The Department of Education and Youth is pleased to announce the opening of a new round of Creative Clusters  2026 – 2028

 

Applications open online from 26th January

The deadline for receipt of applications is 20th April.

 

Creative Clusters 2026 Application 

Dual Language Application Form

 

 

Each Creative Cluster will receive grant funding of €3,000 per school over a two-year period to implement their project 2026–2028.

 

  • 3 schools would receive €9,000
  • 5 schools would receive €15,000

 

In addition to financial support above each cluster will also receive:

  • Creative Cluster Facilitator
  • Teacher Substitution to attend Workshops and Meetings
  • Room hire, travel & subsistence

Creative Cluster 2026 Department of Education and Youth  English / Gaeilge.

 

Applications are to be completed online using the following link: Creative Clusters 2026 Application .

Should you need assistance, please contact your local full-time Education Support Centre (list at Appendix 1 of Guidelines document).

Any queries, please contact your local Education Support Centre ( for Drumcondra Education Support Centre catchment schools only contact: Ewa Grzybowska at ewag@ecdrumcondra.ie ), or email National Arts in Education Administration artsineducation@traleeesc.ie

 

Eligible Schools – The following schools are welcome to apply to participate in Creative Clusters: 

  • Schools that have not yet participated in Creative Clusters.  
  • Schools that have not yet participated in the Arts Council led Creative Schools initiative and those who will complete Creative Schools Year 2 in the 2025/26 school year. Schools cannot simultaneously participate in Creative Clusters, and the Arts Council led Creative Schools initiative. 
  • Schools that will complete Creative Clusters Year 2 in the 2025/26 school year can only apply to lead a cluster of schools who have not yet participated in the initiative 
Creative Clusters is an initiative of the Department of Education, led by and in partnership with the 21 full-time Education Centres (Education Support Centres Ireland – ESCI) and funded through the Schools Excellence Fund.