Creative Child

The Creative Child programme began in 2013 and drew on previous work from 2011 - 2014 in developing drama and critical appraisal skills in children and the adults in their lives. Following subsequent years of both primary and secondary research, Creative Child has evolved into an extended engagement program, delivering a series of child led, process based, creative workshops combined with performance visits for children, their teachers and parents.

"In school, too much weight is attributed to 'core subjects'. The Arts gives all children a chance to shine and use their imagination. It gives children who can be shy the space to express themselves in their own way." Glenbank Nursery School

The program works with children in Nursery schools (and has previously been run in Primary school), while also offering training & creative support to parents and teachers.

“Fantastic experience for the children and staff to see experts at “work” and invaluable for teachers to see how each child engages and the use of their imagination.” Nettlefield Nursery School

It directly supports key priorities in child development and education, bringing under-engaged children forward and increasing literacy, confidence, imagination and critical vocabulary. We do this by putting the child at the centre of what we do while investing heavily in a high level of training and preparation for our project artists and personnel. 

“The arts are incredibly important in developing confidence, imagination, and thinking skills, in particular with younger children. The Creative Child project allows our children to engage with the arts in new ways they will not have experienced in the nursery environment.” Teacher, Naiscoil Bheann Mhadagáin

The Creative Child project is part of Young at Art’s year round education programme. It is a fully funded project, working with schools from some of the most deprived areas in Belfast. In 2020 we worked with 15 Nursery schools across North, West, and East Belfast.

"The relationship you build with the children is amazing, even meeting them before the theatre visit makes such a difference. That consistency is a big thing because they don't have that in other parts of their lives." Seaview Nursery School

Creative Child Schools:

· Ballysillan Nursery

· Black Mountain Nursery

· Cliftonville Nursery

· Edenderry Nursery

· Glenbank Nursery

· Hobby Horse Playgroup

· Hope Nursery

· Knocknagoney Nursery

· Naíscoil Bheann Mhadagáin

· Naíscoil Mhic Reachtain

· Nettlefield Nursery

· Seaview Nursery

· Shaftesbury Nursery

· St. Matthew’s Nursery 

· Tudor Lodge Nursery

Thanks to Funders and Supporters:

· Foras na Gaeilge

· Esme Mitchell Trust

· Community Arts, Culture, and Heritage Fund (CFNI)

And supported by Cultúrlann Mc Adam Ó Fiaich and The Strand Arts Centre.

Thanks also to past funders:

· ARN Foundation

· Foyle Foundation

· Lightbody Foundation

· NIE Networks Staff & Pensions Fund

· Thomas Devlin Community Arts Fund

· Victoria Homes Trust

· BBC Children in Need

Teachers and educational professionals may be interested in finding out more about the training that we offer - see here.