CRAFTS COUNCIL OF IRELAND LAUNCHES PRIMARY SCHOOL CRAFT PROGRAMME
7th September 2010
Children to be taught new skills by craftspeople in the classroom.The Crafts Council of Ireland (CCoI) today (Tues Sept 7th) announced details of its restructured primary schools craft programme aimed at teaching children a wide range of skills.
The Crafts Council of Ireland (CCoI) today (Tues Sept 7th) announced details of its restructured primary schools craft programme aimed at teaching children a wide range of skills.
The CRAFTed: Learning Skills for Life Primary School Programme, undertaken in partnership with Education Centres in six regions across the country and the National Museum of Ireland, will take place during the 2010/11 academic year. It was officially launched by the
Minister for Education and Skills, Mary Coughlan, in Kilkenny today.
The programme gives primary school children and teachers an exciting opportunity to explore their creativity and learn new skills by working collaboratively with professional craftspeople.
Over 900 pupils in 36 schools right across the country will be participating in the CRAFTed programme which supports teachers in the delivery of the Visual Arts (VA) curriculum and investigates how craft processes can contribute to learning in other subject areas such as the Social, Environmental and Scientific Education (SESE) curriculum.
Announcing the details of the programme Louise Allen, Education and Awareness Manager of the Crafts Council of Ireland, said craft processes provide a unique opportunity for learning in a range of subject areas through hands-on experience.
“It is widely recognised that education plays a pivotal role in making innovation happen. The development of the Crafts Council of Ireland’s CRAFTed programme that connects creativity and innovation at an early stage of children’s development is timely”.
The CRAFTed programme is designed to build skills, develop competencies and provide resources that support creative learning for teachers, their students and craftspeople. It provides collaborative training, access to highly skilled craftspeople and gives children the chance to use their imagination and explore new materials such as clay, fibre, metals, wood and glass.
Commenting on the programme Úna Parsons Chief Executive of CCoI, remarked: ‘The Crafts Council of Ireland is committed to the ongoing development of dynamic and engaging craft education programmes that build the next generation of craftspeople and develop creatively involved and critically engaged communities with a deep understanding of the role and importance of Irish craft. We are delighted to launch the CRAFTed programme which nurtures the creative spark in children from a young age and links to the government’s current strategy in the future development of Ireland as the “Innovation Island”.
The Crafts Council of Ireland first launched a primary school programme “Craft in the Classroom” in 2005. The programme was evaluated last year and restructured to form the new CRAFTed: Learning Skills for Life programme. CRAFTed is being rolled out in 6 education centres for the 2010/2011 academic year – from September to November in Dublin West, Kilkenny and West Cork and then from November to March 2011 in Monaghan, Sligo and Athlone. Information evenings are being hosted for schools interested in participating in the programme. For full details, visit the Training & Education section on the Crafts Council of Ireland website at www.ccoi.ie.
ABOUT THE CRAFTS COUNCIL OF IRELAND:
The Crafts Council of Ireland (CCoI), which is headquartered in Kilkenny, is the main champion of the craft industry in Ireland, fostering its growth and commercial strength, communicating its unique identity and stimulating quality design, innovation and competitiveness. CCoI's activities are funded by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation via Enterprise Ireland. CCoI currently has over 60 member organisations and over 2,100 registered clients.
The main craft categories in Ireland are textile making and clothing, pottery and ceramics, jewellery, glass and woodworking and furniture. Irish craft businesses are characteristically small in scale and are geographically widespread, but taken nationally the industry is a significant employer, while also providing viable, sustainable enterprises in all areas, including those isolated rural communities ignored as unsuitable by other manufacturing sectors.
The Crafts Council of Ireland has designated 2011 as Year of Craft to celebrate the organisation’s 40th anniversary and a year-long programme of activities and events are being planned.
For further information contact:
Miriam Donohoe, MD Media, on 087–2393914/056–7783517 or email: miriamdonohoe@gmail.com
and
Susan Brindley, Crafts Council of Ireland on 087–8595013 or email susan@ccoi.ie
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