!!!! Reflections from ITAC8: The Importance of Creativity in Education – Siobhán Cooper

Reflections from ITAC8: The importance of creativity in education.

Two weeks into a new role at the Arts in Education Portal, I was lucky enough to attend the ITAC8 conference in Antwerp, a gathering of teaching artists, educators, performers, cultural leaders, researchers and change-makers from more than 35 countries. As someone new to the education sector, it was perfect timing; I couldn’t have asked for a better introduction to teaching artistry.

The event began with Crosspoint, a percussion project bringing together children and teenagers from around the world, who led us into the main hall in a lively performance using self-made instruments crafted from recycled materials. It was a fantastic start to the event, with the energy radiating from the young performers working as a reminder of why we were there. This was followed by a passionate keynote from Eric Booth, a founding leader of the global field of teaching artistry. The combination set the tone for the weekend as one of collaboration, creative learning and positivity, with a focus on using the arts for the benefit of wider society.

All the workshops I attended highlighted how the impact of arts in education extends far beyond simply creating art, and while all were strong in their own right, I have chosen to write about three in particular. I chose these three because, as a visual artist, these performance-focused workshops were totally outside my comfort zone and, as a result, were the ones I learnt the most from.

Without Words: A mime-inspired workshop led by Becky Baumwoll and Tasha Milkman of Brocken Box Mime in New York, focusing on how we can and do communicate with children ‘without words’. In this workshop, we didn’t speak for the first 45 minutes, yet through the use of body language, visual breadcrumbs and using the empty space, we found ourselves being directed to work together to create human sculptures.

Drama for Well-Being and Social-Emotional Learning: In a workshop led by William Yip, we introduced ourselves using paper, turning what could have been a fairly standard introduction into something creative and engaging. The workshop focused on using play as a form of learning and how to use drama to help young people and children express their emotions, a central theme of William’s paper Flourishing in Rural Classrooms: Empowering “Left-Behind” Children and Teachers in China through Drama Education.

Climate-Voices and Visibility + Just Breathe, Okâwîmâwaskiy – A cross-cultural reconciliation project: My final workshop of the event was a dance and storytelling workshop led by Katradi, an India-based organisation that focuses on bringing communities together and using dance workshops for empathy-based social transformation. The initial part of the workshop was led by Sangeeta Isvaran, a dancer, researcher and social worker. This involved multiple mini acting games, including pretending to be animals with complete strangers in order to break down any awkwardness in a room. The workshop ended with us working with Sangeeta’s colleague, Melanie Kloetzel, who joined remotely from India and talked us through a meditation on how climate change feels for her as a paraplegic who can’t regulate her own body temperature. A powerful experience that worked because of the steps we had gone through earlier in the session.

Final Takeaways from the ITAC8 Conference in Antwerp

These workshops highlighted how a welcoming facilitator and a thoughtfully designed workshop can break down unnecessary hierarchies while creating space for connection, collaboration and confidence – all central to the development of young people today. I never expected to feel comfortable acting or dancing, let alone pretending to be an animal in a dance workshop with a room full of complete strangers. Yet, I felt totally confident and comfortable, a testament to the power of a good workshop.

My biggest takeaway from ITAC8 was a renewed understanding of how important arts and creativity are in education. Not only for developing the arts in Ireland, but for the wider impact arts education can have on communities and young people. I saw so many creative teaching practices that could be integrated across all areas of education; bringing engagement, curiosity and fun into the classroom. When done well, they can also challenge social hierarchies, create a sense of belonging and have a huge impact on young people’s confidence.

Something else that will stay with me is how fun it was. There was a real sense of joy in learning, participating and being willing to look a little silly. If creativity can make adults more willing to engage, more comfortable with one another and more curious about learning, then it shows just how important it can be in how we educate young people. As William Yip said at the beginning of his workshop, “Play is the brain’s favourite way of learning.”

Read Phil Kingston’s ITAC8 reflections here

!!!! Reflections from ITAC8: Bringing Global Teaching Artistry Back to Ireland – Phil Kingston

Reflections from ITAC8: Bringing Global Teaching Artistry Back to Ireland

Walking in on Friday morning there was a multi-cultural buzz in the foyer of De Singel, the expansive arts centre in southern Antwerp where ITAC 8 was being held. Which isn’t a surprise as the majority of delegates were Teaching Artists of various sorts. You know, the type that has you standing up and doing stuff with sometimes grating enthusiasm. No hiding at the back here.

True to form we began with an energetic performance by a huge gang of young people using percussion made entirely from recycled materials (the resonant wheelie bins were particularly cool). Around two hundred of them from across the globe had spent three days rehearsing, and they led us into one of the auditoria with ten minutes of joyful, energetic noise. Joining in as the giddy tail of this arts participation reptile set the playful, participatory tone for three days to come.

Admittedly, I arrived skeptical of the term “Teaching-Artist” and of ITAC itself. However, once ITAC’s warm and efficient director, Madeleine McGirk, introduced the organisation’s work and then was followed by a keynote from “pushy New Yorker” Eric Booth, I was completely sold. ITAC offers a wealth of resources for anyone using the arts for social change. Eric’s clarity of engagement as a speaker and lucidity in explaining its values and tools was inspiring. True to the spirit of the conference, we had even invented a customised greeting for our neighbours within five minutes of his keynote starting (shout out to South Korea’s Ellie, Shin and Hin).

This kind of hands-on participation underpinned all six workshops I attended, with only one being more talk than doing (though we did stage an impromptu tea party in that one). We invented stories, dances, and poems, drew pictures, sang, and spent ten minutes exploring doing everything possible with a humble till roll. That exercise was part of a presentation on working with neurodivergent participants by Margot Wood (Storywood Inclusive Arts, South Africa). Margot encouraged us to embrace non-verbal play, push past our comfort zones, and pay close attention to our rhythms — key elements she uses when auditioning performers to work with neurodivergent and PMLD groups. Crucially, she highlighted that audiences may have a slower rate of play, requiring facilitators to adapt their pace so as not to unthinkingly impose their own.

The three days were filled with such insights. I reflected on how the urge to awaken artistry in others has been a subterranean thread throughout my own career—first as an actor and writer, and later as a facilitator and arts manager with the Abbey Theatre. Many discussions were about the practical mechanics of different mediums as well as identifying which communities might benefit most. I sensed a creative tension between the pragmatism of seasoned practitioners – who have done the hard work explaining themselves to funding bodies and dubious government departments – and younger practitioners striving for activist, uncompromising approaches against late-capitalist, patriarchal values.

Here, some of my initial skepticism resurfaced regarding whether the emphasis on “Teaching-Artist” leans too heavily toward “Artist” and the maverick prestige that carries. One colleague noted he didn’t feel he had found his tribe because far fewer introduced themselves as teachers than artists. Another expressed wariness, viewing the title as a grasping after special status. I wonder if Ireland’s healthy suspicion of notions explains why the term hasn’t fully taken root here.

But as Eric Booth acknowledged at the outset, terminology matters less than the underlying practice. Whether called facilitation, applied drama, or community arts, the core practice remains one I hugely admire and believe underpins much of the work on the Arts in Education Portal. Its versatility across sectors was clear:

• Bob Selderslaghs (Head of Programs in Dance, Drama and Music, Uni of Antwerp) shared a moving account of using Dorothy Heathcote’s Mantle of the Expert framework in an Antwerp nursing home to empower older residents beyond the role of care recipients.
• Christiana Deliewen Afrikaner (Africa Arts Association) explored storytelling and visual arts to reconcile differences within her church community in Namibia.
• Professor Sarah Rohaert demonstrated how architecture students could design compelling distance-learning courses using narrative techniques.
• Annase Raji (Uni of Texas) facilitated sessions where young people in Nigeria created poetry singing of where they came from and where they hope to go.

The event was unapologetically progressive in its politics and practical in its commitment to drive change. Having reviewed hundreds of proposals for the Arts in Education Portal to document work or host events at Portal Days, I can confidently say Ireland’s own practice matches this international standard with equal imaginative swagger. Above all, the conference reaffirmed that Ireland is a vital player in this global movement, and deepening our connections with it will greatly enrich everyone’s practice and enrich more lives.

Read Portal Project Manager, Siobhán Cooper’s ITAC8 reflections here

!!!! Call for Presentations and Workshops: National Portal Day 2026

Arts in Education Portal
Call for Presentations and Workshops for National Portal Day 2026
Deadline: 16 September 2026

The Arts in Education Portal team is seeking submissions for presentations and creative workshops for the National Portal Day which will take place at TU Dublin School of Art and Design on Saturday 7 November 2026.

The theme for the 2026 Portal National Day is The Future is Creative: Why arts and creativity in education matter more than ever.

As we navigate a world shaped by rapid technological change, climate challenges, evolving communities, and new ways of learning and connecting, human creativity has never been more important.
We invite artists, creative practitioners, teachers, educators, academics and arts in education professionals to share presentations or workshops. We are particularly interested in projects and practices that explore:

• Arts in education in the age of AI and emerging technologies
• Arts based approaches to connect with nature, climate action and sustainability

Criteria for selection of proposals

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

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

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:

The deadline for submission of proposals is 5pm, Wednesday 16 September.

Proposals should be submitted using Google Forms, click on links below to access the forms.

Presentation: Click here to submit a proposal for a Presentation
Creative Workshop: Click here to submit a proposal for a Creative Workshop

Terms & Conditions: 

For further enquiries, contact events@artsineducation.ie

!!!! Youth Advisory Group Call Out for National Arts in Education

National Arts in Education (NAE)

National Arts in Education (NAE) is currently seeking expressions of interest from young people who wish to join a national Youth Advisory Group to inform and guide decision-making in Creative Youth initiatives run in partnership with Education Support Centres Ireland and funded by the Department of Education and Youth:

• BLAST
• Creative Clusters
• Creative Connections
• I am Creative
• Teacher Artist Partnership+ (TAP+)

Young people from primary, post-primary and beyond are welcome to express their interest through their teacher and with the support of parents/guardians.

This Youth Advisory Group will offer young people the opportunity to connect with others, share their experiences, and help shape how creativity is supported across education and youth programmes at a national level.

Engagement will involve 1 meeting per Term and will primarily be online to support the national remit; however, our team aims to also support an in-person meeting in the 2026/27 school year.

Please see Youth Advisory Group Expression of Interest Form.

Please note that this form should be completed by an adult representative from the young person’s setting, either together with or on behalf of the young person.

At this stage, no personal information about individual young people is collected, and all communication will be directed through the named adult contact. This form simply allows us to identify interested schools/Youth Reach Centres and confirm a point of contact for follow-up communications.

* The National Arts in Education Administration base located at the Tralee Education Support Centre in County Kerry are responsible for the administration and roll out of a number of National Arts in Education (NAE) initiatives to the ESCI network.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch with artsineducation@traleeesc.ie

!!!! 2026 Portal Spring Regional Day – Programme Announced

Arts in Education Portal

Date: Saturday 25 April 2026

The Arts in Education Portal team is delighted to announce the full programme for our Spring Regional Day on Saturday 25 April at the Garage Theatre, Monaghan. This event will showcase arts in education projects and creative practice in the North-East region.

We invite teachers, artists, educators, arts managers and anyone with an interest in arts in education in Monaghan, Cavan, Louth, Meath, Westmeath and beyond to join us for this free event. This is an opportunity to connect, share ideas, get inspired, join a fun creative workshop and explore best practices in arts and creativity in education.

Practitioners can learn more about the Portal and what it offers, tell us about their work and find out what opportunities or events are available in their local area.

The programme starts with two presentations in the morning: Mindful Transitions: Learning Through Creativity with artists Sally-Ann Duffy & Caroline Clarke; Waves And Wonders: A TAP+ Creative Project with artist Rebecca Maguire & teacher Oonagh Gilsenan.

Read more about the presentations here

In the afternoon, join us for some hands-on creativity with a choice between two exciting workshops. Come to Groovin’ Out! with musician Aidan Dunphy for a hands-on, interactive hand drumming session. Alternatively, join circus artist Maria Corcoran for playful circus skills and drama-based activities with Creativity through Circus. These workshops promise to be interactive, fun and informative!

Read more about the workshops here

How to Book

Tickets for the 2026 Spring Regional Day are free. It is essential to book in advance as capacity is limited.

Book your place at https://artsineducationPortalRegionalDay2026.eventbrite.ie

ISL interpretation is available on request. If you would like to request ISL interpretation, please email events@artsineducation.ie by Wednesday 15 April.

Schedule

10:00 — Registration & coffee

10:30 — Welcome & introduction: Portal team and Monaghan Education Centre.

10:50 — Presentation: Mindful Transitions: Learning Through Creativity with artists Sally-Ann Duffy & Caroline Clarke

11:35 — Presentation & Workshop: Waves And Wonders: A TAP+ Creative Project with artist Rebecca Maguire & teacher Oonagh Gilsenan

12:45 — Lunch & networking

13:45 – 15:00 — Parallel session: Choice between two creative workshops:

Groovin’ Out! with musician Aidan Dunphy for a hands-on, interactive hand drumming session.

or

Creativity through Circus with circus artist Maria Corcoran for playful circus skills and drama-based activities.

!!!! BLAST Creativity and Arts in Education Residency 2026/2027 Now Open

Department of Education: BLAST Arts and Creativity in Education Residency 2026/2027 applications are now open
Closing date: 20 April

The Department of Education and Youth is pleased to announce BLAST Creativity and Arts in Education Residency 2026/2027 applications are now open. Bringing Live Arts to Students & Teachers (BLAST) gives pupils in primary, special and post-primary schools and Youthreach centres the opportunity to work with professional artists/creative practitioners on imaginative and joyful projects.

BLAST gives them the time and the space to design and develop innovative residencies meant to foster their creativity and to develop their collaboration skills, critical thinking and problem-solving abilities. BLAST is a key initiative of the Department of Education and Youth, part of the Creative Youth Plan 2023-2027. It is run by the Education Support Centres Ireland (ESCI) network through all its 21 full-time education centres and coordinated nationally by the National Arts in Education office at Tralee Education Support Centre.

Please see the following link for BLAST Application Guidelines and further details: BLAST: Arts in Education

BLAST Creativity and Arts in Education Residency 2026/2027 apply online here: https://forms.office.com/e/dtMnZXaunq

The closing date for receipt of applications is 20 April 2026.

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

Eligibility:

All schools in receipt of capitation grants from the Department of Education and Youth or Education and Training Boards (ETBs) can apply for BLAST.

Schools participating in Creative Clusters, Creative Schools, Creative Connections, I am Creative or TAP+ can apply for BLAST.

Fee Paying Schools are not eligible to apply for BLAST Residencies. Schools that are not in the free-education scheme cannot apply for BLAST.

!!!! Creative Schools 2026 is Open for Applications

Creative Schools 2026: Creative Ireland Programme
Closing date: 30 April 2026

Your School Could Be a Creative School!

Creative Schools 2026 is open for applications from Tuesday 24th February 2026 until Monday 30th April 2026. Creative Schools Supports primary and post-primary schools and Youthreach centres across Ireland to put arts and creativity at the hears of children’s and young people’s lives. 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.

For more information on the award and how to apply,  frequently asked questions and dates of online information clinics, please see :

Schools Hub | The Arts Council | An Chomhairle Ealaíon 

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 and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.

!!!! Call for Presentations and Creative Workshops: Portal Spring Regional Day 2026

Portal Spring Regional Day at Garage Theatre Monaghan on Saturday 25 April.
Deadline: 18 March, 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 is seeking submissions for presentations and creative workshops for the Portal Spring Regional Day 2026 with a focus on the North-East Region. This regional event will take place on Saturday 25 April at the Garage Theatre, Monaghan.

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 Monaghan, Cavan, Louth, Meath and Westmeath.

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-East, 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 Portal team is also interested in proposals from arts and creativity in education projects involved in Shared Island Initiatives.

Criteria for selection of proposals:
The Arts in Education Portal team welcomes submissions of proposals for presentations and creative workshops that represent:

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

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

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

All speakers and creative workshop facilitators should be based in the North-East Region (Monaghan, Cavan, Louth, Meath and Westmeath) or connected to the North-East through Shared Island Initiatives.

The programme includes two project presentations with up to two presenters. Presenters who are freelance will receive a fee of €250 each with up to a maximum of 2 presenters per session.

Two creative workshops with one facilitator will be selected. Creative workshop facilitators will receive a fee of €425 (This fee comprises €250 for delivery and €175 for prep/materials). Maximum of 1 facilitator per workshop.

How to apply:
The deadline for submission of proposals is 5pm, 18 March 2026.
Proposals should be submitted using Google Forms, click on links below to access the forms.

Submit a presentation proposal via Google Form

Submit a creative workshop proposal via Google Form

If you have any questions please get in touch by email to events@artsineducation.ie.

!!!! Opportunities for Schools: Creative Clusters 2026 – 2028

Department of Education and Youth
Closing date: 20 April 2026

The Department of Education and Youth is pleased to announce the opening of a new round of Creative Clusters for 2026 – 2028. The programme is open to primary and post-primary schools, including special education schools, as well as YouthReach organisations.

The Creative Clusters programme brings together small groups of three to five schools or YouthReach centres, lets them choose a creative theme or challenge, supports them to work together as a team on their project over two years and helps them connect with their local community. Each group gets funding of up to €15,000 to help run the project and is supported by a trained facilitator and their local Education Support Centre to bring it to fruition.

The Creative Clusters initiative aims to:

• Promote new ways in which schools and the arts and cultural sector can work together
• Improve teaching and learning
• Provide an opportunity for clusters of schools to interact with professionals from the cultural sector, and access resources to experiment and innovate through a bespoke creative learning project
• Develop learners’ and teachers’ creativity
• Understand whether clustering schools at different stages of their journey in using creativity in the classroom and in developing longer term partnerships is an effective model for developing and embedding practice in schools
• Provide schools with access to creative people, skills and resources, and support them to draw on their own skills and experiences and those within their wider communities

How Creative Clusters works
The programme is open to primary and post-primary schools, including special schools, as well as YouthReach centres. It facilitates release time for schools to meet and develop their project, as well as funding of up to €15,000 to help bring their creative plans and ideas to life. To date, Creative Clusters has brought together 591 schools in 168 clusters, supporting them in using arts and creativity as the common language to tell their unique story.

Find out more about Creative Clusters and how to apply

The application process will be open until Monday 20 April 2026.

!!!! Programme Announced for 2025 National Arts in Education Portal Day

We are delighted to announce the full programme for our 10th National Arts in Education Portal Day taking place on Saturday 8 November 2025 at East Quad, TU Dublin, in partnership with the School of Art and Design.

Keynote Speaker Professor John Johnston, UNESCO Chair of issues-based arts education at ArtEZ University of the Arts in the Netherlands will give the opening address. Originally from Belfast, John’s work is dedicated to developing creative and activistic pedagogies that address issues of division and conflict. 

Throughout the day, participants can choose from a variety of thought-provoking presentations, discussions and hands-on creative workshops offered across three parallel sessions.

Some highlights include talks from our 2025 Portal Documentation recipients including The Circus, with St Mary’s Special School with Vocalist Deirdre Shannon, Art Teacher Ina Olohan and Teacher Siobhán Doughty; a creative workshop: XR Drawing & Sculpting for Creative Practice, Education and Youth Engagement, with Creative Technologist Barry “Hawkie” Haughey; and a presentation and discussion: From Harmonic to Chorus: Amplifying Student Voice through Creative STEAM Engagement, with Dr. Sharon Shannon and Writer – Researcher Adam Breen.

View the 2025 Programme here!

Join us for this vibrant, free event, designed for arts in education professionals to come together, spark new ideas, build connections, gain fresh insights and dive into innovative approaches to creativity in education. 

Tickets for the 2025 National Arts in Education Portal Day are now sold out! If you have already booked a ticket but can no longer attend, please let us know by emailing events@artsineducation.ie so we can reallocate your ticket. 

Book your ticket here! 

ISL interpretation is available on request. Please submit your request by 28 October.

For further enquiries please contact events@artsineducation.ie.

!!!! Ticket Booking Now Open for 2025 National Portal Day!

Booking is now open for our 10th National Arts in Education Portal Day taking place on Saturday 8 November 2025 at East Quad, TU Dublin, in partnership with the School of Art and Design.

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.

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. 

After the keynote speech, participants can engage with a range of inspirational presentations, discussions and creative workshops over three parallel sessions. Some highlights include talks from our 2025 Portal Documentation recipients including The Circus, with St Mary’s Special School with Vocalist Deirdre Shannon, Art Teacher Ina Olohan and Teacher Siobhán Doughty in Co. Meath; Creativity in the Classroom with five Dublin primary schools with Artist Liz McMahon, Educator Melissa Hogan and Creative Practitioner Bernadette Larkin; and Little Woodland Heights with Scoil Mhuire Eimhín in County Limerick with Soprano Tríona Walsh and Teacher Nuala Dooly.

Tickets for the 2025 National Arts in Education Portal Day are now sold out! If you have already booked a ticket but can no longer attend, please let us know by emailing events@artsineducation.ie so we can reallocate your ticket.

Book your ticket here! 

ISL interpretation is available on request. Please submit your request by 28 October.

View the 2025 National Portal Day Programme here

For further enquiries please contact events@artsineducation.ie.

See TU Dublin Grangegorman public transport, parking options and East Quad site map

!!!! Call for Presentations and Workshops – National Arts in Education Portal Day 2025

Arts in Education Portal
Deadline: 5pm, Wednesday 10 September

Are you an artist, teacher, academic or arts educator with something inspiring to share? Our 10th annual National Arts in Education Portal Day is happening on Saturday, 8th November 2025 in TU Dublin and we’d love to hear from you!

Taking place in partnership with TU Dublin School of Art and Design, the Arts in Education Portal National Day brings together members of Ireland’s vibrant arts in education and creative practice community – to connect, exchange ideas, get inspired and explore best practices.

The Arts in Education Portal Editorial Committee invites proposals from individuals and organisations interested in delivering engaging and dynamic presentations and workshops. Whether you’re sharing creative techniques, innovative approaches or thought-provoking insights – we would love to hear your perspective.

This year, the Portal Day will continue the special focus of ‘Amplifying All Voices’.

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

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

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:
The deadline for submission of proposals is 5pm, Wednesday 10th September.
Proposals should be submitted using Google Forms, click on links below to access the forms.

Submit a presentation proposal via Google Form
Submit a creative workshop proposal via Google Form

For further enquiries, contact editor@artsineducation.ie.

!!!! 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.

!!!! BLAST Arts & Creativity in Education Residency Programme 2025/26 Now Open

Department of Education: BLAST Arts & Creativity in Education Residency Programme
Application Deadline: 10th April

The Department of Education announced the launch of the 2025 creativity and arts in education BLAST Residency programme, which will bring creativity and arts in education to 425 new Residencies in the school year 2025/26.

This initiative aims to support the objectives of the Creative Ireland Creative Youth Plan (2023-2027) which builds on the principles and skills outlined in the Arts in Education Charter (2013) and the achievements of Creative Youth (2017-2022).

BLAST aims to provide pupils in schools all over the country, time and the space to work with a professional 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 creative practitioner, teacher, students and the school community under the coordination of the 21 full-time Education Support Centres Ireland (ESCI) network.

Applications will open on 18 March 2025. The closing date is 10 April 2025.

Please see the following link for BLAST Application Guidelines and further details

BLAST 2025/26 Application Form apply here: BLAST Application Form

!!!! Call for Presentations and Workshops: Portal Spring Regional Day 2025

Portal Spring Regional Day at VISUAL Carlow on Saturday 17th May
Deadline Extended: 7th April, 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 is seeking submissions for presentations for the Portal Spring Regional Day 2025 with a focus on the South-East Region. This regional event will take place on Saturday 17th May in partnership with VISUAL Carlow, Co Carlow. 

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 Carlow, Kilkenny, Tipperary, Waterford and Wexford.

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-East, 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.
  Presenters who are freelance will receive a fee of €250 each with up to a maximum of 2 presenters per session.
• Two creative workshops with one facilitator will be selected.
  Creative workshop facilitators will receive a fee of €425 (This fee comprises €250 for delivery and €175 for prep/materials). Maximum of 1 facilitator per workshop.
• All speakers and creative workshop facilitators must be based in the South-East Region (Carlow, Kilkenny, Tipperary, Waterford and Wexford).
  Deadline: 5pm, 7th April 2025

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

!!!! Date Announced for the Arts in Education Portal Spring Regional Day 2025

Arts in Education Portal Spring Regional Day 2025 at VISUAL Carlow 
Saturday 17th May 2025

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 2025 Portal Spring Regional Day in the South-East. This year’s event will take place on Saturday, 17th May in Carlow in partnership with VISUAL Carlow.  The event will showcase arts in education projects and creative practice in counties Carlow, Kilkenny, Tipperary, Waterford and Wexford.

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. This event will have a focus on the South East region, counties Carlow, Kilkenny, Tipperary, Waterford and Wexford.

Stay tuned for the full schedule and booking details which will be announced in the coming weeks. Pre-booking will be essential.

Call for presentations and workshops for Spring Regional Day
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 2025. Extended Deadline for submissions is Monday 7th April. Read more here: call-for-presentations-and-workshops-portal-spring-regional-day-2025/

!!!! Creative Schools 2025 is Open for Applications

Creative Schools: Creative Ireland Programme
Deadline: 8 May 2025

Your School Could Be A Creative School!

Creative Schools 2025 is open for applications from 25 February 2025 until 8 May 2025. Creative Schools supports primary and post-primary schools and Youthreach centres across Ireland to put arts and creativity at the hearts of children’s and young people’s lives. 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.

Creative Schools offer three main practical supports:

• assign a Creative Associate to work with you to support your Creative Schools journey for two academic years
• provide training
• provide a €4000 grant towards activity arising from your Creative Schools Plan.

Online Information Clinics
Online information clinics are available for teachers and principals/coordinators of primary and post-primary schools, Special Schools and Youthreach centres interested in joining the Creative Schools programme 2025. They will explore frequently asked questions and common challenges –including a walk through of the online application process and how to register with the Arts Council for access to the application system.
Please book your place at one of our online information clinics to find out more.
Wednesday 26 March 2025, 16:00 – 17:00 Book a ticket here
Wednesday 9 April 2025, 16:00 – 17:00 Book a ticket here
Wednesday 30 April 2025, 16:00 – 17:00 Book a ticket here

For more information on the award and how to apply, frequently asked questions please see: Creative Schools | The Arts Council | An Chomhairle Ealaion

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 and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.

!!!! Music Generation’s Annual Report 2023

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

!!!! Call for Presentations and Workshops – National Portal Day 2024

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.

!!!! 2024 Portal Spring Regional Day – Programme Announced

Arts in Education Portal 

Date: Saturday, 25th May 2024

The Arts in Education Portal team are delighted to announce the full programme for our Spring Regional Day on Saturday 25 May in Sligo at Sligo Education Centre. 

We invite teachers, artists, arts managers and anyone with an interest in arts in education in Donegal, Mayo, Leitrim, Roscommon and Sligo and beyond to join us for this free event.

The programme for the day includes a series of presentations in the morning; teacher Triona O’Dowd Hill, artist Andy Parson, together with Lorna Kavanagh of Kids’ Own Publishing,  will discuss the collaborative journey embarked with Triona’s class in St. Cecilia’s School, a school that caters for students with moderate to profound learning disabilities. Following this discussion, Karen Brogan, a teacher from the West Sligo Creative Cluster will share their cluster journey where they explored themes within ecology and heritage through sculpture, sound and visual art and how they developed new and innovative ways of working co-operatively.

In the afternoon sample some creative spark with the choice between two creative workshops. STEAM facilitator Kathleen Gallagher, will provide educators with comprehensive training on utilising Scratch, a visual programming language, and Makey Makey, a circuit building invention kit, to create interactive art projects. Alternatively join Maeve Pudney to explore colour and pattern through Donegal yarn using a small weaving loom invented through her creative business Pop Out Projects. 

How to Book
Tickets for the 2024 Portal Spring Regional Day are free.  It is essential to book in advance as capacity is limited.

Book your place at:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/890236971747

– – – – – – – –

Schedule 

10:15am — Registration & coffee  

10.45am — Welcome & Introduction – The Portal: a brief introduction by Edel Doherty, Kids’ Own Publishing Partnership (Portal Content Manager) 

11:00am — Presentation: “Collaborations in Abstract sculpture” with Triona O’Dowd Hill and Andy Parsons

11:30am — Presentation: “Dúlra agus Dúchas: The Ties that Bind Us”; A Creative Cluster Journey from Beach Foraging to Beach Installation with Karen Brogan and Leslie Ryan

12:00am — Bulletins from the Education and Arts sectors

12:15pm — Q & A: whole panel of presenters

12:30pm — Lunch & networking

1:30pm – 3:00pm — Parallel session: choice between two creative workshops:
“Engaging Minds: Interactive Art Workshop with Scratch and Makey Makey” with Kathleen Gallagher

Or 

“Learn to Weave Irish Tweed” with Maeve Pudney

– – – – Close – – – – 

!!!! Call for presentations and workshops: Portal Spring Regional Day 2024

Deadline extended: 5th April 2024

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

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

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

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

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

Application Information: 

• 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.

!!!! Opportunity for Schools: Creative Clusters 2024-2026 initiative

Department of Education

Deadline: 10^th 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

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.

!!!! Promoting diversity and inclusion in schools in Europe: Eurydice Report

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/

!!!! Opportunity for Artists: Funding Opportunities for Artists in Schools Announced for Cork County

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.