Creative Schools 2026 | Scoileanna Ildánacha 2026
Application Timelines:
Opening Date for Applications - 24th February 2026
Closing Date for Applications - 30th April 2026
Here is the link to Register: Creative Schools 2026 Application Form
Please see the following link for further details: Creative Schools - Further Information + Application Guidelines 2026
Where better to start to start your creative journey than at a Creative School. Creative Schools brings to life our commitment to plan and provide for children and young people by supporting schools to understand and embrace creativity.
Creative Schools is a flagship of the Creative Youth plan – led by the Arts Council in partnership with the Departments of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports and Media , Department of Education and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. Since its inception in 2018, over 900 schools including primary, post primary schools, DEIS, special schools, and alternative settings have joined the initiative. The list of current schools is here.
Creative Schools aims to give our children and young people the opportunity to experience creativity as an integral part of their education placing the arts and creativity at the centre of school life.
Each school is supported by a Creative Associate who develops an individual school plan, and creates and strengthens links between the school and arts & cultural organisations. The long term aim is that every school will be able to fully embrace the arts and creativity, ensuring a positive experience and strong outcomes for children and young people.
It is well recognised that engagement in the arts can nurture a child’s sense of confidence and well-being. Creative activity also enables communication and collaboration, stimulates imaginations and harnesses curiosity; all necessary skills required for successful learning. Other important outcomes
The initiative recognises that schools play an important role in providing opportunities for children to participate in arts and culture and doing so also develop socio-emotional wellbeing, cognitive development, and positive attitudes towards school.
What is Creative Schools?
This two-year child-led programme enhances the creative potential of every pupil by stimulating curiosity, communication and collaboration. Since 2018, we have supported more than 1,300 schools to become Creative Schools.
The programme is led by the Arts Council in partnership with the Department of Education, the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport, and Creative Ireland. Creative Schools is part of the Creative Youth Plan.
The Creative Schools journey
Creative Schools was piloted in a selection of Irish primary and post-primary schools in 2018 as a child-centred way to provide and support opportunities for artistic expression.
Schools take part in a two-year guided journey to develop and implement a Creative Schools Plan unique to their own school. Each participating school or setting is matched with a trained Creative Associate who guides and supports staff, students, learners and parents. A Creative Associate helps find ways for children and young people to be at the heart of creative activity in their school. Creative Associates are artists, creative practitioners, teachers and educators with an understanding of the arts and creativity and its potential to transform the lives of children and young people.
Working with a creative associate
The Creative Associate consults with young people about the school environment, their experience of arts education and the way in which they learn. From this, they create a sustainable Creative Schools Plan that draws on a wide range of opportunities within the school/centre and the wider community. In each school, children and young people talk about what creativity means to them, are listened to, and their ideas are acted upon.
Activities undertaken are as interesting, varied and unique as the children themselves, including circus, architecture, heritage, music, comedy, literature, coding, traditional arts, science, horticulture, film, design, craft, drama, visual arts and dance.
The impact of the Creative Schools programme
Since the pilot in 2018, schools in every county in Ireland have taken part. All school types have been represented. The programme successfully prioritises participation by DEIS Schools, small rural schools, special schools, Irish Language medium schools and Youthreach centres.
In the Creative Schools Evaluation Report by Dr. Regina Murphy and Dr. Eemer Eivers (Dublin City University, 2022), participants (including children, students, teachers, principals, Creative Schools Coordinators and supporting arts practitioners and artists) were overwhelmingly positive in their attitudes towards the programme and their own experience. 99% of participating schools said they would recommend the programme to other schools.