Eight new BLAST Arts in Education Residencies for schools in Louth

Minister for Education, Norma Foley TD, yesterday announced the latest updates to BLAST and Creative Clusters as part of the Creative Youth Plan which will see the creation of eight new BLAST Arts in Education Residencies at schools in Louth. 

Louth school participating in Creative Clusters include: Redeemer Girls NS , Tullyallen NS, Réalta na Mara NS, Scoil Naomh Bríd, Dulargy NS, Scoil Mhuire na nGael, Faughart Community NS and Le Chéile ETNS Drogheda

Each residency is worth €1,100 which is fully funded by the Department of Education and the local Education Centre will pay the Artist for a 20-hour residency which will be delivered throughout the academic year, commencing from September 2023. 

Announcing the creation of 425 new BLAST Arts in Education Residencies nationally, Minister Foley said:

“I am so pleased to announce that 425 schools have been selected to take part in the BLAST 2023 initiative I announced earlier this year under the Creative Youth Pillar of the Creative Ireland Programme. I welcome these schools into the new initiative in 2023 which Brings Live Arts to Students and Teachers.

“The initiative will provide additional opportunities for schools to collaborate with established artists and creatives, supporting our children and young people to collaborate and engage in creative and critical thinking – all crucial skills for their futures. 

“The aim of this scheme is to give pupils in schools all over the country the opportunity to work with a professional artist on unique projects. 

“These bespoke residency projects will be originated and planned between the artist, teacher and the school under the coordination of the ESCI network of 21 full-time Education Centres. 

With the creation of 40 new Creative Clusters, Minister Foley said:

“Now more than ever, it is important that our students are supported to develop their creativity and given flexibility to express themselves in a variety of exciting new ways. 

Announcing the 40 new creative clusters she said:

“Today I am proud to announce the 140 schools that are coming together to form 40 new Creative Clusters. I look forward to seeing how these exciting projects develop over the coming two years. This year has once again seen a very significant level of interest from schools applying to participate in the 2023 Creative Clusters initiative across the country.

“Under this scheme to support schools to build capacity in creativity, schools in each cluster will enjoy access to a specialist facilitator, artist or creative expertise in whatever their chosen area of interest or theme might be. These resources will help the schools to build a project of learning and activities tailor-made for their students. As part of this funding allocation, a cluster may receive up to €15,000 funding to help bring their plans and ideas to fruition in 2023-2025.”