Minister Launch Joint Creative Connections Programme

Education Minister Paul Givan and Ireland's Minister for Education and Youth, Helen McEntee, have launched Creative Connections, a new pilot programme that will see schools in Northern Ireland and Ireland collaborate on creative learning projects.

Part of the Shared Island initiative, the programme aims to address educational disadvantage by providing 40 schools – 20 in Northern Ireland and 20 in Ireland – with the opportunity to work with creative practitioners. "Creative Connections is an exciting opportunity to bring the transformative power of creativity into our classrooms," said Minister Givan. "The programme provides invaluable learning opportunities for our children and young people, enabling them to work directly with a professional artist on a bespoke project."

"The substantial funding under the Shared Island Initiative for Creative Connections shows the extent of the commitment in Ireland and Northern Ireland to enabling creativity to flourish in education," said Minister McEntee. "Creative Connections will give schools across the island a unique opportunity to share learning, practice and community with each other through creativity."

Schools can now apply to participate in the programme. Expressions of Interest will be open from 7th February to 27th February.