark and Dublin West Education Centre are delighted to present an innovative new week-long online course for teachers working with children in the Early Years.

This hands-on, creative course focuses on a visual arts approach to working with very young children, supporting participants to develop and enhance their confidence and skills to deliver process and play-based art experiences. This year, due to ongoing public health restrictions, this face-to-face course will take place live online using Zoom video conferencing.

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

For booking and further information go to ark.ie/events/view/the-magic-of-everyday-materials-in-the-early-years-classroom

Creative Music & Drama in the Classroom
Dates: 5 – 9 Jul 2021

We are excited to present this established and popular engaging arts summer course focusing on the two curriculum areas of Drama and Music. This year, due to ongoing public health restrictions, this face-to-face course will take place live online using Zoom video conferencing.

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

For booking and further information go to ark.ie/events/view/teachers-5-day-course-creative-music-drama-2021-online

Bringing Science Alive in the Classroom through Drama
Dates: 12–16 Jul 2021

Now in its third year, we are excited to present a five-day arts-science summer course led by scientist and theatre-maker Dr. Niamh Shaw. This year, due to ongoing public health restrictions, this face-to-face course will take place live online using Zoom video conferencin

Art practice as a means of understanding your landscape and sense of belonging

How to Book Tickets

Using Art to explore and learn about Ecology

Tickets

Education Support Centres Ireland (ESCI)

Collaborative Play with LEGO for Children with ASD & ADHD

Location & Dates: Sligo EC, 2nd Sep, 7-8pm Wexford ESC, 1 Oct, 7-8pm Drumcondra EC, 2nd Oct, 7-8pm Laois ESC, 7th Oct, 7-8pm

Establishing a School Library : Practical Tips to get Started

Location & Date: Wexford Education Centre, 5th September, 2024, 7-8pm

Local Voices

Location & Dates: Dublin West EC, Laois ESC, Kildare ESC and Drumcondra EC, 9th September, 2024, 7-8pm

Fighting Words

YPCE Bursary – Art and Ecology for Children and Young People

Fighting Words

Deadline: Friday 30th August 2024

Arts in Education Portal

Arts in Education Portal

‘Marino 100: Back to the Future’ Creative Cluster

Fingal County, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County, South Dublin County and Dublin City Council.

Closing date for proposals: 2pm, 12 August 2024.

Music Generation

Arts in Education Portal

National College of Art and Design

The Ark

MTU Crawford College of Art & Design

Fighting Words

Baboró Internation Arts Festival for Children

Grace Park Educate Together National School

The Arts Council of Ireland

Teacher Training at The Ark

Performing Arts Forum

MTU Crawford College of Art and Design

Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA)

Book a Tour and Workshop

ZOOM Presentation

Reflection

Baboró International Arts Festival for Children

FÍS Film Project

Project title Marino 100: Back to the Future ~ Creative Minds Art + Culture Festival 2024 ~

European Parliament

Limerick School of Art & Design TUS

Department of Education

Department of Education

Arts in Education Portal

The Family’s Experience

Creative Youth

Department of Education & The Arts Council of Ireland

NCCA

Photo Museum Ireland

Department for Education – TAP+

National Opera House

MTU Crawford College of Art & Design

Mónica Muñoz Dance

The Adult’s Experience

Department of Education: BLAST Initiative

Siamsa Tíre Theatre & Art Gallery

FÍS FILM Project

Kids’ Own Publishing Partnership

Education Support Centres Ireland (ESCI)

Cork Education Support Centre

Wexford Education Support Centre

Drumcondra Education Support Centre

Blackrock Education Centre

Catalyst International Film Festival

The Children at the Centre

UNESCO

Cork County Council Library and Arts Service

JCSP Libraries

Barnstorm Theatre Company

Solstice Arts Centre

Fold

disAPPEAR

Department of Education

International Teacher-Artist Partnership (I-TAP-PD) PD

Mother Tongues Festival

Creativity and Multilingualism – Panel Discussion and Workshop

“Go Beyond Language” Workshop on Multilingual Performance

The Ark

Children’s Books Ireland

The Arts Council of Ireland

Location & Dates:
Sligo EC, 2nd Sep, 7-8pm
Wexford ESC, 1 Oct, 7-8pm
Drumcondra EC, 2nd Oct, 7-8pm
Laois ESC, 7th Oct, 7-8pm

Location & Dates:
Dublin West EC, Laois ESC, Kildare ESC and Drumcondra EC, 9th September, 2024, 7-8pm

Project title
Marino 100: Back to the Future ~ Creative Minds Art + Culture Festival 2024 ~

GUIDED TOUR: Get Stuffed! – Merrion Street, Dublin 2 – Junior Infants-2^nd Class