Press release
Government supports young Ukrainians in Ireland through arts and creativity
From Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
Published on
Last updated on
Young Ukrainians arriving in Ireland can now benefit from free artistic supports and creative activities across the country.
The Creative Ireland programme is supporting events which are free of charge for children and young people and are now facilitating the full participation of young Ukrainians in a variety of ways. Many of these events are part of the Cruinniú na nÓg programme of activities on 11 June. Cruinniú na nÓg - which involves local authority partners - is Ireland’s annual national day of free creativity for children and young people under 18.
Events leading up to and taking place on this day include free craft classes, storytelling, drama, art, Lego play groups, doll making lessons and circus workshops. New projects for Cruinniú na nÓg are being registered on an ongoing basis, and parents and guardians are encouraged to check regularly for updates. See list below (in Notes) for an outline of key events which facilitate the participation of Ukrainian children and young people this year. For a full overview of creative activities please go to www.creativeireland.gov.ie.
The Arts Council, the government agency tasked with developing Arts and Culture, is also playing a key role in supporting young Ukrainians arriving in Ireland, It is expanding its access costs protocol to ensure schools are aware they can apply for additional funding to engage translation, or other access services needed, to meet their needs and that of other migrant children. This funding is available to all schools participating in the Creative Schools programme and meets the costs of access supports for the children and young people, their teachers and Special Needs Assistants. It will enable them to engage with a Creative Associate or other creative practitioners working with them as part of their Creative Schools programme activity. The Arts Council is currently engaging with schools identified as having a high number of new Ukrainian pupils to ensure they benefit from the supports available.
Further resources and professional development is also being offered by the Arts Council to its 100 Creative Associates who work with schools nationwide to enable them to ensure full inclusion of Ukrainian children and others in the creative schools programme of activity. The additional support given will include peer learning in communities of practice, and expertise from other organisations that have experience in working with refugees and migrants. Creative Associates work closely with schools to support them in the creative schools journey and offer advice, support and guidance to participating schools. This work is ongoing in the Arts Council Creative Associate communities of practice, and will feature in all planned training events for all Creative Associates in the autumn.
Welcoming the initiatives which can help thousands of Ukrainian children now in Ireland, the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin, said:
"No child should see or hear the horrors of war. The least we can do for young Ukrainians arriving in a new and unknown country is to give them opportunities to grow their creativity, both for their own wellbeing and education. It is great to see so many events planned in this year’s Cruinniú na nÓg programme which can facilitate the full participation of young Ukrainians. I want to congratulate Creative Ireland’s partners in local authorities for the care they have taken in planning these events. We hope this wide range of creative activities will give these young people and many others the opportunity to express themselves, meet new people and have fun on 11 June 2022.
"I also wish to commend the work of the Arts Council, who are working in close collaboration with the social inclusion unit of Department of Education to ensure schools which have a particularly high proportion of refugee or migrant children are aware of the opportunity to participate in Creative Schools."
See list of key events which facilitate the participation of Ukrainian children and young people in the Cruinniú na nÓg programme of activities throughout the country this year. For a full overview of creative activities please go to www.creativeireland.gov.ie.
Friday 11 – Sunday 12 June
As part of Cruinniú na nÓg, Nenagh Children’s Film Festival and Ukrainian State Film Agency have created a selection of feature films and shorts in Ukrainian, suitable for the young audience that now find themselves far from home. Most are in Ukrainian with English Subtitles. Lots to choose from and all screenings are free.
o Come Outside, Masha 12+
o Papier-mâché 12+
o Tiger is Strolling Around 12+
Check out further information on each of the films and booking information: https://nenaghchildrensfilmfestival.eventive.org/schedule?filterTags%5B62850cbfa681b800539eba1f%5D=true
Saturday, 11 June
The universal language of Lego will be celebrated on 11th June 2022 with Kilkenny Library Services hosting Lego workshops for children aged 5-12 years old in Ferrybank and Thomastown Libraries. These will be led by experienced Lego creators and will be imaginative, multi-sensory and fun. Lego packs will also be available across each of the 8 libraries in Kilkenny. This will provide children in rural locations and disadvantaged areas increased access to creativity through materials free of charge for use in the library.
Saturday, 28 May and 4, 11 June
Collage, 3D construction, clay pot construction and dream catcher crafting classes are all on offer at the Richmond Revival House in the centre of Fermoy every Saturday afternoon from 21 May until 11 June 2022. An interpreter will be in attendance. Bookings can be made at https://www.facebook.com/BlackwaterUkrainianSolidarityGroup/
Saturday, 11 and Sunday, 12 June from 10am-4pm in the Market House, Monaghan
Storytelling enables young people to create and recreate imagined worlds together. In Monaghan, there will be a theatre workshop that explores storytelling and legends for all young people aged 12-18 including those newly arrived from Ukraine and young people living in Direct Provision. This workshop will be facilitated by drama teacher and writer Eve Li and artist Leanne McLaughlin. Transport will be provided to and from the venues for those who require it. Places can be booked at https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/330414918917
160 free kite sets are available for collection from the libraries in Offaly. Once collected, young people can access a YouTube link with Ukrainian subtitles - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15hCGMK5OeI - Here they can create their own uniquely decorated kite.
Join local digital artist Marta Boniakowska and design your own comic book cover! This is a special English/Ukrainian bilingual workshop.
Learn how to pose a created character for your cover design, as well as how to format a comic book cover, using titles, colour palettes and action to make your image come to life.
Once you’ve finished your comic book cover, why not enter it into the ‘Create A Comic Book Cover’ Competition? The deadline is 11 June, so drop your submission into any Offaly Libraries Branch following the workshop.
To book, please ring Birr Library on 0579124950 or email birrlibrary@offalycoco.ie
Saturday 11 June
Irish and Ukrainian children are invited to learn how to make traditional Ukrainian dolls – Berehynias at the Drogheda Library on 11 June 2022. Berehynia is a Slavic goddess whose role was to protect the home. Traditionally in Ukraine, these dolls are created to bring luck and prosperity to one’s home and protect it from bad spirits and people with bad intentions. The children will create Berehynia dolls by using traditional Ukrainian doll-making techniques and all natural recyclable materials.
The workshops will led by a Ukrainian artist, and one of the three workshops will be specifically for Ukrainian children. The other two workshops are open to all and can be booked at https://book.timify.com/?accountId=5f9a9eb964916511fcceae5f&hideCloseButton=true
25 May – 11 June
Young migrants and refugees from 8-17 are invited to join the Galway Community Circus workshops at the St. Joseph’s Community Centre, Shantalla, Galway. These workshops are completely free. Running over 5 weeks, participants will learn learning basic circus skills. Workshops take place every Sunday from 25 May to 11 June at 12.30pm–2pm (ages 8–12) and 2.45pm–4.15pm (ages 13–17).
The workshops will conclude with a Circus Open Day on 11 June at 10am–2pm, with Galway Community Circus tutors teaching others the circus skills they have learned. No specialist equipment is needed but please wear comfortable clothes. Circus is a non-competitive, physical and creative activity taught in a safe and welcoming space. Learn basic circus skills such as juggling, acrobatics, balance and more, and play fun circus games and make new friends. In circus, there is something everyone can enjoy – come experience the magic! To book, please email brady@galwaycircus.com with Cruinniú na nÓg in the subject.
Festival in a Van is a mobile arts event, working with theatre professionals and artists, to bring the joy of live performance around Ireland including to harder to reach communities. In response to the Ukrainian Crisis, Festival in a Van created a new event – The Shared Music Sessions. These events will be rolled out from September 2022 in 10 counties and go beyond the idea of “performing for” and will be shared sessions. Ukrainian musicians will be invited to take the stage in the Van and perform, either as solo artists, or in sets with Irish musicians. Thus the sessions will be a truly shared experience for all.