BLAST: Arts in Education

Bringing Live Arts to Students & Teachers (BLAST) in Primary, Special and Post-Primary Schools and Youthreach Centres

Pupils in schools all over the country work with professional artists/creative practitioners on imaginative and joyful projects. BLAST gives them the time and the space to design and develop innovative residencies meant to foster their creativity and to develop their collaboration skills, critical thinking and problem-solving abilities. BLAST is a key initiative of the Department of Education and Youth, part of the Creative Youth Plan 2023-2027. It is run by the Education Support Centres Ireland (ESCI) network through all its 21 full-time education centres and coordinated nationally by the National Arts in Education office at Tralee Education Support Centre

Each year, schools and YouthReach centres apply for a BLAST Residency via a centralised link. Applications are then processed by their local full-time ESC.

Every centre has a BLAST Register of Artists & Creative Practitioners who are trained to deliver these residencies and Garda vetted by the ESC. The BLAST Register is arranged by artist/creative practitioner and discipline. It includes required training, examples of previous work and relevant experience in an educational and community context. Schools and YouthReach centres may apply to work with one of these creative practitioners. Local ESCs administer the payment for artists and creative practitioners which removes the administrative burden on teachers and schools.

Nationwide, more than 600 trained professionals are part of the Register of Artists & Creative Practitioners.

The application process will be open until Monday 20 April 2026.

Most recent press release: Minister McEntee announces details of Creative Youth programmes including new data mapping tool