Where better to start to start your creative journey than at a Creative School.

Creative Schools is a flagship of the Creative Youth plan – led by the Arts Council in partnership with the Departments of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports and Media , Education & Skills and Children & Youth Affairs . Since its inception in 2018, 462 schools including primary, post primary schools, DEIS and special schools have joined the initiative. The list of current schools is here.

Creative Schools aims to give our children and young people the opportunity to experience creativity as an integral part of their education placing the arts and creativity at the centre of school life.

Each school is supported by a Creative Associate who develops an individual school plan, and creates and strengthens links between the school and arts & cultural organisations. The long term aim is that every school will be able to fully embrace the arts and creativity, ensuring a positive experience and strong outcomes for children and young people.

It is well recognised that engagement in the arts can nurture a child’s sense of confidence and well-being. Creative activity also enables communication and collaboration, stimulates imaginations and harnesses curiosity; all necessary skills required for successful learning. Other important outcomes

The initiative recognises that schools play an important role in providing opportunities for children to participate in arts and culture and doing so also develop socio-emotional wellbeing, cognitive development, and positive attitudes towards school.

In May 2020, RTÉ One television aired a new documentary, commissioned by the Creative Ireland Programme which demonstrated the powerful effect that creativity has on our youngest citizens. Creative Kids was filmed over a period of several months as cameras charted the introduction of the Creative Schools programme into five different schools around the country. Creative Kids is available to view here on the RTÉ Player.