Creative Connections Programme expanded to support additional schools in creativity and the arts
Date published:
Education Minister, Paul Givan and the Minister for Education and Youth, Hildegarde Naughton, have today launched the next phase of a cross-border pilot programme which enhances arts-based learning in schools.
The Creative Connections pilot programme will be extended across Northern Ireland and Ireland for the 2026/27 academic year to support a further 12 schools.
Expressions of interest for the next phase of the programme are being invited from schools from today.
This programme forms part of the Shared Island Initiative on tackling educational disadvantage.
Since its launch in February 2025, Creative Connections has partnered 20 schools from Northern Ireland and 20 from Ireland along with 40 creative practitioners to enhance arts education in schools including art, music, drama and literature. The programme promotes collaboration both between schools and with arts specialists to enhance learning for children impacted by social disadvantage.
Launching the second phase, Minister Givan said:
“Creative Connections offers schools a valuable opportunity to explore learning in ways that are imaginative, inclusive and engaging, supporting wellbeing for children and young people. It offers opportunities that support schools to work with professional creative practitioners and with one another across countries. The programme helps foster innovation, shared learning and stronger connections between educational communities and offers opportunities that young people may not otherwise experience.
“It is encouraging to hear the positive impact that the programme has had to date and I am pleased to support this next phase of the programme. I have no doubt it will create further opportunities for children and young people across Northern Ireland and Ireland and I would encourage schools to express an interest in participating.”
Minister Naughton said:
“Creative Connections is a powerful example of how creativity can enrich teaching and learning and open new opportunities for children and young people.
“I am pleased to see the continued expansion of the Creative Connections programme now expanding on an all-island basis, through the Shared Island Initiative, bringing schools together from across Northern Ireland and Ireland through creativity, collaboration and the arts. This next phase will help strengthen connections between school communities, support children and young people to express themselves, and ensure Being Creative, a key competency in curriculum from Primary school through to Senior cycle continues to play an important role in education.”
Expressions of Interest will open from today and close on 6 May 2026.
Schools interested in participating can find the Guidelines for Expression of Interest and application process on the DE website at: https://www.education-ni.gov.uk/articles/creative-connections
For further information:
Schools in Northern Ireland can contact the Department of Education at: tpl@education-ni.gov.uk
Schools in Ireland can contact: creativity@traleeesc.ie
Notes to editors:
1. Further information can be found on the following web pages: Creative Connections | Department of Education, Shared Island initiative and RAISE programme.
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