Professor John Johnston Announced As Keynote Speaker for 2025 National Arts In Education Portal Day

Save the date! The 2025 National Arts in Education Portal Day will be hosted at TU Dublin School of Art and Design on Saturday, November 8, 2025.

We are delighted to welcome keynote speaker Professor John Johnston, UNESCO Chair of issues-based arts education at ArtEZ University of the Arts in the Netherlands.

Originally from Belfast, John’s work is dedicated to developing creative and activistic pedagogies that address issues of division and conflict. He is particularly interested in exposing how art, culture and education are weaponised to form single identities based on class, race, and religious difference.

Later in the day, John will also facilitate a creative workshop ‘Introduction to Meaning Centred Education’.

Ticket bookings for the 2025 National Arts In Education Portal Day will open on Wednesday October 8. This free, full-day event brings together arts and education professionals to connect, share ideas, learn, network, get inspired and explore best practices in arts and creativity in education. Expect an inspirational mix of presentations, smaller discussion-led presentations and creative workshops.

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