Presented by the Creative Ireland Programme, the conference will reflect on the achievements of Creative Youth and the challenges that lie ahead as we consider what strategies will be required to deliver positive, sustainable outcomes for children through their engagement with arts, culture and creativity.

The conference brings together leading figures in education, enterprise, innovation and creativity, including Andreas Schleicher of the OECD; Bo Stjerne Thomsen of the Lego Foundation; Dr Michelle Cullen, Accenture; Professor Anne Looney, Institute of Education in DCU; Arlene Forster of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment; Helene Hugel, Helium Art; author Roddy Doyle and Professor Linda Doyle – Provost-elect of Trinity College Dublin.

In advance of delivering the opening address at the conference on Thursday, 13^th May 2021, Taoiseach Micheál Martin highlighted the impact that creative activity can have on the lives of young people:

“At the heart of the Creative Ireland vision is that every person has creative capacities that should be encouraged throughout their lives. Promoting this creativity not only benefits our wellbeing, it also builds social capital and economic success. Creative Youth is but one part of this vision – but possibly the most important, as it is about the future. It is about working toward a society which enables the innate creativity of all our young people to flourish – to support them in their education, their homes, their communities and their futures.”

Joining the Taoiseach will be Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin TD, Minister for Education, Norma Foley TD and Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman TD.

Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin TD said:  

“As the impact of a year under Covid-19 restrictions becomes clear, there could not be better time to reflect on the Creative Youth plan, but also to look to the future. To consider not only the challenges but also the opportunities that lie ahead, as we strive to provide better, more inclusive opportunities for young people to discover, nurture and celebrate their own creative potential.”

As part of a broader deliberation on its future direction of travel, the Creative Youth Conference 2021 is an opportunity for all stakeholders to reflect on progress to date and input their views concerning the provision of enhanced creative engagement opportunities for young people – both in the classroom and their home/community.

Minister for Education Norma Foley TD said:

“Schools and particularly our teachers play an extremely important role in introducing children and young people to the arts and encouraging their creative expression. The Creative Youth programme is a wonderful asset to our schools, supporting them to promote creativity in education. We can all be proud of the important role played by school communities in this area, and the hugely beneficial impact on our children and young people, in many cases sparking lifelong appreciation and creative endeavours.”

Commenting on the centrality of young people themselves to initiatives such as Creative Youth, Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman TD, said:

“Ensuring that the voices of children and young people are not just heard, but are listened to, is an important aspect in the work of my Department – and with Creative Youth we ensure that they are involved from the very start to design creative programmes and activities that stimulate their creativity.”

Creative Youth Conference 2021 “Creativity – the Connection to the Future, Now” is an online event on Thursday, 13^th May at 12:00.

To book a place please see: https://hopin.com/events/creativity-the-connection-to-our-future-now