Minister Foley attended Nano Nagle Place in the city in the afternoon where she launched Cork ETB’s Arts in Education Strategy 2022-2026.
The Arts in Education Strategy outlines the importance of the arts and provides a framework for arts education and the promotion of the arts and supporting their implementation throughout all of Cork ETB’s primary, post primary and further education and training facilities.
The implementation plan includes the following five key points and their respective objectives:
- Awareness: develop and create a space for the Arts in all its forms
- Inclusivity: to promote and deploy Arts Education as a valuable tool for promoting social inclusion, community engagement, well-being and fostering lifelong learning
- Partnership: develop existing relationships while nurturing the development of new partnerships and joint ventures
- Value: to foster and promote creativity by encouraging schools and centre’s to give parity of esteem to creative subjects
- Quality: provision of appropriate supports and resources to provide for quality teaching and learning in the Arts
Progress for the strategy will be monitored and reported on a continuous basis, and its roll-out will be in line with Cork ETB’s Strategy Statement 2022-2026.
Speaking at the launch, Minister Foley praised Cork ETB for their efforts to enable better integration and promotion of the arts in their education entities.
She said: “It was a joy for me to be invited to launch the Cork Education and Training Board’s Arts in Education Strategy 2022 – 2026. I strongly believe that inclusive access to the arts can nurture, inspire and innovate all our students and young learners. The Arts in Education Strategy today clearly identifies Cork ETB’s commitment to the arts and provides a framework for the way forward for all stakeholders. It was a pleasure to officially launch this milestone strategy in the presence of such vibrant performers and talented musicians. ”
Cork ETB is also delighted that Minister Foley approved the establishment of the Local Creative Youth Partnerships (LCYP) in Cork ETB, as part of the 2nd round of pilot LCYP’s. Funding for 2023 was confirmed to Cork ETB earlier this week, which will further develop creative opportunities for young people across Cork.
The LCYPs combine a wide range of resources to develop and provide out-of-school creative activities for children and young people that complement and work with the formal school settings. The LCYP partnerships will bring together Cork ETB, local authorities, the non-formal education sector and local cultural and creativity resources.