Call Out for Creative Practitioners
Teacher Artist Partnership+ 2026/27
Announcing a wonderful opportunity for creative practitioners of all disciplines to broaden their
practice through the Teacher Artist Partnership+ (TAP+) professional development and in-school
residency initiative. TAP+ is a creativity rich national initiative where creative practitioners train and
collaborate alongside primary and special school teachers, developing shared approaches to creativity, wellbeing, and partnership in schools.
TAP+ supports creative practitioners to work collaboratively with teachers and students, developing
creative partnerships that enhance the creative potential of every student. Each course is delivered by trained Teacher–Artist tutor pairs and includes both professional development and practical
experience.
- Develop creative partnerships with teachers and students.
- Receive funded training and residencies that bring creativity and the arts into schools across Ireland through TAP+, an initiative of Creative Youth 2023–27 under Creative Ireland and led by the Department of Education and Youth and Education Support Centres Ireland (ESCI).
Closing date for applications: Friday, 5th June 2026 at 5pm.
Creative Practitioner Application Form apply here: https://forms.office.com/e/nHeq8bdkW4
Structure and Overview
TAP+ Summer Course is delivered 1st to 7th July 2026 (excluding weekend) in West Cork Education Support Centre, The Square, Dunmanway, Co. Cork from 9.30am to 2pm daily.
- Fully paid training for creative practitioners wishing to work in primary and special schools
- TAP+ In-School Residencies
- Bringing learning into practice through creative partnership with teachers and students
- Fully funded 20-hour residencies during the 2026/27 school year
- Eligible thereafter for inclusion on the BLAST Register of creative practitioners and further residencies.
Eligibility to Apply
You are eligible to apply for TAP+ if you meet the following criteria:
- You are a creative practitioner, working in any art form, discipline or creative practice
(examples: boat maker, jeweller, computer programmer, horticulturist, engineer, drama,
musician, etc), who is committed to sharing their practice with students and teachers in primary
and special schools
- You have a minimum of three years’ experience in your creative practice. (Applicants will be
asked to provide evidence within the application form.)
- You have an interest in working with primary and special schools.
- You can attend the TAP+ Summer Course in West Cork Education Support Centre from July 1st 2026 for 5 days.
- You are willing to collaborate with teachers and students as part of a school-based residency. (20 hours)
Please note: Willingness/ability to practise through Irish is recorded to partner practitioners with Irish medium schools
and schools seeking to enhance their use of the Irish Language. Practitioners of all language abilities through Irish (and none) are welcome to apply.
Requirements for Successful Applicants (Post-Selection)
Applicants who are selected must:
- Complete the TAP+ Summer Course 2026
- Complete the TAP+ in-school residency during the school year 2026/2027
- Provide required documentation to West Cork Education Centre (e.g. Tax Clearance Certificate)
- Complete Tusla’s Children First E-Learning Programme
- Undergo Garda vetting before taking up project placements
- Engage fully in partnership-based approaches with a teacher partner
- Be willing to complete a residency in a West Cork School in the Centre’s catchment area which ranges from Castletownbere to Kinsale and Macroom to Skibbereen and Clonakilty.
- Be available to travel to any school in West Cork.
Supports and Fees
- Training allowance of €150 per day over the 5-day summer course training (€750 in total), plus
travel and lunch provided.
- Guaranteed paid follow-up in-school residency within a West Cork primary or special school (€1,100 fee inclusive of €200 travel) to carry out a 20-hour residency (14 contact hours plus 6 hours
planning, preparation and evaluation) in partnership with your teacher partner during the
school year 2026/2027
- Professional development through partnerships and creative, collaborative relationships with
teachers, in schools committed to creativity and arts in learning, practice and community
- TAP+ trained creative practitioners are also eligible to participate in BLAST in-school residencies.
We invite successful TAP+ creative practitioners to join the BLAST register and where possible to
deliver BLAST residencies.
Assessment and Scoring
Applications will be assessed and scored by West Cork Education Support Centre using the following
criteria:
Four Criteria (20 marks each)
1. Professional Creative Practice and Experience (Q 13, Q 7–10.)
2. Motivation to Participate in TAP+ (Q 14)
3. TAP+ as a Professional Learning Experience (Q 15)
4. Vision of Creativity and the Arts in Education (Q 16)
Other Scoring (20 marks)
Overall quality of application including identified areas of need within Creative Youth and ESC
catchment area.
Total Scoring (Total 100 Marks)
3
Scoring Criteria
0 Does not meet the criteria. Insufficient evidence.
5 Meets the criteria. Provides satisfactory evidence.
15 Meets the criteria. Provides strong evidence.
20 Meets the criteria. Provides exceptional evidence.
Places on this Creative Youth initiative are limited to four creative practitioners per full-time Education
Support Centre area. Please ensure that it will be possible for you to meet all programme requirements
before applying. Final decisions on offers of places will be taken by the Director of the local Education
Support Centre. Any queries related to TAP+ should be directed to your local full-time Education
Support Centre.
Application Link & Preview of Questions 2026
Creative Practitioner Application Form link: https://forms.office.com/e/nHeq8bdkW4
Closing 5pm on Friday 5th June 2026.
Please note only online applications through the link above will be accepted. Form questions outlined below:
1. Email address
2. Local full-time Education Support Centre
3. Name
4. Address, County and Postcode/Eircode
5. Email
6. Contact Number
7. Creative Practice-Briefly outline your professional creative practice / genre (e.g. Visual Artist working with textiles and
natural materials, Digital creativity and robotics etc.)
8. Qualifications-Briefly outline your qualifications in creative practice and / or length of professional experience
9. Link to Creative Practice-Please insert a link to examples of your professional work where possible.
10. Previous in-school creative initiatives
o First time to engage with schools through creativity: Artist in Schools; Creative Clusters; Creative Engagement;
Creative Schools; Digital Arts; Virtually There; Creative Connections; Other
11. Child Protection-Please note that compliance with child protection procedures is mandatory for all practitioners
working with children and young people in schools. I am willing to undergo Garda Vetting with my local full-time
Education Support Centre.
o Yes /No
12. The Irish Language -Willing to practise through Irish
o Yes / No
13. Professional Creative Practice and Experience - Please outline your professional creative practice:
o Ensure that your response gives a clear outline of the breadth and depth of your creative practice.
o Outlining the type of practice and different contexts in which you have worked
o Give detail of any professional or organisational collaborations you have undertaken
14. Motivation to participate in TAP+ - Please outline your motivation to participate in TAP+ and your passion and
interest for working in education and working in partnership with educators, children, young people and school
communities.
15. TAP+ as a Professional Learning Experience -Please outline the learning outcomes you hope to achieve in your
professional learning through TAP+. Please consider the importance of learning, shared learning and collaboration in
partnership with teachers and children in your response.
16. Vision of Creativity and the Arts in Education - Please outline your vision for creativity and the arts in education. In
your response, please outline why it is important in your professional role that creatives work in educational spaces and
that children experience high quality arts experiences through curriculum and through partnerships.