By Becca Wilson, Education & Engagement Coordinator
So let’s take a wee look back at the 2023/24 Young at Art Education and Engagement Programme.
Despite a challenging year in a difficult funding landscape we were still able to work on five amazing projects in schools across Northern Ireland and one family programme!
Firstly, we started with Creative Child programme which has been running for over a decade; our highly trained artist facilitators worked with 14 nursery schools across Belfast to deliver a workshops in drama and visual art, both pre and post Belfast Children’s Festival, based around the shows the schools saw at the festival.
Thank you to Esme Mitchell, Halifax and Foras na Gaelige for their continued support of Creative Child.
We were also able to deliver not just one, but TWO rounds of well-being sessions, as part of our mental health programme with the support of Arts Council Northern Ireland and Public Health Authority. Six post primary schools across Belfast received workshops in visual art and drama to explore how the arts can be a good tool for good mental health and well-being practices. Check out year eight Ashfield boys learning more about forest bathing and creating trees of gratitude!
In 2023/24, the three-year Creative Teacher Programme came to an end. Two teachers from Gaelscoil na bhFal worked with our artists Emma and Stephen to continue exploring arts based learning and creative activities which can be used across the curriculum. The schools that previously participated in Creative Teacher were also invited to watch a performance during BCF24. Thank you to Paul Hamlyn for the support in running this wonderful project
Access All Areas is a festival access project which supported seven classes from SEN schools to visit the festival and , overcoming the barriers to engagement with the arts for children and young people with physical disabilities, learning disabilities, those who are neurodiverse and other sensory or communication needs. One of our Access All Areas teachers gave us the following great feedback: “Great experience for our SLD pupils who often don’t get to the theatre…. Highly recommend – inclusive and fun for all”.
Access All Areas is funded by Enkalon Foundation, Doyle Cart Charitable Trust and the Blackburn Trust.
Six primary school classes took part in our Irish Language Author Programme at BCF24.Curated by author Máire Zepf, ILAP is a series of events with authors and illustrators delivered in Irish, including artists such as Paddy Donnelly and Fearghas Mac Lochlain, Muireann Ni Chiobhan and Márie Zepf and Andrew Whitson. Funded by Foras na Gaelige.
Finally, we delivered Babaithe Cultúir in partnership with Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich between Autumn 2023 and March 2024. . In Autumn, little ones and their adults explored autumnal colours and textures, and a session during BCF24 exploring the beauty of springtime all delivered in Irish! Check out all this fun!
Even though we’re sad to reach the end of the 2023/24 year, we’re so thankful for all our amazing artists, teachers, young people, funders and supporters! This year would not have been such a success without them and behalf of the team and I, we want to thank you all for making it such a fabulous year!
Keep your eyes peeled for what’s next in the Education and Engagement Programme!!
