Arts in Education Portal Spring Regional Day 2025 – Roundup

Arts in Education Portal: Spring Regional Day 2025
17 May 2025

We had a really great day at our Arts in Education Portal Spring Regional Day at VISUAL Carlow. Teachers, artists, art educators and others came along to this stunning venue to explore new ideas for their creative practices, meet peers, and learn more about arts in education projects in the South-East.

The morning started with tea, coffee and pastries in the sunny environs of VISUAL. We then moved indoors for two presentations which demonstrated innovative methods for arts engagement.

The first was from VISUAL’s Learning Curator Clare Breen and artist Jane Fogarty. They discussed artist-led approaches for working with children in exhibition spaces. Clare emphasised the importance of a non-hierarchical approach to working with children and the possibilities that this opens up for both the participants and the educators. Jane talked about their project Many Hands, a collaborative public sculpture project created by children.

The second presentation was delivered by Creative Associate Artist Muireann Nic Cába on Practical Podcasting. Muireann showcased several of her podcasting projects which took place in primary and secondary schools, and also in YouthReach settings. She talked about the power that podcasting has and the special appeal it holds with children who might not otherwise engage with the arts. She also shared handy tools and tips to start creating our own podcasts in educational settings.

After a Q&A session, attendees had a delicious lunch catered by Lennon’s Cafe.

Two creative workshops were available in the afternoon session, these offered attendees fun, hands-on activities. These took place in VISUAL’s gallery with the backdrop of beautiful wall hangings by artist Deirdre O’Mahony, looking out onto the gallery’s pond.

Agnieszka Krym led a nature-based workshop where participants created their own kokedama, a moss-covered plant sculpture rooted in the Japanese tradition of botanical art. This workshop was very tactile and a lot of fun. We got to get our hands dirty working with soil, moss, ferns, ivy and many other plants.

Kokedama Creative Workshop with Aga Kyrm at Portal Regional Day 2025

Meanwhile Olana Kucher led a textile-based workshop looking at sustainable fabrics and upcycling. Participants learnt how to make new fabrics from old, creating colourful pieces that can be used as placemats or wall hangings. Olana opened up many possibilities for upcycling fabric within classroom settings.

Circular Fashion Creative Workshop with Olana Kucher at Portal Regional Day 2025

The day concluded with a strong sense of inspiration and renewed energy for creative teaching and learning. From thought-provoking presentations to engaging hands-on workshops, the Spring Regional Day at VISUAL Carlow offered a rich tapestry of experiences that celebrated the role of the arts in education. We left with new ideas, practical tools and meaningful connections – ready to bring fresh creativity into our classrooms and communities.