Over 200 Schools Join Creative Learning Initiative

Government has today revealed details of enhanced access to creative activities for over 200 schools.

Through the Scoileanna Ildánacha/Creative Schools and Creative Clusters initiatives, arts and creativity form the centre of school life for over 100,000 students.

A national celebration of the arts and creativity in the 227 schools participating in the scheme will take place from 04-08 November 2019, giving children and young people the opportunity to showcase their experiences of creative learning through their involvement in the initiative.

Josepha Madigan TD, Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and Joe McHugh TD, Minister for Education and Skills unveiled details of the scheme today, Wednesday 11 September.

Speaking at the announcement in the Catherine McAuley National School in Dublin, Minister Madigan said: "Culture and creativity are powerful means through which children and young people can explore communication and collaboration, stimulate their imaginations to be inventive and harness their curiosity. These are vital skills for all young people to learn and I am delighted that, as a result of today's announcement, an additional 40,000 students will have the opportunity to enhance their learning experience and personal development through creativity."

Welcoming the announcement, Joe McHugh, Minister for Education and Skills said: "We want all children and young people in Ireland to have access to learning in the creative arts, as part of a full and rounded education. Today's announcement represents a significant increase in our investment in Creative Schools, Creative Clusters and the Local Creative Youth Partnerships. It will enable us to deliver more fully on our ambition to support and nurture the creative potential of our young people within our school communities.

"It is fantastic that the talent of our young people is now being fostered through this range of creative programmes. We want to nurture creative potential, help our young people develop an appetite for discovery and encourage them to acquire the skills they need to achieve their ambitions. I look forward to seeing some of the results of these collaborations and initiatives in action in the first Creative Schools National Celebration in November."

Orlaith McBride, Director of the Arts Council said: "The Arts Council is committed to providing children and young people with more opportunities to participate in, and enjoy, the arts. The Creative Schools initiative has been a really successful way of inviting thousands of young people all across Ireland to explore their creativity, guided by the expertise of artists and other creatives in their own communities. We are delighted that this year the initiative will be supporting a further 150 schools and that many more children and young people will have this opportunity to participate in the arts in a very tangible and meaningful way."



(JG/CM)