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Minister Humphreys hosts Creative Ireland workshop on ‘Enabling the Creative Potential of Every Child’
The Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Heather Humphreys TD, is today (Wednesday) hosting an expert workshop with representatives from arts organisations, youth groups and artists who have pioneered participation by children and young people in the arts.
Attendees will include representatives from government departments, the Arts Council, our National Cultural Institutions, Music Generation, Local Authority Arts Offices, youth theatre, dance and music ensembles as well as the Creative Schools Steering Group. The discussions will focus on delivering on Pillar 1 of Creative Ireland: Enabling the Creative Potential of Every Child.
Speaking at today’s event, Minister Humphreys said:
“The first pillar of Creative Ireland is perhaps the most ambitious element of the entire programme. We want to enable the creative potential of every child, because we know that children who engage in the arts are happier and do better at school.
“Today’s workshop is focussing on both the formal and non-formal education sector and we’ll be looking at various ways to ensure children can access the arts and creative activity. Engaging in the arts isn’t just good for academic performance, it’s also been shown to improve children’s self esteem.
“Through Creative Ireland, we want to ensure every child has access to tuition and participation in music, drama, art or coding by 2022. Later this year, we will be publishing a Creative Children programme, outlining how we will deliver this and other aims. We’ll also be fast tracking and resourcing the Arts in Education Charter as a key policy tool.
“Children flourish through creative activities; it is my view that by delivering on Creative Ireland’s ambitious aims we can have a positive and lasting impact on children in Ireland for generations to come.”
Notes to Editors:
Creative Ireland is an all of Government five-year initiative, from 2017 to 2022, which places creativity at the centre of public policy. It is built around five pillars: Enabling the Creative Potential of Every Child; Enabling Creativity in Every Community; Investing in our Creative and Cultural Infrastructure; Ireland as a Centre of Excellence in Media Production; Unifying our Global Reputation.