ENGLISH

NUACHTLITIR


The Portal Team is delighted to announce Little Woodland Heights with Scoil Mhuire Eimhín in County Limerick as the third recipient of the 2025 Arts in Education Portal Documentation Award.

We’re thrilled to be working with the three recipients of our documentation awards over the coming months. Their projects will be featured and showcased on the Portal as the documentation unfolds—stay tuned!

Project Title: Little Woodland Heights

Little Woodland Heights is a programme of interactive music-making sessions for children aged 8-11 exploring connections between forest ecology and music. The programme was designed by composer and educator Nick Roth and has been delivered in schools in Ireland, Ukraine and the UK. Composer Fiona Linnane, soprano Triona Walsh and classroom teacher Nuala Dooly will deliver the project to students at Scoil Mhuire Eimhín in County Limerick – the first Irish presentation of Little Woodland Heights outside of Dublin.

In this programme, over the course of 10 weeks, children learn about biodiversity and the crossover with composition. They embark on a field trip to a forest where each child chooses their own tree to write a short piece of music about. Fiona and Triona will support the children to take sound recordings in the forest, to draw the tree and pay close attention to its features. These features are then connected to musical elements: the branch structure informs rhythm, the leaf patterns melody. At the end of the programme, children perform their compositions alongside planting new trees within their school grounds. This is a highly experimental project, taking the children and facilitators out of their comfort zone to present something out of their usual sphere.

The programme is supported by CoMA (Contemporary Music for All) funded by the Diaphonique Franco-British-Irish fund for classical contemporary music. CoMA’s mission is to create a culture of musical participation and collaboration. Their values call them to be playful, creative, ambitious, inclusive, collaborative and community-focused.

Fiona Linnane – Composer

Fiona is a composer whose practice centres on vocal music including opera, art song and text based works. Nature and the environment are recurring themes in her work. Fiona is the director of Limerick New Music Ensemble (an associate ensemble of CoMA, a participatory new music organisation based in the UK). Work in education and community contexts form a significant part of her practice. She is a TAP trained artist, Creative Schools Creative Associate and a member of the panel of experts for the Heritage in Schools Scheme. Work in community includes two Arts Council of Ireland Artist in the Community Projects – Bells Across the Burren (2013) and working with Limerick Bat Group (2021). Recent arts in education projects include The Irish Elk with Fedamore CNS which will represent Ireland at the Young European Heritage Makers Competition 2025. Fiona’s approach is rooted in inclusivity and joy in sharing contemporary arts practice in classroom environments.

Nuala Dooly – Teacher

Nuala is a primary school teacher with 23 years of experience. She is currently teaching 3rd and 4th class pupils in a multi-class setting at Scoil Mhuire Eimhín, where she is also the Deputy Principal. Nuala is TAP+ trained teacher. She has worked collaboratively with creative artists in the facilitation of both TAP and BLAST residencies within her classroom and the whole school setting. Nuala believes in creating an inclusive, supportive classroom where every student’s unique abilities and ideas are valued. Through hands-on experiences in the arts, she encourages students to express themselves, think critically, and develop problem-solving skills.

Tríona Walsh – Soprano

Tríona is an opera singer, collaborative artist and music educator. Her music education practice is rooted in the use of a child’s first instruments – the voice and the body- as a medium for expression, communication, play, and artistic exploration. Making music together provides children with a plethora of musical and non-musical benefits including building coordination and motor skills, resilience, empathy, and communication skills through co-operative objectives. Triona is a TAP trained artist and works regularly with Music Generation partnerships and Sing Ireland, leading group singing days and providing classroom-based projects in various primary, secondary and early years settings. Her philosophy is one of inclusivity, differentiation and accepting every offer as an artistic expression of the child. Having fun and making ‘mistakes’ are essential ingredients in her collaborative process.

The Portal Team is delighted to announce Creativity in the Classroom with five Primary Schools in Dublin 8 and Dublin 12 as the second recipient of 2025 Arts in Education Portal Documentation Award. This special award celebrates the 10th anniversary of the Arts in Education Portal.

Project: Creativity in the Classroom

Creativity in the Classroom is an artist/ teacher collaborative initiative that emerged from the social and economic devastation of working-class communities in Dublin 8 and 12 in the 1980s & 90s. At that time teachers were witnessing signs of trauma in children in local schools and sought to find ways for children to support the emotional and social wellbeing of the whole child.

In 1997 a cross sectoral discourse led by the Canals Communities Partnerships resulted in the founding of Creativity in the Classroom, (CIC) a school-based creative arts programme in the belief that the arts could actively and positively contribute to the holistic development of the child and their educational experience.

Today, Creativity in the Classroom, continues to enrich the lives of our children, enriched by the ever- growing diversity of our school communities. Children continue to inform the direction of this process-based arts project, working together with artists and teachers. Despite the many challenges facing our children and their families, creativity continues to thrive amongst this generation of makers and doers.

The longitudinal nature of this project has allowed thousands of children to access excellent quality arts education in their classroom supported by the important dynamic of teacher and artist working collaboratively

Schools currently involved
• St James Primary School, Basin Lane, Dublin 8
• Loretto Jnr. Primary School, Crumlin, Dublin 12
• Loretto Snr. Primary School, Crumlin, Dublin 12
• Warrenmount, Presentation Primary School, Blackpitts, Dublin 8
• Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School, Inchicore, Dublin 8

Artists currently involved
Liz McMahon graduated in Fine Art from Limerick School of Art and Design in 1981 and has been involved with many art programmes, in and out of primary schools since. She is the longest serving artist on the project (since 1997) and continues to provide mentorship and support to artists.

Deirdre O’Reilly is a Ceramic artist with a collaborative and personal practice. She has developed a process based practice with children and teachers over the last 20 years in Creativity in the Classroom.

Jane Groves is a visual artist who specialises in working with young people, inspired by her own observations of nature and informed by children’s innate playfulness, and curiosity.

Duffy Mooney Shephard is the newest member of the team. Duffy is an Illustrator and Story maker. She is an experienced art education professional with expertise in workshop facilitation & programming for children, families and schools.

Melissa Hogan: Teacher/ Co-ordinator
Melissa is a primary school teacher with a special interest in the creative arts and the positive impact creative expression has on well-being. She has been involved with Creativity in the Classroom for over 25 years and is passionate about how this wonderful project has enriched the lives of the children it serves in each of the school communities

The Portal Team is delighted to announce The Circus, with St Mary’s Special School in Co. Meath, as the first of three recipients of 2025 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: The Circus

The project being undertaken by St. Mary’s Special School is entitled ‘The Circus’. It is a collaboration between the classroom and art teacher, the creative practitioner and SNAs working to bring to the classroom the fun, colour and sounds of the circus. The Circus theme has provided an ‘irresistible invitation’ to the children to participate actively in the creative process.

They have been able to bring the multi-sensory experience of the Circus to the children, making it accessible in ways they understand and enjoy. This includes sounds, lighting, colour, art, smells, food, animals and of course circus performers. They constructed a ‘Big Tent’, provided opportunities to dress-up as clowns, be jugglers and tightrope walkers, use musical instruments to recreate the circus experience. Further auditory enrichment is provided by the creative practitioner, musician and singer, while the cookery teacher creates the tastes and smells of candy floss and popcorn.

The program responds to the needs and wishes of the children and, in turn, considers their responses in the on-going planning process. The children decide on activities and their own levels of participation and we are guided by that voice in consideration of their individuality, wellbeing, social and emotional development.

Ina Olohan – Art Teacher

Ina is a professional visual artist and the art teacher at St. Mary’s. A multidisciplinary artist, Ina works in various media including print, painting, collage and eco-dyeing. Ina wishes to provide broad based creative opportunities to the students drawing from the visual arts, music and movement. This broad approach evokes a high level of active engagement, focus and enjoyment from the students, as demonstrated through the implementing of the I Am Creative programme and BLAST. This approach also provides valuable learning opportunities across many areas of the curriculum which can be introduced and consolidated through fun art activities. Ina works collaboratively with BLAST participating artist Deirdre Shannon and classroom teacher Siobhan Doughty.

Siobhan Doughty – Classroom teacher

Siobhan is currently teaching eight amazing and energetic learners, aged 13-14 in St Marys Special School. They are following the JCP L1LP. In order to promote success in learning the students require a high level of support to assist them to understand their environment and what is expected of them. Siobhan aims to offer a total communication approach within the classroom with clear instruction, modelling and extrinsic teaching. When it comes to arts and creativity, Siobhan provides a supportive environment that allows the children to lead and explore the material presented in their own unique ways. In this creative space she sees herself as a facilitator of learning through sensory play, music and fun interactive social exchanges.

Deirdre Shannon – Vocalist

Deirdre studied Performance and Classical Singing under the tuition of Professor Mary Brennan ARNCM, GRNCM in the College of Music, Dublin, Ireland. Musical diversification has naturally developed for Deirdre through her experience on the world stage in an array of shows over the years. She featured as a solo vocalist in Anúna 1996-1998, Celtic Woman 2005-2006, Lord of the Dance 1997-2012, Celtic Thunder 2010, Celtic Tenors 2002-2016). Honing her craft further, Deirdre has recorded several TV shows, music specials and two successful solo albums, Deirdre Shannon 2006 and Anamceol 2011.

Deirdre has a deep desire to share her knowledge of music and the industry, but it is her love of music, that makes her such a passionate participant in pedagogy. She has become a successful vocal teacher in her own right, and her school grows, year on year. Deirdre works as a mentor for Minding Creative Minds also, offering help in problem-solving in what can be a complicated industry.

Getting chosen to train through the “I Am Creative” programme has meant that Deirdre can bring her love of music and deliver it in an exciting way into the special school setting. She is very excited to work with the wonderful students in St. Mary’s Special School again through BLAST. Bringing songs like Got A Hat Hat, Jungle Animal Sounds and Circus Clown to life with percussive sounds, dance, facial expression, dress-up. Each child can participate at their own level in their own way. They have the agency to choose. The excitement is infectious and the circus atmosphere rubs off each time, leaving the children feeling accomplished and valued.

Deadline extended: 12 March 2025

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

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

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

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

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

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

Criteria:

To be considered for this opportunity, projects must:

Additional Criteria for the Third Award:

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

Additional criteria:

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

How to make a submission:

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


!!!! 2025 Documentation Award: Little Woodland Heights announced as third recipient

The Portal Team is delighted to announce Little Woodland Heights with Scoil Mhuire Eimhín in County Limerick as the third recipient of the 2025 Arts in Education Portal Documentation Award.

We’re thrilled to be working with the three recipients of our documentation awards over the coming months. Their projects will be featured and showcased on the Portal as the documentation unfolds—stay tuned!

Project Title: Little Woodland Heights

Little Woodland Heights is a programme of interactive music-making sessions for children aged 8-11 exploring connections between forest ecology and music. The programme was designed by composer and educator Nick Roth and has been delivered in schools in Ireland, Ukraine and the UK. Composer Fiona Linnane, soprano Triona Walsh and classroom teacher Nuala Dooly will deliver the project to students at Scoil Mhuire Eimhín in County Limerick – the first Irish presentation of Little Woodland Heights outside of Dublin.

In this programme, over the course of 10 weeks, children learn about biodiversity and the crossover with composition. They embark on a field trip to a forest where each child chooses their own tree to write a short piece of music about. Fiona and Triona will support the children to take sound recordings in the forest, to draw the tree and pay close attention to its features. These features are then connected to musical elements: the branch structure informs rhythm, the leaf patterns melody. At the end of the programme, children perform their compositions alongside planting new trees within their school grounds. This is a highly experimental project, taking the children and facilitators out of their comfort zone to present something out of their usual sphere.

The programme is supported by CoMA (Contemporary Music for All) funded by the Diaphonique Franco-British-Irish fund for classical contemporary music. CoMA’s mission is to create a culture of musical participation and collaboration. Their values call them to be playful, creative, ambitious, inclusive, collaborative and community-focused.

Fiona Linnane – Composer

Fiona is a composer whose practice centres on vocal music including opera, art song and text based works. Nature and the environment are recurring themes in her work. Fiona is the director of Limerick New Music Ensemble (an associate ensemble of CoMA, a participatory new music organisation based in the UK). Work in education and community contexts form a significant part of her practice. She is a TAP trained artist, Creative Schools Creative Associate and a member of the panel of experts for the Heritage in Schools Scheme. Work in community includes two Arts Council of Ireland Artist in the Community Projects – Bells Across the Burren (2013) and working with Limerick Bat Group (2021). Recent arts in education projects include The Irish Elk with Fedamore CNS which will represent Ireland at the Young European Heritage Makers Competition 2025. Fiona’s approach is rooted in inclusivity and joy in sharing contemporary arts practice in classroom environments.

Nuala Dooly – Teacher

Nuala is a primary school teacher with 23 years of experience. She is currently teaching 3rd and 4th class pupils in a multi-class setting at Scoil Mhuire Eimhín, where she is also the Deputy Principal. Nuala is TAP+ trained teacher. She has worked collaboratively with creative artists in the facilitation of both TAP and BLAST residencies within her classroom and the whole school setting. Nuala believes in creating an inclusive, supportive classroom where every student’s unique abilities and ideas are valued. Through hands-on experiences in the arts, she encourages students to express themselves, think critically, and develop problem-solving skills.

Tríona Walsh – Soprano

Tríona is an opera singer, collaborative artist and music educator. Her music education practice is rooted in the use of a child’s first instruments – the voice and the body- as a medium for expression, communication, play, and artistic exploration. Making music together provides children with a plethora of musical and non-musical benefits including building coordination and motor skills, resilience, empathy, and communication skills through co-operative objectives. Triona is a TAP trained artist and works regularly with Music Generation partnerships and Sing Ireland, leading group singing days and providing classroom-based projects in various primary, secondary and early years settings. Her philosophy is one of inclusivity, differentiation and accepting every offer as an artistic expression of the child. Having fun and making ‘mistakes’ are essential ingredients in her collaborative process.

!!!! 2025 Documentation Award: Creativity in the Classroom Announced as Second Recipient

The Portal Team is delighted to announce Creativity in the Classroom with five Primary Schools in Dublin 8 and Dublin 12 as the second recipient of 2025 Arts in Education Portal Documentation Award. This special award celebrates the 10th anniversary of the Arts in Education Portal.

Project: Creativity in the Classroom

Creativity in the Classroom is an artist/ teacher collaborative initiative that emerged from the social and economic devastation of working-class communities in Dublin 8 and 12 in the 1980s & 90s. At that time teachers were witnessing signs of trauma in children in local schools and sought to find ways for children to support the emotional and social wellbeing of the whole child.

In 1997 a cross sectoral discourse led by the Canals Communities Partnerships resulted in the founding of Creativity in the Classroom, (CIC) a school-based creative arts programme in the belief that the arts could actively and positively contribute to the holistic development of the child and their educational experience.

Today, Creativity in the Classroom, continues to enrich the lives of our children, enriched by the ever- growing diversity of our school communities. Children continue to inform the direction of this process-based arts project, working together with artists and teachers. Despite the many challenges facing our children and their families, creativity continues to thrive amongst this generation of makers and doers.

The longitudinal nature of this project has allowed thousands of children to access excellent quality arts education in their classroom supported by the important dynamic of teacher and artist working collaboratively

Schools currently involved
• St James Primary School, Basin Lane, Dublin 8
• Loretto Jnr. Primary School, Crumlin, Dublin 12
• Loretto Snr. Primary School, Crumlin, Dublin 12
• Warrenmount, Presentation Primary School, Blackpitts, Dublin 8
• Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School, Inchicore, Dublin 8

Artists currently involved
Liz McMahon graduated in Fine Art from Limerick School of Art and Design in 1981 and has been involved with many art programmes, in and out of primary schools since. She is the longest serving artist on the project (since 1997) and continues to provide mentorship and support to artists.

Deirdre O’Reilly is a Ceramic artist with a collaborative and personal practice. She has developed a process based practice with children and teachers over the last 20 years in Creativity in the Classroom.

Jane Groves is a visual artist who specialises in working with young people, inspired by her own observations of nature and informed by children’s innate playfulness, and curiosity.

Duffy Mooney Shephard is the newest member of the team. Duffy is an Illustrator and Story maker. She is an experienced art education professional with expertise in workshop facilitation & programming for children, families and schools.

Melissa Hogan: Teacher/ Co-ordinator
Melissa is a primary school teacher with a special interest in the creative arts and the positive impact creative expression has on well-being. She has been involved with Creativity in the Classroom for over 25 years and is passionate about how this wonderful project has enriched the lives of the children it serves in each of the school communities

!!!! 2025 Documentation Award: The Circus with St Mary’s Special School Announced as First Recipient

The Portal Team is delighted to announce The Circus, with St Mary’s Special School in Co. Meath, as the first of three recipients of 2025 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: The Circus

The project being undertaken by St. Mary’s Special School is entitled ‘The Circus’. It is a collaboration between the classroom and art teacher, the creative practitioner and SNAs working to bring to the classroom the fun, colour and sounds of the circus. The Circus theme has provided an ‘irresistible invitation’ to the children to participate actively in the creative process.

They have been able to bring the multi-sensory experience of the Circus to the children, making it accessible in ways they understand and enjoy. This includes sounds, lighting, colour, art, smells, food, animals and of course circus performers. They constructed a ‘Big Tent’, provided opportunities to dress-up as clowns, be jugglers and tightrope walkers, use musical instruments to recreate the circus experience. Further auditory enrichment is provided by the creative practitioner, musician and singer, while the cookery teacher creates the tastes and smells of candy floss and popcorn.

The program responds to the needs and wishes of the children and, in turn, considers their responses in the on-going planning process. The children decide on activities and their own levels of participation and we are guided by that voice in consideration of their individuality, wellbeing, social and emotional development.

Ina Olohan – Art Teacher

Ina is a professional visual artist and the art teacher at St. Mary’s. A multidisciplinary artist, Ina works in various media including print, painting, collage and eco-dyeing. Ina wishes to provide broad based creative opportunities to the students drawing from the visual arts, music and movement. This broad approach evokes a high level of active engagement, focus and enjoyment from the students, as demonstrated through the implementing of the I Am Creative programme and BLAST. This approach also provides valuable learning opportunities across many areas of the curriculum which can be introduced and consolidated through fun art activities. Ina works collaboratively with BLAST participating artist Deirdre Shannon and classroom teacher Siobhan Doughty.

Siobhan Doughty – Classroom teacher

Siobhan is currently teaching eight amazing and energetic learners, aged 13-14 in St Marys Special School. They are following the JCP L1LP. In order to promote success in learning the students require a high level of support to assist them to understand their environment and what is expected of them. Siobhan aims to offer a total communication approach within the classroom with clear instruction, modelling and extrinsic teaching. When it comes to arts and creativity, Siobhan provides a supportive environment that allows the children to lead and explore the material presented in their own unique ways. In this creative space she sees herself as a facilitator of learning through sensory play, music and fun interactive social exchanges.

Deirdre Shannon – Vocalist

Deirdre studied Performance and Classical Singing under the tuition of Professor Mary Brennan ARNCM, GRNCM in the College of Music, Dublin, Ireland. Musical diversification has naturally developed for Deirdre through her experience on the world stage in an array of shows over the years. She featured as a solo vocalist in Anúna 1996-1998, Celtic Woman 2005-2006, Lord of the Dance 1997-2012, Celtic Thunder 2010, Celtic Tenors 2002-2016). Honing her craft further, Deirdre has recorded several TV shows, music specials and two successful solo albums, Deirdre Shannon 2006 and Anamceol 2011.

Deirdre has a deep desire to share her knowledge of music and the industry, but it is her love of music, that makes her such a passionate participant in pedagogy. She has become a successful vocal teacher in her own right, and her school grows, year on year. Deirdre works as a mentor for Minding Creative Minds also, offering help in problem-solving in what can be a complicated industry.

Getting chosen to train through the “I Am Creative” programme has meant that Deirdre can bring her love of music and deliver it in an exciting way into the special school setting. She is very excited to work with the wonderful students in St. Mary’s Special School again through BLAST. Bringing songs like Got A Hat Hat, Jungle Animal Sounds and Circus Clown to life with percussive sounds, dance, facial expression, dress-up. Each child can participate at their own level in their own way. They have the agency to choose. The excitement is infectious and the circus atmosphere rubs off each time, leaving the children feeling accomplished and valued.

!!!! Opportunity: Portal Documentation Award 2025

Deadline extended: 12 March 2025

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

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

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

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

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

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

Criteria:

To be considered for this opportunity, projects must:

Additional Criteria for the Third Award:

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

Additional criteria:

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

How to make a submission:

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