Mayo school selected for National Gallery workshop series

THE National Gallery of Ireland has announced the return of Your Gallery at School 2022-23. Davitt College, Castlebar, along with 11 other schools, has been chosen to take part in an exciting series of art workshops - designed specifically for children who may not have access to the gallery due to socio-economic, gender or geographic barriers.

Over the course of the school year, the gallery will work with the schools to create a series of tailored activities, appropriate for the students’ ages and school levels. With a focus on learning through and about art, wellbeing and creative careers, Your Gallery at School comprises individual practical workshops, sensory sessions, talks and Q&As.

The programme includes Learning through and about art - a practical workshop inspired by the national collection; Wellbeing - a sensory session focusing on slow looking and mindfulness; and Creative Careers - a talk and Q&A with gallery staff and an established artist, enabling students to learn about a variety of arts careers.

Since its pilot in 2021, Your Gallery at School has thrived. This year, the gallery received almost 400 applications from schools nationwide, a 287% increase on 2021 applications.

Said a spokesperson for Davitt College: “We are delighted to be picked from such a large number of applications and can’t wait to get started on this programme in the new year once our TY art classes have our sets painted and designed for our school musical.

“It will be a wonderful opportunity to work with an external artist to bring in more arts to the school and the TY programme overall. It will be a wonderful opportunity for our TY pupils in the school.”