With a mission to provide more opportunities for creative engagement in every aspect of children and young people’s lives, the Irish government’s new Creative Youth Plan for 2023-2027 aims to prioritise those seldom heard and at risk of disadvantage, and allow children and young people to retain a key voice in decision-making on its implementation.
The previous Creative Youth Plan (2017-22) has already had a significant impact, supporting over 2,000 schools and youth centres with a range of creative programmes including creative writing, youth drama, music, and animation and podcasting. Six Local Creative Youth Partnerships were established in regional Education and Training Boards.
Launched at the end of March 2023 at an event at the National Gallery of Ireland, the new plan will build on previous success and ensure parents, caregivers, educators, artists, and creative practitioners recognise the value of creativity in their lives. Current initiatives will continue, while new opportunities will reach tens of thousands of children and young people.
Music Generation Roscommon‘s emerging youth rock band Totem performed at the launch event, which included a spoken word performance organised through Creative Schools and a panel discussion between Ministers and four young creatives.
At the launch, Minister Norma Foley said, ‘On my many school visits as Minister for Education, I continue to be in awe at the positive and indeed powerful impact the arts and creativity have on our school communities.
‘I strongly believe that continued access to a vibrant arts environment helps our students develop creative and critical thinking skills. With access to the arts, we also see an increase in personal growth, empathy and a capacity for collaboration in our children and young people. In short it encourages an education space outside of the traditional curriculum where dreams become reality and limitless ambition is encouraged.
‘I am committed to helping ensure access to arts in education, as it is hugely rewarding for teachers, artists and our school communities, as well as the notable value it adds to our students’ lives.’
Find out more
Read more about the upcoming 5 years of Creative Youth here:
