In 2022, approval will be sought from Government for a new Creative Ireland 2023-27 programme. The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) has contributed to the development of a memorandum to Government, stressing our commitment to the new programme.

DCEDIY, through the Youth Reform, Strategy & Participation Unit, are currently seeking the views of stakeholders in relation to the development of the Creative Youth Plan 2023-2027.

The aim of this process is to provide an opportunity to stakeholders to participate in and contribute to the development of the Creative Youth Plan 2023-2027.

We would ask that you contribute by filling out a short questionnaire on the Creative Ireland programme. Don’t worry if you haven’t had any previous experience with any of the CI programmes, we are still very interested in your opinion on the programme as a whole.

The survey is available to complete HERE. (Please note, the questionnaire will not work using Internet Explorer)

The closing date for submissions is Friday the 20^th of May.

More information on the Creative Ireland program is available below.

Creative Ireland – Background

The first Creative Ireland programme, a 5-year initiative (2017-22) places creativity at the centre of public policy. The Programme is a high-level, ambitious, all-of-government initiative to mainstream creativity in the life of the nation. The core proposition is that participation in cultural and creative activity promotes individual, community and national wellbeing. The programme has five pillars, one of which is Creative Youth which is the one most associated with DCEDIY at present.

The Creative Youth Plan was published in December 2017, jointly presented by the then Ministers for Culture, Heritage & the Gaeltacht, Education, and Children and Youth Affairs. The Plan aims to give every child practical access to tuition, experience and participation in art, music, drama and coding by 2022. The key objectives of Creative Youth, and those measures which have been supported as part of its implementation, are to:

• Expand young people’s access to creative initiatives and activities,
• Focus on the inclusion of every child, and
• Support positive and sustainable outcomes for children and young people through creative engagement across formal and non-formal settings.

The Creative Youth Plan continues to focus on providing young people with opportunities to learn and develop the key skills and competencies of collaboration, critical thinking, problem-solving, and innovation.  These skills are encouraged through engagement with creativity and through access to a creative education – from Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare through primary, post-primary and on to further education and training (FET) and higher education as well as in non-formal settings.  There are also a number of out-of-school, community-based programmes and initiatives. Children and young people who wish to develop their skills in the arts and creativity currently rely heavily on community-based provision.

Further information on Creative Ireland is available from their website: Creative Ireland