The Minister for Education Norma Foley invites primary and post-primary schools across Ireland to apply for Creative Clusters, an initiative taking place as part of Creative Ireland and under the Schools Excellence Fund.
This scheme is 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 2024-2026.
Minister Foley said: “Education is going through a critical time of unprecedented change and reflection. There has never been a better time for us to embrace the arts and creativity in our learning environments and to embrace joy. This is a wonderful opportunity for schools to work together on a project of their choice and schools are given complete freedom to design and develop their own project, with support from a local facilitator and their local education centre”.
“I hope that this exciting initiative will help schools to further enhance creativity in their classrooms. It is important that our children are enabled to express themselves and learn to adapt and collaborate. ‘Creative Clusters’ gives students of all ages the opportunity to develop these essential skills, enjoy and explore artistic and creative expression.”
To date, the Creative Clusters initiative has seen schools around the country work together to develop creative projects and collaborate on new ideas based on their local experience and unique perspective.
The Schools Excellence Fund of the Department of Education sets out to encourage and recognise excellence and innovation in our schools. This initiative will help deliver on the Creative Youth pillar of Creative Ireland, which sets out a commitment that every child in Ireland has practical access to tuition, experience and participation in music, drama, arts and coding.
Further information on Creative Clusters is available from the department’s website: Schools Excellence Fund - Creative Clusters.
The application process is open until 10th May 2024. Please find attached application forms and Guidelines in both English and Irish.
To view the press release on the DE website please use the following link here
To view Creative Clusters 2024 on the DE website please use the following link here
To view the Creative Clusters DE Guidelines please use the following link here
Please see the following link for more details: Information on Creative Clusters 2024
This year, applications are to be completed online using the following link: Application Form Here
Any queries, please contact Mayo Education Support Centre at