From this month, pupils at three more schools in Clare will join existing schools from across the county to begin their ‘Creative Schools’ journey.
The additional schools chosen to participate in this initiative, from September 2019, are Scoil Cholmcille, St. John Bosco Community College and Scoil Na Maighdine Mhuire.
Today, the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Josepha Madigan, TD, and the Minister for Education and Skills, Joe McHugh, TD, announced that 150 additional schools all across Ireland, and reflecting all types of education settings, have been selected to participate in the ‘Creative Schools’ initiative. These schools were chosen from over 300 applicants – each one required to explain how their participation would support learning and development in the arts and creativity.
Each school selected for 2019-20 will be provided with a package of support which includes funding and the expertise of a Creative Associate to work with them directly to enable them to explore the potential impact of the arts and creativity on school life.
Initially launched in 2018, ‘Creative Schools’ is led by The Arts Council in partnership with the Department of Education and Skills and the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. The initiative was developed to help children and young people explore and develop their creative sides, and to link them with the arts and creative infrastructure in their local community and nationally.
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.”