Please see information below and links in relation to the launch of a new round of Bringing Live Arts to Students and Teachers (BLAST) and Creative Clusters (2023 intake).
The Department of Education is pleased to announce the launch of the 2023 Arts-in-Education BLAST Residency Programme and Creative Clusters. BLAST and Creative Clusters (Press Release).
The deadline for receipt of applications is as follows:
- BLAST - 19th May 2023
- Creative Clusters - 12th May 2023
BLAST information:
The aim of this scheme is to give pupils in schools all over the country the opportunity to work with a professional artist on unique projects.
This initiative supports children and young people for the future, where skills like the ability to connect and collaborate with others, engage in creative and critical thinking and practice inclusivity at every level will be paramount to peace, stability, sustainable economic growth and equality.
The artist’s fee is €1,100 per residency which is funded by the Department of Education.
Please see the following link for Guidelines and to download the Application Form: BLAST 2023 Guidelines and Application Form
Completed applications must include the following and should be sent to your local full-time Education Support Centre, please use the following link for the List of Education Support Centres
- Completed general information section.
- A completed application section outlining the following information:
- Theme of the project,
- Rationale for application,
- Benefits to teaching and learning,
- Capacity and commitment
- Children and young people’s voice.
- Please also indicate the planned time-frame schedule and planned method of documentation for the project.
Creative Clusters information:
Each Creative Cluster will receive grant funding of €3,000 per school over a two-year period to implement their project in the 2023–2025 school years
(e.g. a cluster of 3 schools would receive €9,000 over two years while a cluster of 5 schools would receive €15,000 over two years).
Clusters will receive 50% of the total grant funding in Year 1, with the second 50% being provided in Year 2.
In addition, but separate to the grant funding, all successful clusters are further supported with: A fully paid Creative Cluster Facilitator; paid Teacher Substitution to attend training and meetings; room hire, travel & subsistence.
Please see the following link for Guidelines and to download the Application Form: Creative Clusters 2023 Guidelines and Application Form
- Schools can apply as part of a cluster which may be an existing network of schools.
- A school nearing the end of year 2 of an existing Creative Cluster can reapply to be in a new cluster where the other schools in the new cluster have not participated before.
- Schools nearing the end of 2 years with Creative Schools are eligible to apply.
- The local Education Support Centre will have a key role in identifying and supporting a Creative Cluster for their local area.
Fully completed Applications should be sent to your local full-time Education Support Centre to the following email address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The ESCI (Education Support Centres Ireland website lists all available courses and events from Education Support Centres nationwide.
