The Arts Council is inviting all schools across Ireland to get involved in their first ever Creative February, a celebration of art and creativity in schools with a focus on fun, festivities, imagination and innovation. This initiative will run from February 1st to 29th.
Creative February will recognise and affirm that our schools are truly creative places, filled with very creative people. From primary to secondary to alternative settings, all children and young people will be encouraged to ‘Make, See, Do’.
The underlying theme for Creative February is Spring. Creation from new growth, the seeds of inspiration, this theme hopes to encourage students and school communities to reflect on where creativity begins in our lives, in every class, in every school and how it can grow and flourish. The month is a time to focus on celebrating this creativity, perhaps adding to the experiences of students in the form of events or workshops and providing a platform to show how creative each school can be. If your school is already in the Creative Schools initiative, this month is a great time to celebrate your journey so far.
MAKE, SEE, DO
Children and young people across Ireland are invited to let their imaginations soar:
Make any style of art you choose – paint, draw, dance, knit, design, sculpt, code.
See art – Visit a museum or gallery, attend a theatre or spoken word performances, dance shows, music gigs, or see architecture and local art in your town or city!
Do a creative project – as a team, as a class or as a school.
To help inspire, guide and motivate everyone taking part, the Arts Council will host a series of online workshops in collaboration with Monaghan Education Centre and Wexford Education Support Centre. These workshops will be divided, half will be catering for school staff and teachers, with the remainder dedicated to students.
A flagship initiative of the Government’s Creative Ireland Programme and run by the Creative Schools team within the Arts Council, Creative February is open to every school in the country, and all are warmly invited to take part. A welcome pack, with posters and details has been distributed to each school across the country.
Ongoing updates will appear across the Arts Council’s social media platforms and website: www.artscouncil.ie/Arts-in-Ireland/Creative-Schools/Creative-February. Students and schools are also asked to share their creations online, tagging the Arts Council and using the hashtag #CreativeFebruary.
