December will see something special and exciting happen for thousands of young people in schools across the country: our Creative Associates are starting their work in the 150 schools that form the Scoileanna Ildánacha/Creative Schools pilot. They are joined by some 350 representatives of the schools, and they aim to put the arts and creativity at the heart of children and young people’s lives.

Creative Associates are artists or educators – or both -- with an understanding of the arts and creativity. They see themselves as dynamic agents for change, and they will match the needs of schools to arts and creative opportunities in their locality. Each school will have its own, unique programme.

The Arts Council is very proud to lead the Creative Schools pilot. It is a flagship initiative of the Government’s Creative Ireland Programme to enable the creative potential of every child, and brings together the Department of Education and Skills and the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.

As you can see from the article in this month’s Newsletter, we are off to a great start.

Elsewhere this month, you can read about how the Arts Council has taken the time and care necessary to develop a new and comprehensive Equality, Human Rights and Diversity policy, in consultation with a wide range of stakeholders. We will share a draft of this in the weeks ahead, and we intend to publish the final policy, and an implementation plan, early in 2019.

Best wishes,

Orlaith McBride
Director