Daingean NS selected for Creative Schools initiative

Daingean National has been added to the schools in Offaly participating in the 'Creative Schools' initiative.

Daingean NS was selected to begin the programme this September alongside Ard Scoil Charain Naofa in Clara, and St Mary's Secondary School, Edenderry, to begin their ‘Creative Schools’ journey. 

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.

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. 

Orlaith McBride, Director of the Arts Council said 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.

Minister Madigan said added that 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.”

Minister McHugh said:

“Today’s announcement is an important milestone for my Department and the all-of-Government Creative Ireland Programme.  The significant increase in our investment in Creative Schools, Creative Clusters and the Local Youth Arts Partnerships will enable us to deliver more fully on our ambition to support and nurture the creative potential of our young people within their schools.

“A young person’s time in education should help to build their confidence and resilience, helping them to deal with life’s ups and downs. Nurturing the creative potential of our young people is about helping them develop an appetite for discovery and encouraging them to acquire the skills they need to achieve their ambitions. I look forward to seeing some of those ambitions come to life in our first Creative Schools National Celebration in November.”