Five Donegal schools join Creative Schools Initiative

The Arts Council announced that offers have been made to 141 schools and centres across Ireland who applied to be part of the Creative Schools Initiative. 

Five schools in Donegal were invited to join the initiative, including Gartan National School; Letterkenny Youthreach; St Mura's National School Buncrana; Woodland National School and Youthreach Ballyshannon. 

The Creative Schools initiative allows children and young people to build their artistic and creative skills. Each of the schools participating will 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 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 Alternative Settings schools catering to young people with severe emotional and behavioural challenges.

“We extend a warm welcome to the 141 new schools joining Creative Schools,” Maureen Kennelly, Director of the Arts Council said. 

“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."