BLAST for Schools

Get Ready for BLAST! Scoil Naomh Mhuire Welcomes an Arts-in-Education Residency (2025/2026) 

We're excited to share that Scoil Naomh Mhuire has been selected to participate in a BLAST (Bringing Live Arts to Students and Teachers) Residency during the 2025/2026 school year!

BLAST is a fantastic initiative that will bring a professional creative practitioner to our school to work with pupils and teachers on an imaginative, hands-on project. This is a unique opportunity to embed creativity and joy right into the heart of our learning.

BLAST is a key component of the Creative Youth Plan (2023-2027), led by the Department of Education. Its main goal is to give pupils the time and space to collaborate with an experienced artist or creative professional on a unique project.

Unlike a multi-year development programme, BLAST focuses on a high-impact, short-term residency to deliver a specific, engaging project.

Through the BLAST Residency, our pupils will get to:

• Work with a Professional: We'll welcome an approved artist or creative practitioner from a discipline like visual arts, music, drama, dance, film, or literature (the final discipline will depend on our school's chosen project).

• Collaborate and Create: The project will be developed in partnership between the creative practitioner, the participating teacher(s), and the pupils, ensuring it is relevant and exciting for our learners.

• Develop Key Skills: The residency will focus on fostering the essential skills of the Creative Youth Plan, including collaboration, critical thinking, problem-solving, and innovation.

• Hands-on Learning: This is all about practical, imaginative, and fun projects that lead to a tangible output—whether it's a performance, a mural, a digital story, or a unique piece of music.

The residency involves 20 hours of collaborative time, including planning and working directly with the pupils.

Pupils involved in the BLAST project will benefit immensely by:

• Experiencing Arts Beyond the Classroom: Working with a professional artist offers a new perspective on creativity as a skill and a potential career.

• Boosting Confidence: They'll gain confidence in expressing their ideas and seeing a complex project through from concept to completion.

• Creating Something Unique: The resulting project will be a source of pride for the school community and a lasting memory of their time working with a professional artist.

We look forward to sharing our journey and celebrating the fantastic creative outcomes of the BLAST Residency!