A nationwide education initiative proudly sponsored by leading global aircraft leasing company SMBC Aviation Capital
Today, 25 October 2022, the National Gallery of Ireland is delighted to announce the return of Your Gallery at School 2022-23. Twelve schools from across the country have 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 2022-23 school year, the Gallery will work with twelve 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 for selected schools.
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.
The Gallery is committed to breaking down barriers for people who may have difficulty accessing culture and art in Ireland. Three exclusive online workshops will also run for all schools that applied to take part in Your Gallery at School – an Earth Explorers practical workshop for primary schools, a Creative Careers day for students, and a Continuing Professional Development workshop for teachers.
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.
Peter Barrett, Chief Executive Officer of SMBC Aviation Capital, commented, “SMBC Aviation Capital is delighted to see Your Gallery at School go from strength to strength. This innovative initiative brings art directly into the lives of children who may not usually be able to engage with the Gallery. It is fantastic to see the impact of this programme, which can be seen in the growing number of applications year on year, and we are immensely proud to support it.”
More details can be found at nationalgallery.ie
Media contacts
Ciara Mooney, Communications, E: [email protected]
Tanya Lawless, Communications, E: [email protected]
Notes to Editor
• Images are available on request
• Catherine O’Donnell (Education Officer, National Gallery of Ireland) is available for interview
Quotes from participating schools
Ballagh National School, Roscommon
Ballagh National School is thrilled and very proud to have the opportunity to be selected as one of twelve schools to take part in the National Art Gallery’s holistic programme “Gallery at School 2022-2023”. We feel as a school that is geographically further from Dublin, this initiative will break down that distance barrier and bring the Arts to life for our pupils to engage with the highly experienced staff and beautiful Artworks of the National Gallery of Ireland. We hope through this collaborative project, that it will give pupils a focus on learning through and about Art, enhance wellbeing and foster a cultural appreciation of our own national artworks and inspire our pupils to pursue creative careers in the Arts.
Scoil Naomh Eoin, Meath
School motto: To be the best that you can be.
Our Lady of Mercy Secondary School, Waterford
Our students are delighted to have been selected to take part in the workshops and are looking forward to engaging with the arts and the world of art around them.
Scoil Naomh Pádraig, Oram, Monaghan
Scoil Naomh Pádraig, Oram are thrilled to be accepted for the 'Gallery at school' programme. We are excited to put the art and creativity at the heart of our pupils for the programme as we aim to always integrate creativity and fun in our approach to learning.
St Fintan’s BNS, Laois
We are delighted to be chosen to take part in Your Gallery at School 22-23. This is an exciting opportunity for the boys to work with a professional artist and gain insight into the many possibilities associated with creativity. We look forward to getting started.
St Declan’s College, Dublin 7
We were delighted when we received the call to say that our school was selected to join the "Your Gallery at School" programme. It is great to be given an opportunity to work with the National Gallery of Ireland. It is going to be a fantastic experience, allowing a new exploration for our students on their voyage with you. We can't wait to start!
Davitt College, Mayo
We are delighted to be picked from such a large number of applications and can’t wait to get started on this program 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.
Catherine McAuley School, Limerick
We are thrilled to be participating in the Your Gallery at School initiative, it will greatly enhance the art experience for our students in Catherine McCauley School and we can't wait to get started!
St. Brogan's College, Cork
St. Brogan’s College is delighted to be selected to partake in the ‘Your Gallery in School’ initiative. We look forward to welcoming our assigned artist and completing what we are sure will be very productive workshops.
St. Michael's NS, Cavan
We at St. Michael’s school are so looking forward to offering our children the opportunity to experience, engage with and reflect on real live Art works displayed in our own National Gallery. Together we hope to bring our children across the bridge of cultural divide into a world where they can equally participate.
Tyndall College, Carlow
We are delighted to have been selected for this opportunity, and we look forward to welcoming the National Gallery to our School.
Holy Child BNS, Dublin 9
The staff and students of Holy Child BNS are delighted to be part of this year’s Your Gallery at School programme! We are very excited to work with the National Gallery, meet with real life artists and learn new skills and perspectives from them.
About the National Gallery of Ireland
The National Gallery of Ireland is one of the country’s most popular visitor attractions housing the nation’s collection of European and Irish art from about 1300 to the present day, and an extensive Library & Archive. Entry to the collection is free for all to enjoy, learn and be inspired. Find out more at www.nationalgallery.ie
About SMBC Aviation Capital
Based in the IFSC in Dublin, Ireland, SMBC Aviation Capital is one of the world’s leading aircraft operating lease companies. In operation since 2001, SMBC Aviation Capital has an owned and managed fleet, comprising over 700 owned, managed and committed aircraft. Established in 2001, the company was acquired in 2012 by a consortium comprising of two of Japan’s biggest companies SMFG and Sumitomo Corporation. SMBC Aviation Capital has a dedicated Corporate Social and Responsibility programme. For further information go to https://www.smbc.aero/