Cork County Council is delighted to launch Creative Spark, a new creative engagement initiative that will bring high-quality arts experiences to children and young people through Family Resource Centres (FRCs), Family Resource Initiatives (FRIs), and Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) Centres across Cork County.
Creative Spark has been developed in response to the needs of local communities, providing accessible opportunities for young people aged 8 to 18 to explore their creativity, build confidence, develop new skills, and connect with others in a supportive environment.
The programme will be delivered through a network of participating Family Resource Centres and initiatives, including Mallow, Midleton, Bandon, Skibbereen, Cobh, Carrigtwohill, Beara, Youghal and Dunmanway, with additional participation by CAMHS locations in Mallow and Dunmanway.
FLEXIBLE PROGRAMMES
Each participating location will host two seven-week creative courses delivered by Cork County Council-approved facilitators. The programme is designed to be flexible and responsive to local interests.
Each participating FRC and FRI will identify the creative activities that best reflect the needs and aspirations of their young people. Creative disciplines offered may include: Music and songwriting; Film and animation; Visual arts, painting, drawing and craft; Performing arts, theatre, drama and dance; Creative writing, zine-making and comic book creation; Circus skills.
By placing creativity at the heart of community settings, Creative Spark aims to foster self-expression, personal development, resilience, and social connection among young people, while encouraging greater engagement with local arts and cultural opportunities.
Through partnerships with trusted community organisations and experienced facilitators, Creative Spark will create welcoming spaces where young people can experiment, learn and thrive through creativity. This project is supported by Creative Ireland’s Creative Health and Wellbeing Programme, Healthy Ireland and the HSE.
