Minister Zappone announces pilot initiative of arts bursaries for early years services

Published: 27 November 2019
From: Department of Children and Youth Affairs

• Pilot initiative will be delivered through four arts and cultural organisations working with Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare services
• This investment in arts and culture is a pilot initiative of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs (DCYA) under Creative Ireland, in collaboration with the Arts Council.

The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Dr Katherine Zappone, is delighted to announce a number of arts bursaries that will be delivered through four arts and cultural organisations working with Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare services.

The projects, which were chosen through a competitive tendering process, are:

• ReCreate will provide free access to their arts and crafts supplies service for 175 School Age Childcare Services across the country.
• The Ark Cultural Centre for Children will provide three, two month long, artist in residencies in Early Learning and Care services.
• Graffiti Theatre will connect artists with 9 settings for children under 3 years old.
• Children’s Books Ireland will engage with 50 Early Learning and Care services, providing them with books and resources to encourage reading and play.

Announcing the bursaries at an Early Years Forum today, Minister Zappone said:  “Through this pilot programme of bursaries, a number of Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare settings will be able to access age-appropriate arts and cultural experiences for the children they serve. The process itself, and the experience of the services and of the children, will be evaluated and the learning will be shared. I look forward to hearing about their experiences.