The Department of Education is pleased to announce the opening of a new round of Creative Clusters (Press Release). The deadline for receipt of applications is 12th May 2023.
Each Creative Cluster will receive grant funding of €3,000 per school over a two-year period to implement their project in the 2023–2025 school years (e.g. a cluster of 3 schools would receive €9,000 over two years while a cluster of 5 schools would receive €15,000 over two years). Clusters will receive 50% of the total grant funding in Year 1, with the second 50% being provided in Year 2. In addition, but separate from the grant funding, all successful clusters are further supported with A fully paid Creative Cluster Facilitator; paid Teacher Substitution to attend training and meetings; room hire, travel & subsistence.
Please see the following link for the Creative Cluster 2023 Guidelines and Application Form: Creative Clusters 2023 Guidelines and Application Form
- Schools can apply as part of a cluster which may be an existing network of schools.
- A school nearing the end of year 2 of an existing Creative Cluster can reapply to be in a new cluster where the other schools in the new cluster have not participated before.
- Schools nearing the end of 2 years with Creative Schools are eligible to apply.
- The local Education Support Centre will have a key role in identifying and supporting a Creative Cluster for their local area.
Applications should be sent to: The Director, Wexford Education Support Centre, Milehouse Road, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford, Y21 T271 or emailed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
For any queries, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Wexford Education Support Centre.
Creative Clusters is an initiative of the Department of Education, led by and in partnership with the 21 full-time Education Centres (Education Support Centres Ireland - ESCI) and funded through the Schools Excellence Fund.
Creative Clusters video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/11GUrI0m6EJ57h3mqiyx5EndI7ZsBNuCT/view?usp=sharing
Creative Clusters
Background
Creative Clusters is a pilot initiative of the Department of Education and Skills, led by and in partnership with the 21 full-time Teacher Education Centres (Education Support Centres Ireland - ESCI) and funded through the Schools Excellence Fund – Creative Clusters Initiative.
Creative Clusters is an important initiative of Creative Youth – A Plan to Enable the Creative Potential of Every Child and Young Person, which was published in December 2017 as part of the Creative Ireland Programme. The Creative Youth Plan aims to give every child practical access to tuition, experience and participation in art, music, drama and coding by 2022.
The Purpose and Aims of Creative Clusters:
The purpose of this pilot scheme is to demonstrate how creative practices can support clusters of schools to work together to address common learning challenges over a two-year period.
It aims to:
- Promote new ways of working and collaboration between schools and the arts and cultural sector
- Improve teaching and learning
- Provide an opportunity for clusters of schools to experiment, innovate and collaborate on the design, implementation and evaluation of a bespoke creative learning project
- Develop the creativity of learners and teachers
- Understand, whether clustering schools at different stages of their journey in using creativity in the classroom and in developing longer-term partnerships is an effective model for developing and embedding practice in schools.
What is a Creative Cluster and how many schools are involved?
A Creative Cluster will typically consist of between three and five schools collaborating on the design, implementation, evaluation and dissemination of an innovative creative learning project which supports them to address a common issue or challenge. Creative Clusters will include schools at different stages of their journey in using creativity in the classroom.
Clusters can consist of primary schools only, post-primary schools only or a combination of primary and post-primary schools. In selecting the clusters to participate in the scheme, the initiative will seek to have all three configurations represented.
Clusters can be drawn from existing networks or result from the creation of new ones. Each cluster must nominate a lead school. The lead school must identify a Creative Cluster Coordinator who would normally be a member of the school’s senior leadership team.
Substitution costs to the equivalent of 1 day per term for the duration of the pilot project will be provided for the Creative Cluster Coordinator. If the application is successful the coordinator will be responsible for managing the day-to-day operation of the project and will act as a single point of contact during the duration of the project. The other schools in each cluster must nominate a representative to participate in the project.
Creative Clusters 2021/2023 & 2022/2024
We are delighted to have two Creative Clusters up and running this year. We welcome our new, year one, cluster group and wish them every success and enjoyment as they commence their journey in the 2022/2023 academic year.
Cluster One - Year One - 2022/2024
The schools involved in this cluster are:
- Coláiste Abbain, Adamstown, Enniscorthy - Lead School
- Scoil Naomh Abbain, Adamstown, Enniscorthy
- Raheen N.S., Clonroche, Enniscorthy
Project Name: "Building the Capacity for Performance Opportunities in the Areas of Music, Song, Dance, and Drama in the Locality".
Teachers involved in this project are:
Rosaleen Power, Coláiste Abbain - Lead School
Fiona Quirke, Coláiste Abbain - Lead School
Claire Kickham, Scoil Naomh Abbain
Ciara Lng, Scoil Naomh Abbain
Sarah Browne, Raheen N.S.
Risín Quigley, Raheen N.S.
We would like to wish this new cluster every success and we look forward to seeing their project progress in due course.
Thank you to Eamonn Barrett, Facilitator, for all his enthusiastic work with this cluster on behalf of Wexford Education Support Centre.
We are very happy to welcome back our second cluster group in their year two and final year in their project.
Cluster Two - Year Two - 2021 - 2023 - Project Name: "A Musical Odyssey Through German-speaking Countries."
The schools involved in this cluster are:
- Coláiste Bríde, Templshannon, Enniscorthy - Lead School
- Presentation College, Askea, Co. Carlow
- Coláiste Eoin, Hacketstown, Co. Carlow
Teachers involved in this project are:
Una Byrne, Presentation College, Askea, Co. Carlow - Lead School
Maria Whitty, Coláiste Bríde, Templeshannon, Enniscorthy
Mairead Kavanagh, Coláiste Eoin, Hacketstown, Co. Carlow
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Previous Creative Clusters through Wexford Education Support Centre:
Davidstown Cluster 2020-22: This cluster was led by Davidstown NS and included Tombrack NS, Galbally NS and Ballyhogue NS. The use of "Stop Motion" app to produce animated videos was at the heart of this project. Pupils worked initially in their own school settings and then came together to produce a collaborative video on the theme of Environmental Awareness.
CREATIVE CLUSTER DIGITAL STORYTELLING - 2020-22
The schools involved in this cluster were:
- Davidstown NS (Lead School)
- Scoil Eoin Baiste, Galbally
- Tombrack NS
- Ballyhogue NS
- Eamonn Barrett (Facilitator)
Focus/challenge or area of development for the Creative Cluster project work: "Digital Storytelling"
Digital Storytelling: using a variety of multimedia tools to enable engagement in the creative process. Use Digital Technologies to engage in the development of expressive arts.
Added Value anticipated from Cluster Working:
- Self-esteem: developing self-esteem and resilience is inherent in creating art.
- Self-expression: art is about expression and interpretation.
- Human rights, responsibilities, the environment: art gives people the ability to express their opinions and convey messages through creativity.
- Connections: recent world events have highlighted the need for the arts, creativity and technology in our lives to aid meaningful connections with others.
- Opportunities for integration across a wide range of subject areas and skills.
This project is now completed. We would like to thank the Principals, Teachers and Pupils involved and wish them every success on their academic journeys. We would also like to thank Eamonn Barrett for facilitating this group.
Mayglass Creative Cluster 2019-21. The original focus of this group was on the promotion of singing in informal settings on a daily basis in class and two very useful whole-staff workshops were organised to support staff CPD in the area. Unfortunately, Covid 19 stopped singing so the cluster then pivoted to "the provision of outdoor or indoor sensory learning spaces some of which include musical instruments".
Creative Cluster 2019-21 - Drop Everything and Make Music (DREAMM) Creating a Music Sensory Garden for each school
The schools involved in this cluster were:
- Mayglass NS (Lead School)
- Broadway NS
- St Margaret's N.S., Curracloe
- St. Mary's N.S., Tagoat NS
- Piercestown NS.
Focus/challenge or area of development for the Creative Cluster project work - DREAMM –
Added Value anticipated from Cluster Working:
- Improved teacher and pupil well-being
- Teacher wellbeing was enhanced through increased confidence as a result of CPD and professional development
- Pupil wellbeing (physical, social, emotional, intellectual) was enhanced through the sensory space leading to improved self-confidence
- Inclusion of all children including different cultures and SEN pupils
2019 - Year 1
This year our project was called ‘DREAMM – Drop Everything and Make Music
The project involved:
- Four hours of professional development led by Mary Amond for all teachers and SNAs from the five participating schools
- Daily, informal, incidental in-class singing by all pupils in each school
- Teachers developed a repertoire of suitable material throughout the project
- It is planned that the pupils of all five schools will come together in June 2020 for a celebration of singing when they will all sing together
- Pupils' attitudes towards singing were surveyed in October 2019 and a similar survey in June 2020 will track any changes
- The overall aim was the promotion of singing as an enjoyable and beneficial activity for ALL
The Creative Clusters scheme provides schools with access to creative people, skills and resources and supports them to draw on their own skills and experiences and those within their wider communities.
Background to Creative Clusters
Creative Clusters is a pilot initiative of the Department of Education and Skills, led by and in partnership with the 21 full-time Teacher Education Centres (Education Support Centres Ireland - ESCI) and funded through the Schools Excellence Fund – Creative Clusters Initiative.
Creative Clusters is an important initiative of Creative Youth – A Plan to Enable the Creative Potential of Every Child and Young Person, which was published in December 2017 as part of the Creative Ireland Programme. The Creative Youth Plan aims to give every child practical access to tuition, experience and participation in art, music, drama and coding by 2022.
The purpose and aims of Creative Clusters
The purpose of this pilot scheme is to demonstrate how creative practices can support clusters of schools to work together to address common learning challenges over a two-year period.
It aims to:
- Promote new ways of working and collaboration between schools and the arts and cultural sector
- Improve teaching and learning
- Provide an opportunity for clusters of schools to experiment, innovate and collaborate on the design, implementation and evaluation of a bespoke creative learning project
- Develop the creativity of learners and teachers
- Understand, whether clustering schools at different stages of their journey in using creativity in the classroom and in developing longer-term partnerships is an effective model for developing and embedding practice in schools.
What is a Creative Cluster and how many schools are involved?
A Creative Cluster will typically consist of between three and five schools collaborating on the design, implementation, evaluation and dissemination of an innovative creative learning project which supports them to address a common issue or challenge. Creative Clusters will include schools at different stages of their journey in using creativity in the classroom.
Clusters can consist of primary schools only, post-primary schools only or a combination of primary and post-primary schools. In selecting the clusters to participate in the scheme, the initiative will seek to have all three configurations represented.
Clusters can be drawn from existing networks or result from the creation of new ones. Each cluster must nominate a lead school. The lead school must identify a Creative Cluster Coordinator who would normally be a member of the school’s senior leadership team.
Substitution costs to the equivalent of 1 day per term for the duration of the pilot project will be provided for the Creative Cluster Coordinator. If the application is successful the coordinator will be responsible for managing the day-to-day operation of the project and will act as a single point of contact during the duration of the project. The other schools in each cluster must nominate a representative to participate in the project.
How many Creative Clusters will there be in 2020?
It is envisaged a further 21 clusters will be established in 2020.
How long will the Creative Clusters scheme run?
Clusters established in 2020 will operate for two years.
What is the application process?
Creative Clusters is a national programme of local projects and the 21 full-time Education Centres across Ireland are lead partners in the initiative. They will have a key role in identifying and supporting a Creative Cluster for their local area.
Individual schools, existing networks of schools and potential clusters of schools must apply to their local full-time Education Centre outlining their rationale for taking part in Creative Clusters initiative by 5 pm on Friday, 15 May 2020.
Following the application process the local Education Centre will assess and score applications against the criteria below:
- The rationale for the application includes the extent to which the school or schools involved have identified a clear rationale for applying to be a Creative Cluster, how this fits with the aims of the initiative and their initial ideas of common issues or learning challenges they could address
- Benefits to teaching and learning This includes how participation will support improvements in teaching and learning, in the development of creativity and in areas of the curriculum
- Capacity and commitment of all the schools in the cluster to participate This includes the extent to which the senior leaders in the school or schools are committed to the cluster and to mobilising their school community to engage and how schools in the cluster, who are at different stages of their journey in using the arts and creativity in the classroom, see themselves supporting each other
- Children and Young People’s Voice This includes the extent to which the application demonstrates a clear plan for ensuring children and young people play a central role in developing, implementing and evaluating their Creative Cluster project.
The local Education Centre will then inform the identified cluster in their area. Unsuccessful applicants will also be notified.
Which schools are not eligible to apply to lead or participate in a Creative Cluster?
The following schools may not apply to lead or participate in a Creative Cluster:
- Schools not in receipt of capitation grants from the Department of Education and Skills/Education and Training Boards and are not in the freeeducation scheme;
- Schools that are already leading or participating in a Creative Cluster in the 2020/21 school year;
- Schools that are selected to begin participating in the Creative Schools initiative1 from September 2020;
- Schools who are electing to continue into the second year of Creative Schools (i.e. those who started in September 2019);
- Schools selected to participate in other Schools Excellence Fund initiatives (DEIS, Digital or STEM). The following schools may apply to lead or participate in a Creative Cluster:
- Schools that have never participated in Creative Schools or Creative Clusters, or are not participating in any other Schools Excellence Fund Initiatives.
- Schools that will have completed their second year of Creative Schools by end of the 2019/20 school year;
- Schools who are completing their second year in the Creative Clusters initiative in the 2019/20 school year, provided that they are applying as part of a cluster of schools who have not yet participated in the initiative. In this instance, it is encouraged that this school applies to lead the new cluster. The Creative Schools initiative is an initiative led by the Arts Council that supports individual schools to develop and begin to implement their own Creative Schools plan.
What support is provided to the Creative Clusters?
Selected clusters can expect support to include the following:
- An initial one day training event for Creative Cluster Coordinators and at least one representative from each of the schools in the cluster. This will provide an opportunity for schools in the individual Creative Clusters to work together to develop and progress the focus for their cluster work
- A specially trained Creative Cluster Facilitator who will support the cluster for up to three local creative cluster meetings over the 2020-21 school year. The Creative Cluster Facilitator will work with the Cluster to develop, implement and evaluate an arts and creative learning project which helps participating schools to address a common school issue or development need. The Cluster will have flexibility in how they wish to schedule these meeting times and days, in consultation with their local Education Centre. Further support from facilitators may be provided in the 2021-2022 school year.
- Paid substitution will be provided for the Regional Cluster Training event and two/three local cluster meetings per school year.
- Networking opportunities with other schools including other Creative Clusters and schools participating in other Creative Youth initiatives to share learning.
What funding is available to each Creative Cluster?
Funding has been set aside for the following:
- Each Creative Cluster will receive funding of €3,000 per school in each cluster over a two year period to implement their project in the 2020–2022 school years (e.g. a cluster of 3 schools would get €9,000 over two years while a cluster of 5 schools would receive €15,000 over two years).
Schools in a cluster are expected to collaborate on how this funding is allocated and spent to support the implement of their project.
Clusters will receive 50% of the total funding in Year 1, with the second 50% being provided in Year 2.
Do clusters have to have a project idea?
This is not a requirement. Those clusters that are selected to take part will begin their journey as a Creative Cluster by participating in a Regional Cluster Training day. On this day the schools in each cluster will spend time working together to identify a focus for their project work as a Creative Cluster. Assessment and Selection Creative Cluster applications will be assessed by the Local Education Centre.
Applications will be assessed and scored against the criteria below.
1. The rationale for the application This includes the extent to which the school(s) involved have identified a clear rationale for applying to be a Creative Cluster and their initial ideas of common issues or learning challenges they could address
2. Benefits to teaching and learning This includes how participation will support improvements in teaching and learning, in the development of the arts and creativity and in areas of the curriculum
3. Capacity and commitment of all the schools in the cluster to participate This includes the extent to which the senior leaders in each of the schools are committed to the cluster and to mobilising their school community to engage and how schools in the cluster, who are at different stages of their journey in using the arts and creativity in the classroom, see themselves supporting each other
4. Children and Young Peoples Voice This includes the extent to which the application demonstrates a clear plan for ensuring children and young people play a central role in developing, implementing and evaluating their Creative Cluster project.
Creative Clusters Timeline Closing date for applications 15 May 2020 Announcement of Creative Clusters May 2020 Regional Training for Creative Cluster Late September 2020
Detailed project planning and implementation work begins October 2020
Initiative completion and review May 2022
Owing to the current Covid-19 crisis, the deadline for Creative Clusters applications has now been extended to the 26th of June 2020 . Applications should be submitted to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Click here to Apply
Please see examples of the wonderful work been done in our local schools on the Arts in Education Portal . Click here to access website http://artsineducation.ie/en/organisations/wexford-education-centre/
