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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.

The Arts Council Creative Schools: Creative February
Dates: 1 – 28 February

The Arts Council invites schools to save the date for Creative February / Fuadar Feabhra, a national celebration of creativity, as part of Creative Schools, which returns in February 2026.

Creative February is open to every school and educational setting in the country. School communities are invited to make their mark and for every student to connect to their own creativity.

The theme of the upcoming celebration is Connect with Nature / Nasc le Nadúr.

You will find lots of resources and ideas on this page to help you to celebrate Creative February.

The Arts Council would love to hear how you celebrate Creative February! Share your activities, moments, and highlights with them by using #CreativeFebruary or email creativeschools@artscouncil.ie.

Online Workshops for Primary Schools

There is a full and varied programme of online webinars for classes running throughout the month.

Some highlights include:

See full workshop programme and book your place here.

Download the Creative Arts Team (CAT) Guide and start planning your Creative February!

Artist Juliette Saumande has collaborated with students from Clogher Road Community College to create a brand-new guide designed especially for teachers and students who want to celebrate Creative February together. Download the CAT Guide here. 

Students have helped trial and test a wide range of creative activities, resulting in a practical and inspiring collection of:

Creative February Podcast

This Creative February, post-primary students are invited to create a 4–5 minute podcast exploring anything creative that inspires them — from art and music to storytelling, ideas, or creative life at school.

To support you, artist Helen Flanagan has created a step-by-step video and PDF guide that walks students and teachers through the podcast-making process, from planning ideas to recording and sharing. Find out more here

Department of Education – Creative Youth 2026

The Department of Education has announced opening dates for Creative Youth Arts Initiatives 2026 Applications including Creative Clusters, Creative Schools, BLAST, TAP+ Summer Course and I am Creative.

Creative Youth Arts Initiatives Application Open Dates 2026

The opening dates for applications are as follows:

Creative Clusters
Opens: 26 January | Closes: 20 April
Find out more and apply here

Creative Schools
Opens: 24 February | Closes: 30 April

BLAST
Opens: 18 March | Closes: 20 April

TAP+ Summer Course
Opens: 13 April (TBC) | Closes: 19 June (TBC)

 I Am Creative
Opens: 13 April (TBC) | Closes: 19 June (TBC)

Read more about the Creative Youth Arts Initiatives on gov.ie

Application forms will be available once the initiatives open.

Useful Resource – Creative Youth Data Viewer:
The Department of Education’s Creative Youth Creative Youth Data Viewer is a useful resource and maps the schools and youthreach centres which have taken part in a Creative Youth school-based initiative.

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:

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.


!!!! 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.

!!!! Opportunity for Schools: Creative February

The Arts Council Creative Schools: Creative February
Dates: 1 – 28 February

The Arts Council invites schools to save the date for Creative February / Fuadar Feabhra, a national celebration of creativity, as part of Creative Schools, which returns in February 2026.

Creative February is open to every school and educational setting in the country. School communities are invited to make their mark and for every student to connect to their own creativity.

The theme of the upcoming celebration is Connect with Nature / Nasc le Nadúr.

You will find lots of resources and ideas on this page to help you to celebrate Creative February.

The Arts Council would love to hear how you celebrate Creative February! Share your activities, moments, and highlights with them by using #CreativeFebruary or email creativeschools@artscouncil.ie.

Online Workshops for Primary Schools

There is a full and varied programme of online webinars for classes running throughout the month.

Some highlights include:

See full workshop programme and book your place here.

Download the Creative Arts Team (CAT) Guide and start planning your Creative February!

Artist Juliette Saumande has collaborated with students from Clogher Road Community College to create a brand-new guide designed especially for teachers and students who want to celebrate Creative February together. Download the CAT Guide here. 

Students have helped trial and test a wide range of creative activities, resulting in a practical and inspiring collection of:

Creative February Podcast

This Creative February, post-primary students are invited to create a 4–5 minute podcast exploring anything creative that inspires them — from art and music to storytelling, ideas, or creative life at school.

To support you, artist Helen Flanagan has created a step-by-step video and PDF guide that walks students and teachers through the podcast-making process, from planning ideas to recording and sharing. Find out more here

!!!! Creative Youth Arts Initiatives 2026 Application Opening Dates Announced

Department of Education – Creative Youth 2026

The Department of Education has announced opening dates for Creative Youth Arts Initiatives 2026 Applications including Creative Clusters, Creative Schools, BLAST, TAP+ Summer Course and I am Creative.

Creative Youth Arts Initiatives Application Open Dates 2026

The opening dates for applications are as follows:

Creative Clusters
Opens: 26 January | Closes: 20 April
Find out more and apply here

Creative Schools
Opens: 24 February | Closes: 30 April

BLAST
Opens: 18 March | Closes: 20 April

TAP+ Summer Course
Opens: 13 April (TBC) | Closes: 19 June (TBC)

 I Am Creative
Opens: 13 April (TBC) | Closes: 19 June (TBC)

Read more about the Creative Youth Arts Initiatives on gov.ie

Application forms will be available once the initiatives open.

Useful Resource – Creative Youth Data Viewer:
The Department of Education’s Creative Youth Creative Youth Data Viewer is a useful resource and maps the schools and youthreach centres which have taken part in a Creative Youth school-based initiative.

!!!! 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:

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.