Teacher-Artist Partnership (TAP)
Teacher Artist Partnership+ CPD Summer Course & Residency Programme (TAP+)
Arts education enables children to explore alternative ways of communicating with others, encouraging ideas that are personal and inventive and making a vital contribution to the development of a range of intelligences. Arts education is integral in helping to promote thinking, imagination and sensitivity, and arts related activities help children to make sense of the world; to question, to speculate and to find solutions; to deal with feelings and to respond to creative experiences.
The Teacher-Artist Partnership+ (TAP+) CPD Summer Course & Residency Programme is funded by the Department of Education and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, as part of Creative Ireland's Creative Youth initiative. TAP+ is approved by the Inspectorate under the Summer Course Programme. Creative Practitioners are paid for their participation, and teachers receive Extra Personal Vacation (EPV) days. The programme is delivered nationally across the 21 full-time Education Support Centres of Ireland (ESCI).
TAP+ places a strong emphasis on collaboration in creative practice between teachers and creatives. During the Residencies, this collaborative approach also includes the children, promoting shared learning, skills, and perspectives among all participants—educators, creatives, and students alike.
The main aims of TAP+ are to:
- Support participants in planning, delivering, and evaluating rich, creative experiences in partnership with children, aligned with the curriculum and school policies.
- Empower participants to foster creativity, voice, and agency in children through TAP+.
- Showcase the role of creative engagement in promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion within the school setting.
- Strengthen the national programme of school-based creative learning by helping teachers and creative practitioners build the relationships, skills, and knowledge needed to work effectively in partnership with students.
List of School Pairings 2025-2026
|
Artist |
School Name |
Roll No. |
|---|---|---|
|
Peter McCamley |
Kilmyshall NS |
14777T |
|
Michael Durand |
St. Senan’s PS |
14972R |
|
Elke Williams |
Rathnure NS |
17707N |
|
Caroline Bergin |
Courtnacuddy |
18315B |
|
Laura Flood |
Convent of Mercy |
11986N |
|
Peter McCamley |
Ballymitty NS |
17554O |
|
Karen Dempsey |
All Saint’s NS |
08221J |
|
Becci Whelan |
Gaelscoil Inis Cortháidh |
20057R |
List of School Pairings 2021 - 2022
| Artist | School Name | Roll No. |
|---|---|---|
|
John Busher |
Gaelscoil Inis Córthaidh | 20057R |
|
Sarah Bowie |
Riverchapel NS | 15367F |
|
Sarah Bowie |
Riverchapel NS | 15367F |
|
Colum Kavanagh |
St. Aidan's PS | 20003R |
List of School Pairings 2021 - 2022
| Artist | School Name | Roll No. |
|---|---|---|
|
Brigid Teehnan |
John of God P.S., The Faythe | 11361T |
|
Ellis O’Toole |
Bunscoil Loreto Gorey | 16145P |
|
Caroline Busher |
St Josephs BNS Carlow | 18424G |
|
Mary Keane |
Bunscoil Loreto Gorey | 16145P |
|
Lani O’Hanlon |
Cushinstown N.S | 16673R |
List of School Pairings 2019 - 2020
| Artist | School Name | Roll No. |
|
Joe Brennan |
Scoil Naomh Treasa, Gorey | 17669I |
|
Caroline Busher |
Gaelscoil Moshiolog, Gorey | 20165U |
|
Caroline Busher |
Scoil Fhoirtcheirn , Myshall | 17994T |
|
David Begley |
St Joseph's NS, Ballymitty | 17554O |
|
Joe Brennan |
Scoil Mhaodhoig, Polfur | 17450C |
|
Caroline Busher |
Mercy School , Wexford | 17373K |
|
Joe Brennan |
St Fintans NS , Mayglass | 18133S |
|
Caroline Busher |
Scoil Naomh Maodhog, Ferns | 19890R |
Please see examples of the wonderful work been done in our local schools on the Arts in Education Portal Access the TAP Website, please click here
Teacher - Artist Partnership (TAP) Information Flyer