Publication

Creative Ireland programme

From: Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
Published on: 4 October 2020
Last updated on: 27 October 2020

Creative Ireland is a five-year programme which connects people, creativity and wellbeing

Established in 2017, Creative Ireland was born out of Ireland 2016 the hugely successful state initiative that marked the hundredth anniversary of the Easter Rising.

We are an all-of-government culture and wellbeing programme that is committed to the vision that every person in Ireland should have the opportunity to realise their full creative potential. The well-being of everyone living in Ireland is the most valuable asset that we possess as a nation. The Creative Ireland Programme provides enhanced access to creative opportunities.

We believe in the power and creative potential of people, organisations, local authorities and government departments working together, sharing expertise, to generate ideas and action. Our role includes working with all government departments to see how creativity and culture can be embedded in public policy. Through our focus and co-ordination, we will forge an eco-system of creativity.

The Creative Ireland Programme is built around three themes.

Enabling the Creative Potential of Every Child

Creative Youth creates opportunities for children and young people to realise their creative potential. Working within and outside of the formal education system, we support their learning, self-expression and personal development through participation in cultural and creative activities. Cruínniú na nÓg the national day of creativity for children and young people is our annual celebration of our young people’s creativity, curiosity and imagination. Cruinniú Creative Ireland.

Creativity in Every Community

Creative Communities is a local authority-led initiative which pioneers and supports creative collaborations and local cross-sectoral projects in arts, heritage, local history, STEAM and the creative industries. Working with our partners in local authorities Creative Ireland has been able to introduce new creative initiatives that are truly imaginative and are innately responsive to the needs of the communities they serve. Through creativity we work hard to generate well-being in our community, enhance economic development and build social cohesion.

We Are A Creative Nation

Ireland is a Creative Nation. Through our programmes we support not only communities to realise creative expression but individuals and industries who use creativity to innovate and change our world for the better. Our role in the creative industries includes an Audiovisual Action Plan. We seek to find ways to collaborate and achieve creative ambition. Through initiatives such as the National Creativity Fund we invest in research to identify new ways of working that will in turn develop a robust legacy of creative development for all Partners.

And through investigation and debate we look at how creativity can impact on one of the most important issues of our time, Climate Change.

For a broader understanding of the Creative Ireland Programme and activities: