Teacher Artist Partnership (TAP+)

The Teacher Artist Partnership+ is a creativity-rich summer course that supports professional development through wellbeing, relationships and creative partnership for teachers and artists/creative practitioners. It is free for all primary and special school teachers, providing them with the necessary training for hosting a fully funded TAP+ Artist Residency in their schools.

The overall aim is to empower teachers and artists to enhance the creative potential of every child through collaborative practice. TAP+ equips teachers with the knowledge, experience and skills to integrate arts and creativity into their classroom practice. Artists and creative practitioners participating in TAP+ develop their professional skills and perspectives by working with teachers and children in education.

TAP commenced on a pilot basis in 2014/15 in response to the objectives outlined in the Arts in Education Charter. It has since been mainstreamed, was approved for EPV days, and runs yearly in each of the 21 full-time Education Centres in either July or August. Each course is delivered by a trained and experienced Teacher Artist Facilitator pair to 20 primary teachers and four professional artists. Under the new Creative Youth Plan, TAP has been broadened to TAP+, ensuring that the concept of creativity goes beyond arts, encompassing creativity in practice from technology to archaeology.

TAP+ is an initiative led by the Department of Education and Youth and is guided by the principles expressed in the Arts in Education Charter (2012), Pillar 1 (Creative Youth) of the Creative Ireland Programme (2017–2022) and the Creative Youth Plan 2023-2027.

Teacher Artist Partnership+ applications open in April annually and close in June.

Minister Foley announces registration opening for Teacher Artist Partnership+ Summer Course