In March 2023, the Government’s new Creative Youth Plan 2023-2027 embedded creativity into the heart of children and young people’s lives.

This plan aimed to provide children and young people with a voice in the planning and implementation of their creative activity. It also focuses on those young people that have the least access to creative opportunities.

This new Creative Youth Nurture Fund supports organisations and individuals that can reach groups of young people that are seldom heard to nurture their creative passions and ignite their creative potential.

9 projects from around the country have been selected from 108 applications. They include:

• The Elevate Youth Arts Project by the Irish Refugee Council. This multidisciplinary creative arts project will run over 18 months. The core activity will be a week-long youth arts residential programme, followed by a public performance. The goal of this project is to empower these young people to develop their creativity, build confidence, develop new skills and have fun.
• Áit Eile by Creative Spark. The project will engage young people experiencing mental health difficulties by designing and producing a new creative arts hub where they can meet together on a regular basis to make art over a two-year period.
• Building Bridges by Ballyhoura Development CLG. This is a community drama project that will provide a safe space for young Travellers (aged 15-24) to explore their vision for their future and get involved in decisions that directly impacts their lives. It will be co-designed with a focus on inclusion and participation and will allow participants to discover their own and others viewpoints with the objective of opening up access to inclusion in the wider community.
• Journeys by Helium Arts. Journeys will support the wellbeing and happiness of children aged 8-12 years from refugee and asylum-seeking communities  who are living with lifelong health conditions. This two-year project will empower children to develop an innovative project, nurturing their creative passion and potential.
• Glór Dance Project by Traces Dance Ensemble. The project will work with young people with disabilities who want to dance. It will put the voice and heart of the young people centre stage with a performance which will be followed by a post-show talk delivered by participants. Ten pieces of work with be performed around Waterford City by young dance artists with Down Syndrome.
• Hear I Am by Oberstown Children’s Detention Campus. The Hear I Am project will work with young people in Oberstown to give them a voice through podcasting on a variety of relevant topics that are relevant to their lives. This creative outlet will allow them to reclaim their narratives, educate others, and foster a sense of belonging and empowerment.
• City Instincts by Foróige. The programme aims to engage and unite marginalised or disenchanted young people through dance, street art, music production, digital media and cookery. It will focus on developing creative skills and building young people’s determination, agency and confidence as they navigate young adulthood.
• Creative Aftercare Communities by Limerick Learning Hub. The project will work with the seldom heard young people transitioning from care or who are already in aftercare. This project aims to support them to identify their creative interests and will offer opportunities to get involved in these areas. In particular, the project will focus on young people in aftercare who are not in receipt of an aftercare allowance.
• Music in Mind Youth Programme by the National Concert Hall. The NCH’s project addresses the post-Covid mental health issues of young people living in marginalised communities. This programme will provide a series of participative music workshops in percussion or singing both proven to impact positively on mental health issues.

Minister Martin, said:

“I would like to congratulate the recipients under the first Creative Youth Nurture Fund pilot. In our pursuit of progress and equality, how we uplift the most vulnerable around us is paramount to Ireland’s path forward. I believe that through creativity and investing in young creatives who are often seldom heard, we are enriching Irish culture. I wish also to acknowledge everyone who applied for this pilot – it was overwhelming to see the extent of the work that is taking place with our talented children and young people, and the efforts to break down barriers. It is apparent that there is an abundance of creative potential from across our youth – and diversity is essential to unleashing this.”

These projects are intended to run for an 18-24 month duration. To stay up to date on the Nurture Fund and all things Creative Ireland, you can sign up to our newsletter here.