National Working Group for a National Strategy for the Arts and Social Inclusion in Education
A National Working Group for a National Strategy for the Arts and Social Inclusion in Education has recently been established by DCU's Educational Disadvantage Centre. The Group is composed of key leaders in the Arts and Social Inclusion in Education sectors.
The National Working Group has published an agreed document, Key Dimensions of a National Strategic Commitment to the Arts for Social Inclusion, involving Afterschool Services for Marginalised Groups: The Case for a National Strategy for the Arts and Social Inclusion in Education?
Members of the Working Group who have co-authored the discussion document are as follows:
Professor Paul Downes, Director, Educational Disadvantage Centre, Professor of Psychology of Education, DCU Institute of Education
Noeleen Hartigan, Independent Strategy Consultant
Colm Ó Cuanacháin, Fighting Words
Olwen Dawe, Independent Strategy Consultant
Elaina Ryan, Director Children's Books Ireland
Saoirse Brady, Children's Rights Alliance
Professor Deborah Kelleher, Director of Royal Irish Academy of Music
Moira Leydon, ASTI
Aideen Howard, Director, The Ark
Mark O'Brien
Gina O'Brien, Forsa
Orla Doyle & Michael Kennedy, St Vincent’s Boy’s Infant School, Dublin 1 (DEIS)
Clive Byrne, Dermot Carney, Paul Byrne & Paul Crone, National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals (NAPD)
Ciara Naughton, O’Connell’s Primary School/St Vincent’s Boys’ Infant School HSCL
Dr Siobhan O'Reilly, Fiona Kearney & Alan Tully, Familibase, Ballyfermot
Dr Sylwia Kazmierczak, Cabra School Completion Programme
Liz Coman
Seána Brady, Sinead Crosson & Lauren O’Callaghan, Central Model Senior School, Dublin 1 (DEIS)
Jennifer Cummins, Ballymun Anseo School Completion Programme
Alison Rafferty, Central Model Infant School, Dublin 1 (DEIS)
Cait Ni Mhurchu, Kilkenny School Completion Programme
Denise McCormilla, CEO, National Childhood Network
Dr Irene White, DCU Institute of Education
Bronagh Fagan, DCU Educational Disadvantage Centre
Sophia Cuddy Cullen, St Laurence O’Toole National School, Dublin 1 (DEIS)
Rose Duffy, Fionnuala Sinnott & Megan Wynne, Rutland National School, Dublin 1 (DEIS)
The discussion document has been submitted to the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin and to Creative Ireland. A meeting was held with the Minister and Tania Banotti, CEO Creative Ireland in July 2021 to discuss the then draft discussion document in order to develop future policy initiatives in this area.