This is why the voice of the child and young person is a guiding principle of Creative Youth, and together with our partners in the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration & Youth and Hub na nÓg, this is built into the various elements of the Plan.

Our Creative Youth Conference 2021 – Creativity: the connection to the future now – was by necessity a predominantly virtual event, or series of events, but we wanted to hear what young people thought and felt about creativity and how it can act as a support to them, in school, in their community and at home.

Our partners in the three Local Creative Youth Partnerships and a school that recently participated in the Creative Schools initiative, brought together a number of young people who have experienced what creativity can add to the lives and their education.

"We wanted to hear what young people thought and felt about creativity and how it can support them in school, in their community and at home"

The words of the young people involved in these, and other, initiatives will form part of the Creative Youth partnership’s consideration on the next steps needed to ensure our young people are provided with equitable access to the arts, culture and creative activities, and to be provided with the opportunities to grow, learn and develop into the (creative) citizens of the future.

We hope that these insights from young people themselves will also inspire you and we encourage everyone to take some time to watch and listen to what young people themselves have to say about creativity in the four videos below.