Scoileanna Ildánacha/Creative Schools are delighted to announce that applications for schools are now open and will close at 5.30pm on Thursday 21 March 2019.  

The initiative aims to put the arts and creativity at the heart of children and young people’s lives.  It will support schools to develop and begin to implement their own Creative School Plan. Participating schools will work with a Creative Associate to understand, develop and celebrate their engagement with the arts, empowering them to bring about real change in the way they work. They will draw on the range of resources within their school and wider community, developing new ways of working that reinforce the impact of creativity on student learning, development and well-being. Using the Lundy Model as best practice, schools will ensure that children and young people will have a central role in this process.

All Department of Education and Skills-recognised primary and post-primary schools and Youthreach centres who have not already participated in a previous round of Creative Schools are eligible to apply.

150 new schools from across Ireland will join the initiative this year.  Participating schools receive a package of support each year including training, up to nine days of support from a Creative Associate and a grant of €2,000 to implement their plans in 2019-20. It is anticipated that successful schools will continue in the programme for 2 school years.

Schools are encouraged to register today and more information on the Creative Schools registration and application process is available here.

Creative Schools is a flagship initiative of Creative Youth – A Plan to Enable the Creative Potential of Every Child and Young Person. 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.