Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley, and Minister for Arts, Culture,
Communications and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan, have today launched the ‘Principles for Engaging in
the Arts: A Guide for Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare Settings’.
The Principles for Engaging with the Arts are designed to inspire and support meaningful arts
experiences for children in early learning and care and school-age childcare settings across Ireland.
The principles are closely aligned with the principles underpinning both Aistear, the Early Childhood
Curriculum Framework, and the National Quality Guidelines for School Age Childcare Services. They
have been developed to give greater detail and further clarity on this area of practice, to support
early years educators, school-age practitioners and childminders in promoting arts experiences as
part of their setting’s curriculum or programme of activities. The principles are also intended to
support artists and arts organisations in their work with babies, toddlers, young children and children
attending school-age childcare, while creating a shared language and shared understanding across
and between sectors.
Minister Foley said:
“The arts are essential to how children make sense of the world, build relationships, and express
themselves. These Principles celebrate the power of the arts to enrich everyday experiences in early
learning and care and school-age childcare settings, and they offer a shared language and framework
for educators and artists.
“As well as launching the Principles, I am delighted that Minister O’Donovan and I are also joining in
the announcement of this year’s Arts in Early Learning and Childcare Scheme. The scheme continues
to go from strength to strength, offering bursaries to support artists working in settings and services
right around the country.”
Minister O’Donovan said:
“Early learning and care and school-age childcare settings have a key role in nurturing the innate
creativity of young children. It is therefore imperative that early years educators and school-age
childcare practitioners and artists are supported in their professional practice.
“Through research, sector consultation and collaboration facilitated under the Creative Youth Plan, I
am delighted to launch, alongside Minister Foley, these set of Principles for engaging with the arts. In
addition, I wish to congratulate the latest recipients under the Arts in Early Learning and Childcare
Scheme, providing more opportunities for babies, toddlers and children to create and enjoy the arts.”
The development of the principles was an action under strategic objective 3 in the Creative Youth
Plan 2023-2027, which aims to place creativity at the heart of children and young peoples’ lives.
They were developed by the Department of Children, Disability and Equality in partnership with the
Department of Culture, Communications and Sport (through the Creative Ireland Programme), the
Department of Education and Youth, the Arts Council, the National Council for Curriculum and
Assessment, early years educators, school-age childcare practitioners, childminders and artists.
The Principles for Engaging with the Arts recognise the unique role of the arts in fostering creativity,
expression, and holistic development in early childhood and beyond. They focus on values such as
inclusion, child-led exploration and collaborative practice, supporting adults to create environments
where children’s creativity can thrive.
The launch event, which took place at The Ark cultural centre for children, in Dublin, featured
contributions from artists and early years educators, showcasing creative work inspired by the
principles.
The Principles for Engaging with the Arts and supporting videos are now available to download here.
Note to Editors:
•The Creative Youth Plan 2023-2027 aims to provide everyone from birth to 24 years with more
opportunities for creative engagement in every aspect of their lives.
•The Plan is implemented by the all-of-Government Creative Ireland Programme based in the
Department Culture, Communications and Sport in partnership with the Department of Education
and Youth, the Department of Children, Disability and Equality, the Department of Further and
Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and the Arts Council.
•The Arts in Early Learning and Childcare Scheme supports individual artists and arts organisations to
partner with eligible services to develop opportunities for babies, toddlers, young children, and
children attending school-age childcare, to explore and enjoy the arts. It focuses on collaboration
between artists, early years educators, school-age practitioners, families and carers to develop their
capacity in this area. The scheme is co-funded by the Department of Children, Disability and Equality
and the Arts Council. The successful artist and arts organisations for 2025 are:
o Graffiti Theatre Company Ltd
o Mónica Muñoz
o Music Network
o The Ark
o Chris Finnegan
o George Higgs
o Kids’ Own
o Mother Tongues
o Freshly Ground Theatre
