Local Creative Youth Partnerships (LCYPs) combine a wide range of resources to develop and provide out-of-school creative activities for children and young people that complement and work with the formal school settings. Providing ‘out of school’ activities for marginalised cohorts, their remit goes beyond the arts and includes culture and creative activity in all spheres.
The partnerships bring together the local infrastructure of Youth Officers, Local Authorities, Education Centres, representatives from the early years sector, and local cultural resources such as arts centres. The work of the LCYPs is supported by Hub na nÓg to ensure the voices of children and young people are central to the partnerships.
To date, six pilot Local Creative Youth Partnerships (LCYPs) have been established in conjunction with ETBs, as per Action 14 of the Creative Youth Plan (2017-2022). The partner ETBs are:
• Laois Offaly ETB, Limerick Clare ETB, Kerry ETB (Phase 1: 2019-present)
• Galway Roscommon ETB, Cork ETB, Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim ETB (Phase 2: 2021-present)
Examples of activities undertaken to date by existing Local Creative Youth Partnerships include:
• Limerick Clare Local Creative Youth Partnership: Young Beoirs Gathering
Inspired by Abbeyfeale teenagers, the Young Beoirs Gathering brought together teenage girls from Limerick and Clare to share their cultural heritage for Cruinniú na Óg 2022.
Girls from Ukraine, Syria, Africa, Pakistan and from local clubs in Limerick enjoyed workshops in belly dance, henna tattoo, film, drawing, photography, make-up and making affirmation badges. One very memorable moment was created when a Ukrainian group, who travelled from Ballyvaughan, performed a special dance they had created for the event. Food sharing was also part of the event, with young people sharing traditional dishes from Pakistan, Syria, Ukraine as well as Ireland.
• Kerry Local Creative Youth Partnership: Exhibition exploring home and homelessness
‘Inclusion’ is the title of a temporary exhibition exploring home and homelessness which has been created by young people involved with the Local Creative Youth Partnership and which opens at Kerry County Museum on Culture Night, Friday 23 September. Facilitated by homeless charity Novas and artist Jeannine Storan, children and young people involved in the exhibition worked on deciphering the emotional parts of what it is to be home and their final exhibition sends a powerful message on an issue close to their hearts.
