(Photo: Kenneth Nally, Curriculum and Assessment Policy Unit, Department of Education and Youth; David Leahy Chief Executive Galway Roscommon Education and Training Board (GRETB) and Jen Hesnan, GRETB Creative Youth Coordinator.)
A recent exhibition in Ballinasloe Library celebrated the creative voices of babies, toddlers and young children from Early Learning and School Age Childcare services in Ballinasloe. GRETB, Creative Youth Partnership and Galway Childcare Committee worked with Early Learning and School Age Childcare services to visualise and voice children’s work. The effort is underpinned by Aistear; the Early Childhood Curriculum Framework and the National Child Participation Framework.
Children designed and produced all of the artwork in the exhibition, which includes several books of drawings and text as well as posters and a book, “A is for Axolotl”, specifically about the fate of the amphibians.
(Photo: (L-R): Donal Cormican, Ted Feerick, Betty Feerick, Clíona Cormican, and Mattie Cormican at the launch of the ‘This Matters to Me’ exhibition in Ballinasloe Library. Ted and Clíona wrote a book, “A is for Axolotls”, which was on display.)
This project was developed with the GRETB Creative Youth Partnership funded by the Department of Education and Youth and Creative Ireland through the Creative Youth Plan. The participating childcare services were: Fiona’s Breakfast and Afterschool Club; Headstart Montessori School; Kiltormer Breakfast and Afterschool Club; Little Smarties Preschool and Afterscool, and Tiny Tots Creche and Educational Preschool.
(Photo: Jen Hesnan, GRETB Creative Youth Coordinator; Liz Keane Galway County and City Librarian; Orla Henihan, Engagement Producer, Branar Theatre Company; Kenneth Nally, Curriculum and Assessment Policy Unit, Department of Education and Youth; Brenda Ivers, Adult Education Officer at GRETB; Stacey Forde, Manager, Galway Childcare Committee; Geraldine Doran, Development Officer, Galway Childcare Committee, and Caitriona Ryan, Development Officer, Galway Childcare Committee.)
