Call-out for schools to participate in Your Gallery at School at National Gallery of Ireland supported by SMBC Aviation Capital

Outreach programme returns for second year.

Following a successful programme in 2021, the National Gallery of Ireland will bring art to classrooms across the country again this year with Your Gallery at School, an innovative education initiative supported by SMBC Aviation Capital.

The Gallery is committed to breaking down barriers that prevent young people from engaging with art in Ireland. Your Gallery at School provides an opportunity for students to take part in a series of informative workshops that are designed to teach through art and spark an interest in culture. These workshops are of particular benefit to students who may not be in a position to visit the Gallery itself and they can be carried out in schools or online. 

Thanks to the continued support of SMBC Aviation Capital, the Your Gallery at School project will once again develop new partnerships outside the Gallery walls and work with four primary and four post-primary schools over the course of 2022. 

Your Gallery at School began in January 2021, running workshops, sensory sessions and a Creative Careers programme, where students had the opportunity to learn about a variety of arts careers. These workshops ran in primary schools in Dublin, Sligo and Donegal and post-primary schools in Limerick, Clare and Kildare. 

Sean Rainbird, Director of the National Gallery of Ireland, commented: “We’re thrilled that Your Gallery at School will return this year. Without the renewed support of SMBC Aviation Capital, this wonderful project would not be possible. Our hope is that this opportunity to learn through art will encourage creativity and curiosity amongst our participants in the future.”

Peter Barrett, Chief Executive of SMBC Aviation Capital, added: “After the success of the most recent programme, SMBC Aviation Capital is delighted to continue its support of the National Gallery of Ireland and Your Gallery at School. We understand the importance of bringing the National Gallery to children who otherwise would not have the opportunity to access it and we are looking forward to seeing the continued positive impact of Your Gallery at School across the country.”

Once schools have been selected for participation, facilitators will then tailor a programme of activities for each school. The programme will emphasise the importance of art education, creativity and innovation and will be appropriate to the ages and school levels of students.

Schools across the country are invited to apply via the National Gallery of Ireland website. There will be two windows of opportunity for primary and post-primary schools to apply (24 January– 8 February 2022 and 29 August–15 September 2022), giving schools the option to choose what time of year suits them best to take part.

For further details, please visit the National Gallery of Ireland website.

Media contacts:

Ciara Mooney, Communications, National Gallery of Ireland, [email protected]

Notes to Editor:

• Images are available on request. 
• Catherine O’Donnell (Education Officer, National Gallery of Ireland) is available for interview. 

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 on the Gallery's website.

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 720 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 visit the SMBC Aviation Capital website.