Creative Connections is bringing schools, teachers and professional artists together across the island of Ireland. The Department of Education and Youth initiative gives children and young people in Northern Ireland and Ireland opportunities to use creativity, collaboration and the arts as part of their everyday learning.
Forming part of the Shared Island initiative on educational disadvantage, Creative Connections is designed to make creative learning more accessible while supporting student wellbeing, personal development and community relationships.
Creative Connections links schools North and South
The pilot brings participating schools together in clusters of four to develop bespoke creative learning projects. Each school is paired with two professional Creative Practitioners, who complete two in-school residencies: one in their own jurisdiction and another in a partner school across the border.
Forty Creative Practitioners are involved in the programme. Their work is supported by the curriculum and shaped through cooperation with teachers and students, giving young people an active role in leading learning and contributing to decisions about their creative projects.
Programme aims
The evolving aims of Creative Connections include:
- Improving learning, teaching and assessment through creative partnerships
- Building teacher confidence in creative teaching methods
- Supporting young people’s agency and voice
- Connecting communities through shared creative work
- Promoting emotional health and wellbeing as part of readiness to learn
Interim evaluation highlights meaningful impact
An interim evaluation covering activity between May and December 2025 describes Creative Connections as strategically aligned and strongly relationship-based. It also identifies meaningful benefits for participants, professional learning opportunities and the creation of cross-border communities.
The report says the programme helps establish a wider creative education ecosystem, supporting a sense of belonging among schools, practitioners and communities. These findings place creativity alongside academic learning as a practical tool for confidence, participation and wellbeing.
Building on established Irish initiatives
Creative Connections builds on creative education programmes including Northern Ireland’s Creative Schools Partnership Programme and Ireland’s BLAST, or Bringing Live Arts to Students and Teachers, and Creative Clusters initiatives. The new pilot extends that experience into a structured North-South partnership.
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Applications open for schools and creative practitioners
Schools in both jurisdictions can express interest through an online form hosted by National Arts in Education at Tralee Education Support Centre. Creative Practitioners in Ireland and Northern Ireland can also submit expressions of interest through the same platform.
Application guidance is available for the 2026/27 programme year, including separate documents for schools and Creative Practitioners. Interested applicants should review the relevant guidelines before completing the online form.
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Why the programme matters
Creative Connections demonstrates how cross-border cooperation can support educational inclusion. By placing professional creative practice inside schools, the initiative offers students learning experiences that may not otherwise be available and encourages them to connect creativity with daily life.
Its emphasis on student voice, teacher development and emotional wellbeing also reflects a broader understanding of educational success. The programme’s central takeaway is clear: creative partnerships can strengthen learning while helping young people feel heard, connected and ready to participate.
Article/Image Courtesy: gov.ie