The Arts Council is inviting all schools in Westmeath to get involved in their first ever Creative February, a celebration of art and creativity in schools with a focus on fun, festivities, imagination and innovation, the initiative to run from February 1-29.
Creative February will recognise and affirm that our schools are truly creative places, filled with very creative people. From primary to secondary to alternative settings, all children and young people will be encouraged to MAKE, SEE, DO.
Make any style of art you choose – paint, draw, dance, knit, design, sculpt, code
See art - Visit a museum or gallery, attend a theatre or spoken word performances, dance shows, music gigs, or see architecture and local art in your town or city!
Do a creative project - as a team, as a class or as a school.
Children and young people are invited to let their imaginations soar and take part in a special month which celebrates their creativity. To help inspire, guide and motivate everyone taking part, the Arts Council will host a series of online workshops in collaboration with Monaghan Education Centre and Wexford Education Support Centre. These workshops will be divided, half will be catering for school staff and teachers, with the remainder dedicated to students.
The underlying theme for Creative February is ‘Spring’. Creation from new growth, the seeds of inspiration, this theme hopes to encourage students and school communities to reflect on where creativity begins in our lives, in every class, in every school and how it can grow and flourish. The month is a time to focus on celebrating this creativity, perhaps adding to the experiences of students in the form of events or workshops and providing a platform to show how creative each school can be. If your school is already in the Creative Schools initiative, this month is a great time to celebrate your journey so far.
Ongoing updates will appear across the Arts Council’s social media platforms and our website: www.artscouncil.ie/Arts-in-Ireland/Creative-Schools/Creative-February Students and schools are requested to proudly share their creations online, tagging the Arts Council and using the hashtag #CreativeFebruary.
Run by the Creative Schools team within the Arts Council, Creative February is open to every school in Westmeath and all are warmly invited to take part. A welcome pack, with posters and details has been distributed to each school.
Creative Schools is a flagship initiative of the Government’s Creative Ireland Programme, putting the arts and creativity at the heart of children and young people’s lives. The initiative is led by the Arts Council in partnership with the Department of Education and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.
