Schools Excellence Fund – Creative Clusters

Application Form and Guidelines are available for download here: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/01cf0-creative-clusters/

The Minister for Education Norma Foley TD today invites primary and post-primary schools across Ireland to apply for Creative Clusters, an initiative taking place as part of Creative Ireland and under the Schools Excellence Fund. The Department of Education’s budget for Creative Clusters in 2022 is €595,000.

Guidelines 2022:

The purpose and aims of Creative Clusters  

The purpose of this pilot scheme is to demonstrate how the 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 the creativity in the classroom and in developing longer term partnerships is an effective model for developing and embedding practice in schools.   

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

Creative Clusters is a pilot initiative of the Department of Education 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.

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, post primary schools and youth reach organisations. 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 co-ordinator 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 2022?

It is envisaged a further 21 clusters will be established in 2022.

How long will the Creative Clusters scheme run for?

Clusters established in 2022 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 Support 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 Support Centre outlining their rationale for taking part in Creative Clusters initiative by 5pm on Friday, 13 May 2022. 

Following the application process the local Education Centre will assess and score applications against the criteria below:

·       The rationale for the application
This 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 Support Centre will then inform the identified cluster in their area.  Unsuccessful applicants will also be notified. The completed application must be submitted to your local Education Support Centre. The application deadline is 5pm Friday, 13 May 2022.

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 / Education and Training Boards and are not in the free-education scheme;

·       Schools that are already leading or participating in a Creative Cluster in the 2021/23 school year;

·       Schools that are selected to begin participating in the Creative Schools initiative from September 2022;

·       Schools who are electing to continue into the second year of Creative Schools (i.e. those who started in September 2021);

·       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 who will have completed their second year of Creative Schools by end of the 2021/22 school year;

·       Schools who are completing their second year in the Creative Clusters initiative in the 2021/22 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.

What support is provided to the Creative Clusters?

Selected clusters can expect support to include the following:

·       An initial one-day regional 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 2022-23 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 Support Centre. Further support from facilitators may be provided in the 2023-2024 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 2022–2024 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 implementation 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 Support 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                                                                          13 May 2022

Announcement of Creative Clusters                                                              21 March 2022

Regional Training for Creative Clusters                                                         Late September/Early October 2022

Detailed project planning and implementation work begins                  October 2022

Initiative completion and review                                                                     May 2024

 Tionscnamh Cónaitheachta na nEalaíon san Oideachas i mBunscoileanna agus Iar-Bhunscoileanna

D'fhorbair an Roinn Oideachais Clár Cónaitheachta nua nuálach Ealaíon-san-OideachasBLAST in 2021. Cumasóidh sé suas le 400 Cónaitheacht Ealaíon-san-Oideachas nua i scoileanna gach bliain.

Tá sé mar aidhm ag an tionscnamh seo tacú le comhtháthú na bprionsabal agus na bpríomhscileanna a leagtar amach in Cairt na nEalaíon san Oideachas agus sa Chlár Éire Ildánach (2017-2022), Colún 1 Óige Ildánach.

Is í aidhm na scéime seo an deis a thabhairt do dhaltaí i scoileanna ar fud na tíre oibriú le healaíontóir gairmiúil ar thionscadail uathúla atá le ceapadh agus le pleanáil ag an ealaíontóir, an múinteoir agus an scoil le chéile faoi chomhordú líonra Ionaid Tacaíochta Oideachais na hÉireann (ITOÉ) ar líonra na 21 ionad oideachais lánaimseartha é. Tacaíonn an tionscnamh seo le leanaí agus daoine óga ar mhaithe leis an todhchaí, tráth a mbeidh scileanna cosúil leis an gcumas nascadh agus comhoibriú le daoine eile, dul i mbun smaointeoireachta cruthaithí agus criticiúla agus cuimsitheacht a chleachtadh ar gach leibhéal thar a bheith tábhachtach don tsíocháin, don chobhsaíocht, don fhás eacnamaíoch inbhuanaithe agus don chomhionannas.

Is é atá beartaithe ná próiseas sruthlínithe uathúil trína ndéanann scoileanna iarratas ar ealaíontóir ar Chlár Ar Líne na nEalaíontóirí Ceadaithe atá oilte cheana féin don Chlár Cónaitheachta Ealaíon-san-Oideachas nua BLAST atá á bhainistiú ag an ionad oideachais áitiúil. Íocfaidh an t-ionad oideachais an t-ealaíontóir freisin, rud a laghdóidh  an t-ualach riaracháin ar mhúinteoirí agus ar scoileanna níos mó fós. 

Conas a oibreoidh an tionscnamh Cónaitheachta BLAST seo?

An tIonad Oideachais:

Beidh an clár á chomhordú go náisiúnta ag suíomh riaracháin Ealaíon san Oideachas atá lonnaithe san Ionad Oideachais i dTrá Lí, ach déanfaidh scoileanna iarratas ar Chónaitheacht Ealaíon-san-Oideachas BLAST chuig an ionad oideachais lánaimseartha ina gceantar féin, bunaithe ar Chlár Ar Líne na nEalaíontóirí Ceadaithe. Socrófar Clár na nEalaíontóirí Ceadaithe i ngach ionad oideachais de réir ealaíontóra agus disciplín. Áireofar ann taithí oiliúna ábhartha riachtanach agus fhaofa, samplaí d’obair roimhe seo agus samplaí de thaithí ábhartha nó gaolmhar i gcomhthéacs oideachais agus pobail.

Faoi láthair tá breis agus 300 ealaíontóir oilte agus cláraithe ar Chlár Ar Líne na nEalaíontóirí Ceadaithe á mbainistiú ag líonra na n-ionad oideachais go náisiúnta. Beidh gach ealaíontóir tar éis a B(h)eartas Dea-Chleachtais um Chosaint Leanaí (lena n-áirítear an Ráiteas um Chosaint Leanaí) agus a T(h)eastas maidir leis an modúil oiliúna Tús Áite do Leanaí a chríochnú a chur faoi bhráid an ionaid oideachais.

Is próiseas uathúil sruthlínithe an rud atá beartaithe nuair a dhéanann scoileanna iarratas ar ealaíontóir faoin gClár Cónaitheachta Ealaíon-san-Oideachas nua BLAST. Déanfaidh an t-ionad oideachais socrú freisin maidir leis an ealaíontóir a íoc, rud a bhainfidh an t-ualach riaracháin de mhúinteoirí agus de scoileanna níos mó fós.

Grinnfhiosrúchán an Gharda Síochána:

Eagróidh an tIonad oideachais grinnfhiosrúchán na n-ealaíontóirí i ndáil le hiarratais rathúla scoile le gach ealaíontóir ar leith i gcomhar leis an scoil. Féadfaidh scoileanna iarraidh ar an ealaíontóir leo féin (más mian leo) iarratas a dhéanamh ar ghrinnfhiosrúchán an Gharda Síochána chun obair ina scoil go sonrach.

Na hEalaíontóirí:

Clárófar ealaíontóirí ó aon disciplín ealaíne ar bith a fuair oiliúint in obair chomhpháirtíochta le scoileanna le gach ceann den 21 ionad lánaimseartha ITOÉ. Ar na disciplíní ealaíne áirítear na hamharcealaíona, ceardaíocht, ceol, damhsa, drámaíocht, litríocht agus scannánaíocht. Leathnófar disciplíní cruthaitheacha de réir mar a fhorbróidh an clár cónaitheachta sna blianta atá romhainn.

Cuireadh oiliúint roimhe seo ar na healaíontóirí atá ar Chlár na nEalaíontóirí Ceadaithe agus bhí siad i mbun cónaitheachtaí scoile faoin tionscnamh FGL agus Cónaitheachta um Chomhpháirtíocht idir Múinteoirí agus Ealaíontóirí nó faoin gClár um Ealaíona sa tSraith Shóisearach atá faofa ag an Roinn Oideachais agus agus faoina stiúir.

An Scoil:

Caithfidh na scoileanna a bheith i ndobharcheantar an ionaid oideachais lánaimseartha áitiúil. Ní féidir le scoileanna ach iarratas amháin a chur isteach. Ba chóir do scoileanna a rogha féin d’ealaíontóirí a dhéanamh ar an gClár Ceadaithe, bunaithe ar CVanna/samplaí oibre a rinneadh le déanaí, oiliúint agus moltaí. Tá cuimsiú na n-ealaíontóirí ar an gClár Ceadaithe bunaithe ar oiliúint san ionad oideachais (TAP) mar aon le hoiriúnacht/cáilíocht ealaíne srl., agus é a bheith déanta roimh ré lena chinntiú go sásaíonn an t-ealaíontóir roghnaithe beartais na scoile maidir le pearsanra seachtrach a fhostú.

Nuair a bheidh scoil ceadaithe don scéim, beidh gealltanas ag an scoil don ealaíontóir. Beidh am curtha in áirithe aige nó aici don tionscadal agus d’fhéadfadh sé nó sí obair eile a dhiúltú ag na hamanna atá sceidealta don obair leis an scoil.

Spreagann an tionscnamh seo:

• ·       Scoileanna, idir bhunscoileanna agus iar-bhunscoileanna, nach raibh deis acu le déanaí páirt a ghlacadh i dtionscnaimh chruthaitheacha den sórt sin chun iarratas a dhéanamh.

• ·       Scoileanna a thacaíonn le cuimsiú agus le níos mó rannpháirtíochta scoláirí ó chúlraí faoi mhíbhuntáiste agus scoláirí a bhfuil riachtanais speisialta oideachais acu in ealaíona-san-oideachas chun iarratas a dhéanamh.

• ·       Scoileanna a bhfuil cuntas teiste acu i gcomhpháirtíocht múinteora-ealaíontóra atá ag obair sa seomra ranga agus sa scoil chun iarratas a dhéanamh.

• ·       Tiomantas scoile uile don tionscadal, ach ní riachtanas é go n-oibreoidh gach rang leis an ealaíontóir

• ·       Ba cheart go dtabharfadh tionscadail aird ar na curaclaim scoile ábhartha nuair is cuí agus go ndíreodh siad ar an bpróiseas.

Maoiniú na Cónaitheachta Ealaíon-san-Oideachas BLAST:

Is é táille an ealaíontóra €1,000 in aghaidh na cónaitheachta. Maoiníonn an Roinn Oideachais é seo trí gach ionad oideachais. Íocfaidh an t-ionad oideachais an t-ealaíontóir de réir treoirlínte comhaontaithe nuair a bheidh meastóireachtaí an ealaíontóra agus an mhúinteora/na scoile curtha isteach agus faighte. I gcásanna áirithe, d’fhéadfadh go n-áireofaí leis seo dhá thráthchuid €500 a íoc má tá sé seo comhaontaithe.

Maoineofar an t-ealaíontóir le haghaidh 20 uair teagmhála, lena n-áirítear 6 uaire an chloig don phleanáil/d’fhorbairt/d’athbhreithniú. Caithfidh scoileanna rannpháirteacha íoc as ábhair a bhaineann leis an tionscadal agus freisin as doiciméadú an tionscadail trí ghrianghraif srl. chomh maith le haon chostais eile, costais árachais san áireamh. Is féidir cónaitheachtaí maoinithe a sheachadadh i rith na bliana acadúla ar fad ag tosú i mí Mheán Fómhair sa bhliain a ceadaíodh an chónaitheacht.

Caithfidh scoileanna aitheantas a thabhairt don Roinn Oideachais agus don ionad oideachais áitiúil as gach poiblíocht a bhaineann leis an tionscadal.

Iarratais a n-éiríonn leo:

Ceanglófar ar scoileanna a n-éiríonn leo conradh gairid a shíniú lena n-ionad oideachais áitiúil ag glacadh le téarmaí Chlár Cónaitheachta Ealaíon-san-Oideachas BLAST sula dtosaítear ar an gcónaitheacht. Níor cheart tús a chur le cónaitheachtaí ar éirigh leo go dtí go bhfaighfear fógra oifigiúil i scríbhinn chun dul ar aghaidh ón ionad oideachais agus a luaithe atá grinnfhiosrúchán an Gharda Síochána críochnaithe agus é sin curtha in iúl don scoil.

Is coinníoll sonrach den chlár cónaitheachta seo go n-oibríonn múinteoir as láimh a chéile leis an ealaíontóir, go gcomhoibrítear leis/léi chun an t-eispéireas foghlama a phleanáil agus go mbíonn sé/sí i láthair i gcónaí leis an ealaíontóir agus nuair a bhíonn an obair leis na scoláirí ar siúl sa scoil agus chun an chomhpháirtíocht idir an múinteoir agus an t-ealaíontóir a chur chun cinn tuilleadh. Beidh scoileanna freagrach as a chinntiú go gcomhlíonann an chónaitheacht comhairle Sláinte Poiblí atá i bhfeidhm tráth an tionscadail.

Meastóireacht:

Cuirfidh an t-ionad oideachais an mheastóireacht riachtanach i bhfeidhm do Chónaitheachtaí Ealaíon-san-Oideachas. Áireofar leis seo cuairt scoile, an Fhoirm Aiseolais Múinteora/Scoile agus an Fhoirm Aiseolais Ealaíontóra a chomhlánú agus a sheoladh ar ais. Íocfar an dara tráthchuid de tháille an ealaíontóra tar éis na tuarascálacha deiridh a bheith curtha isteach.

Is féidir aon íomhánna a chuireann an scoil isteach i dtuarascálacha nó ar chríochnú an tionscadail a úsáid chun an scéim a chur chun cinn trí chló agus trí mheáin eile lena n-áirítear na meáin shóisialta. Tá sé tábhachtach mar sin go mbeadh cead ag na scoileanna íomhánna den sórt sin a úsáid, ag tabhairt dá n-aire sna foirmeacha toilithe go n-úsáidfear iad chun na críche seo, agus gan íomhánna a sheoladh chuig an ionad oideachais ach amháin nuair a bheidh toiliú tuismitheoirí faighte.

Treoirlínte maidir le hIarratas:

Nóta ar Threoir Sláinte Poiblí a bhaineann le COVID-19: Ba chóir do scoileanna tograí a bhunú ar an gcomhairle agus an treoir sláinte poiblí is fearr atá ar fáil tráth an iarratais.

Caithfidh an méid seo a leanas a bheith san áireamh in iarratais chomhlánaithe

• ·       Foirm iarratais chomhlánaithe

• ·       Togra i scríbhinn don tionscadal a léiríonn aidhmeanna an tionscadail, an téama, na hábhair, na próisis, na torthaí a bhfuil súil leo, inseachadtacht, líon na n-uaireanta teagmhála agus líon na ranganna agus na ndaltaí a ghlacfaidh páirt sa tionscadal.

• ·       Léirigh freisin an tréimhse ama agus an modh doiciméadaithe atá beartaithe don tionscadal.

• ·       Ba chóir go léireodh an togra tiomantas scoile uile don tionscadal. (Ní chiallaíonn sé seo go gcaithfidh gach leanbh páirt a ghlacadh sa tionscadal ach gur chóir go mbeadh an scoil iomlán tacúil agus solúbtha chun an tionscadal a éascú).

• ·   Osclófar iarratais ar an 4 Meitheamh 2021. Is é an 30 Meán Fómhair 2021 an dáta deiridh chun iarratais a fháil.

   

Tacóidh líonra na n-ionad oideachais ITOÉ , clár FGL um Chomhpháirtíocht idir Ealaíontóirí agus Múinteoirí, Ealaíona sa tSraith Shóisearach, Clár Rannpháirtíochta Cruthaithí NAPD agus an Tairseach Ealaíona san Oideachas leis an tionscnamh seo.

 Faigh an fhoirm iarratais anseo: Foirm Iarratais BLAST

https://www.gov.ie/en/form/012fe-blast-arts-in-education-application-form/

The Department of Education are pleased to announce the opening of a new round of Creative Clusters.  The deadline for receipt of applications is Friday 14th May 2021.  

Each Creative Cluster will receive grant funding of €3,000 per school over a two-year period to implement their project in the 2021–2023 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 to 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.

• 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 Teacher Education Support Centre will have a key role in identifying and supporting a Creative Cluster for their local
  area.
• A total of 21 Creative Clusters will be selected nationally - One successful Creative Cluster per Education Centre.

Further information can be found HERE

Download Creative Clusters Application Form HERE

Download Creative Clusters Guidelines HERE 

Completed application forms should be forwarded to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. on or before Friday 14th May 2021.  Cork Education Support Centre will be awarded funding to support one successful application.  

Find out more about Ficheall.ie here: 

https://ficheall.ie/cork/  

Winter 2019 Update from Ficheall.ie:

Registration closed before mid-term break and we have an amazing 88 schools from around County Cork registered (up from 38 in 2017/2018 and 62 in 2018/2019). 

You can see a map of the schools by clicking here. 

88 schools is approximately 30% of all Cork mainstream schools and we're looking forward to breaking the 50% mark in the coming years!

We are currently in the process of organising venues and dates for the one-day chess tournaments for all the schools involved. We will have over 1,800 students represent their school in chess in January and February 2020. Each school will attend one of the 13 regional Ficheall.ie tournaments.