Artist in Schools Scheme kicks off

THIS month sees the beginning of Clare County Arts Office’s Artist in Schools Scheme, which will see 30 artists working with 52 schools across the county over the coming eight months.

The scheme aims to bring a creative cocktail of art, dance, music, crafts and pottery to children across Clare. The scheme continues apace until the end of the school year in June.
“Hundreds of children and young people will take part in creative activities during this time that are innovative, exciting and challenging. Artists and schools were invited to submit joint proposals and the range, depth and scope of the projects is breathtaking.
“Whilst many schools opted for activities traditionally associated with the scheme, such as murals and felt-making, many others opted for new activities for their school, such as drumming and dance,” Siobhán Mulcahy, county arts officer explained.
She added, “The scheme is a success not only because of the opportunities it offers to young people but because it assists artists to offer their valuable services to their local communities. Education is an open-ended process and often the artists benefit as much as the young people in terms of the learning experiences involved. Clare County Council is committed to attaining the highest standards in arts education in the county and this year’s batch of residencies will go a long way to developing quality arts experiences for children, teachers and artists alike.”
The Artist in Schools Scheme is run by the County Arts Office and is supported by the Arts Council of Ireland.