Five Offaly schools to join Creative Schools Initiative

Five Offaly schools have been invited to join the Arts Council's Creative Schools initiative.

The Creative Schools initiative gives opportunities for children and young people to build their artistic and creative skills.

The five Offaly schools are Gaelscoil Éadan Doire, Gortnamona National School, Oxmantown National School, Scoil Bhrídem Clara  and Scoil Bhríde, Ballyboy.

The five are among 141 schools nationwide whhich will take part and receive a grant and work with a professional Creative Associate who will support them to develop and implement their own bespoke Creative School Plan over a two-year period.

The 141 new Creative Schools comprise 97 primary schools, 25 post-primary schools, 4 special schools and 10 Youthreach centres. Joining the programme this year are five schools in Alternative Settings who cater for young people with severe emotional and behavioral challenges.

Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media Catherine Martin said: “I am thrilled to see the continued success of the Creative Schools initiative and warmly welcome the 141 new schools and centres. Since 2018, Creative Schools has been a testament to the pivotal role creativity plays for children and young people across Ireland; in their education and for their school communities. I hope that the Creative School initiative continues to flourish and empower our young people as these new schools and centres embark on the programme.”

Minister for Education Norma Foley said: "I am pleased to see that 141 new schools and centres are now joining the Creative Schools Programme. Creative Schools puts the arts and creativity at the heart of children’s and young people’s lives. Over 970 schools and Youthreach centres have been invited to participate since it was set up in 2018. We are increasingly embedding the arts into the education system, which includes the development of a new subject – Drama, Film and Theatre Studies- which will commence in schools in 2025.”

Maureen Kennelly, Director of the Arts Council, said: “We extend a warm welcome to the 141 new schools joining Creative Schools. The demand nationwide is a testament to the programme's impact, and we're excited even more schools in Ireland are now part of this creative journey. Collaborating with our partners in the Department of Education, the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport, and Media, as well as Creative Ireland, we anticipate another school year filled with creativity, consultation, and exploration."

Participation empowers children and young people to develop, implement and evaluate arts and creative activity throughout their schools and centres. Creativity stimulates additional ways of working and has a positive impact on children and young people’s learning, development and well-being.