Arts in Education

Primary Colours

The Primary Colours programme has been Sligo Arts Service’s arts in education programme for a number of years. Delivered in primary schools the length and breadth of the county and focussing on senior primary classes, the programme has worked with between ten and twenty Sligo Primary Schools annually – which means at some point, most schools have taken part in the programme! The programme was retired at the end of 2025, in line with the current arts plan and we are now piloting new initiatives.

The Wonder Programme – supported artistic adventures for small citizens

This new pilot Arts in Education initiative sees the Arts Service Department work with Kids’ Own Publishing with the support of the Arts Council, to deliver Arts in Early Years residencies in two Sligo – based ECCE settings in Spring 2026.

Selected artists will work in pairs in each setting so that a cohort of four participating artists will have an opportunity to develop their practice and share new learning within this unique context. Over a period of six weeks, the two resident artist pairs will work with young children in each setting and alongside the ECCE practitioners to develop a process of exploratory, process-based practice.

Smart Art Critical Thinkers Programme for Primary Schools

We are investigating new & different ways to engage with primary schools in Sligo. We’re starting with SMART ARTS, a simple GO-SEE initiative aimed at nurturing creative, curious and critical thinking among primary school children in Sligo and supporting what’s already happening in school through the arts curriculum & various artist/school partnerships. For 2026, we’re partnering with The Hawk’s Well Theatre, The Model and The Hyde Gallery to deliver this programme. Check out the News Section of the website for further information.

If you wish to register your primary school’s interest in Smart Arts initiatives, please email: arts@sligococo.ie

Theatre Making Pilot

In 2025, Sligo Arts Services Department partnered with The Blue Raincoat Theatre Company to explore the establishment of an educationally-based theatre company in Sligo. Phase 1 of the project collaborated with a number of primary schools throughout the county in autumn 2025, phase 2 of the initiative is currently underway.

For more information contact: info@blueraincoat.com

This initiative is supported by Sligo Arts Service & Creative Ireland

Programme Partners

Sligo County Council provides funding to key local arts infrastructure and arts organisations, many of which provide their own arts in education programmes for children and young people in Sligo. These include:

Music Generation Sligo

Music Generation Sligo deliver an exciting range of in-school programmes for children and young
people throughout county Sligo.

  • Discovering Music Junior – 2nd Class
  • Discovering & Performing Music: 3rd – 6th Class
  • Con Tutti Programme: designed with the differentiating learning needs of children with Autism and other learning abilities in mind.

The Hawk’s Well Theatre

The Hawk’s Well Theatres annual programme of events includes a range of programmes aimed
at both primary and second level students both on-site at the theatre & in-school settings.

The Model, Home of the Niland Collection

Throughout the academic year, The Model welcomes schools and colleges for guided tours
and workshops.

Kids’ Own Publishing

Sligo based Kids’ Own is Ireland’s only dedicated publisher of books by children. Through a range of local, national and international projects, they connect children with professional artists and publish the work that they create. An ethos of social justice underpins their work. Many of their projects have involved children and families from diverse cultures, such as Traveller culture, migrant, intercultural and multilingual populations, and children who are homeless, socially excluded, or part of a minority group.

Beyond Us

There is an array of arts programmes and initiatives available to schools. These include:

Artist Partnerships

This CPD programme, initiated by the Department of Education and Skills and co-ordinated by local education centres facilitates collaboration between teachers and artists to enhance arts education in primary schools across Ireland. Teachers & artists participate in a free summer course and working in pairs, develop a project idea together. Artists then participate in a funded residency in the school. TAP aims to nurture the abilities of both teachers and artists while promoting high-quality arts education for children. This is a fully funded programme supported by the Department for Education with EPV day approval.

The BLAST Residency Programme offers schools and youth reach a residency with an artist from Sligo Education Centre’s Artist Panel during the academic year.

These projects aim to enhance teaching and learning by integrating creativity into the curriculum while developing key competencies. Schools can choose from a panel of registered and vetted artists available from a variety of disciplines, fostering collaboration between artists, teachers, and students. Educational support centres manage payments and administrative tasks, while schools are responsible for project materials. Schools participating in either Creative Clusters or Creative Schools can also apply for BLAST.

The Arts Council Creative Schools programme is an initiative designed to support and enhance arts education in primary and secondary schools across Ireland. Through this programme, schools have the opportunity to engage with professional artists and develop long-term partnerships to integrate creativity and the arts into their curriculum.

Participating schools receive funding to implement arts and creativity projects over a two-year period. They also receive support from a Creative Associate, who assists in developing a school plan for arts and creativity, fostering links with artists and arts organisations, and integrating artistic activities into the school community. Schools participating in either Creative Clusters or Creative Schools can also apply for BLAST.

Selected schools receive:

  • Induction/training for school coordinators.
  • Allocation of a Creative Associate to support the school.
  • Assistance in developing a school plan for arts and creativity.
  • Assistance in creating or developing links between schools and with artists and arts and cultural organ

The Creative Clusters initiative delivered via Creative Ireland aims to foster collaboration and innovation in arts education by bringing together groups of schools to undertake creative learning projects. Each Creative Cluster, typically consisting of three to five schools, receives funding of €3,000 per school over a two-year period, amounting to €1,500 per year for two years. These clusters collaborate on the design, implementation, evaluation, and dissemination of innovative projects that address common issues or challenges faced by the schools. The lead school appoints a Creative Cluster Co-ordinator, typically a member of the school’s senior leadership team, to oversee the project. Substitution costs are provided to cover the equivalent of one day per term for the duration of the project. A Creative Cluster Facilitator supports the cluster by facilitating up to three local meetings over the school year. Schools participating in either Creative Clusters or Creative Schools can also apply for BLAST.

Other Resources

Poetry Ireland Writers In Schools

Experience visits from various artists to primary and post-primary school groups through the Writers in Schools programme, organised by Poetry Ireland. This initiative offers funding support to facilitate these visits, providing schools with the opportunity to engage students in creative writing and literary exploration. With applications accepted year-round, schools can access this valuable resource to enrich their students’ educational experience through the power of literature and storytelling.

Childrens Books Ireland (CBI)

The CBI website has school resource section offering imaginative, playful ways for teachers to encourage children and young people to read, write and draw.

Laureate na nÓg

Laureate na nÓg is an initiative of the Arts Council. It is managed and delivered on the Arts Council’s behalf by Children’s Books Ireland and also supported by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and the Department of Children, Disability and Equality. By honouring an artist of exceptional talent and commitment, Laureate na nÓg champions and celebrates literature for children and young people, inspiring generations of writers, illustrators and readers. Each Laureate develops their own programme, many of which offer engagement opportunities for schools.

The Abbey Theatre

Ireland’s national theatre works with schools to introduce students to live theatre, bringing young characters from classic plays to life and connecting primary and post-primary schools to the National Theatre of Ireland. Their education programme includes:

  • Plays for Schools
  • Theatre Making & Citizenship
  • Study Library Packs

www.abbeytheatre.ie
/get-involved/schools/

Branar Theatre Company’s Digital Arts Flag

Branar’s Acorn Digital Arts Flag is a whole school initiative designed to promote and reward arts engagement in schools.
The Acorn Digital Arts Flag programme includes:

  • A series of 6 arts workshops in video format that teachers and pupils can do in the classroom (there is a version for junior classrooms and one for senior classrooms)
  • Suggestions for extending the workshop activities in the classroom
  • Documentation to support engagement with the workshops and to build on them afterward in the classroom

Completion of the Acorn Digital Arts Flag is intended to be a statement of achievement and intent with regard to the prominence and status of the arts in the school. It will be a visible beacon that indicates a commitment to the importance of participation in the arts for the students of the school, both within and outside their classrooms. There is no cost to schools to participate & there is an annual callout for schools to participate.

IMMA (Irish Museum of Moden Art)

As well as visiting IMMA, teachers can participate in occasional CPD events. It also hosts two Transition Year experiences where students explore the museum, both the galleries and behind the scenes, discovering who works at IMMA, and what they contribute to IMMA’s activities.

National Gallery Of Ireland

The National Gallery has a library of resources for students and teachers, exploring everything from the history of photography to how to approach the Leaving Cert gallery question.

Arts In Education Portal

Managed by the Sligo based Kids’ Own Publishing, the portal is an initiative of the Department of Education and Skills and serves as a comprehensive digital resource for arts in education practice in Ireland. Open to schools, educators, and artists year-round, the portal offers a wealth of resources, including case studies, research findings, and information on incorporating arts into education.

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