Creative Practitioner Call Out
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: Creative Practitioner Application Form
Structure and Overview
TAP+ Summer Course is delivered 1st to 7th July 2026 (excluding weekend)
- Delivered in your local full‑time Education Support Centre (www.esci.ie)
- 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 for inclusion on the BLAST Register of creative practitioners
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 your nearest full‑time Education Support Centre.
- You are willing to collaborate with teachers and students as part of a school‑based residency.
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
- Complete the TAP+ in‑school residency during the school year 2026/2027
- Provide required documentation to their local ESC (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
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 local 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. See here for further details: BLAST information
