NYCI Certificate in Youth Arts
The Certificate in Youth Arts is a part time, year long university accredited course of study in Irish Youth Arts Practice managed and delivered by the Arts Programme at NYCI.
(Accrediting body: NUI Maynooth, Dept of Applied Social Studies)
The Certificate in Youth Arts aims to introduce those working in the non-formal education sector to the concepts, principles and practice of youth arts using a context and practice approach.
The Importance of Youth Arts
For many years NYCI has prioritised youth arts as a key medium to engage and communicate with children and young people, through NYCI’s Youth Arts Programme (a partnership between NYCI, the Arts Council and the Office for the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs).
NYCI is dedicated to the development and advancement of youth arts in Ireland. It aims specifically to realise the potential of young people through good quality arts practice within youth organisations and to develop appropriate policies and activities at local, regional and national level.
NYCI aims to ensure that all young people, as citizens, have the opportunity to participate in and engage with arts and cultural practice in Ireland as an intrinsic right (Article 27 UN Human Rights) as well as for its value and efficacy as an educational medium.
NYCI provides strategic support for arts practice in youth work, encouraging the creation of safe and supportive environments that value imagination, originality, daring and experimentation.
An energised, growing and sustainable youth arts community which spans all art forms and delivers quality outcomes for young people, is vital to ensure the future cultural, social and economic well being of Ireland. A vibrant arts sector, of which engaged, creative, vocal young people are a part, underpins a healthy contemporary society.
The ultimate aim of the Certificate in Youth Arts is to further develop and enhance arts practice in youth work, so that more young people have the opportunity to experience arts in a non formal educational setting as makers, creators, participants, audience members and critics.
It also aims to ensure that these are high quality experiences and also to promote the best practice for working with young people developed by the youth work sector and how this can influence and contribute to arts practice in Ireland.
The course is delivered in seven modules via a mix of presentations, group discussion, small group work, personal assignments, guest tutor inputs and site visits.
Past guest expert inputs have been provided by Dr Maurice Devlin, Dept of Applied Social Studies, NUI Maynooth, Orlaith McBride, past Arts Council member and Director of National Association for Youth Drama, Philippa Donnellan, Director of Broadreach at CoisCeim Dance Theatre Company and Elaine Agnew, composer and music practitioner. Site visits have included IMMA, Rialto Youth Project, Axis Ballymun and Tallaght Young Filmmakers.
APPLICATION PROCESS:
- We will begin accepting applications on Monday 6th June 2011.. The closing date for applications is Thursday, 4th August 2011.
- All those meeting minimum criteria will be invited to a group workshop on Thursday, 18th August 2011. (You must be available to attend this workshop if you are applying)
- All those who do not meet minumum criteria will receive a letter explaining that they have not been successful.
- The group workshop will include group discussion and activities intended to explore in more detail applicant’s background and experience, expectations of the course etc. We will also explore how people participate and engage in a group. It will be led by a panel comprising the arts team at NYCI, the course tutors and possibly an independent facilitator.
- From the group workshop 20 people will be offered places within 5 days of the workshop.
- These participants will be asked to accept or decline their place by Friday, 9th September 2011.
Download the Prospectus for 2011/2012
The prospectus includes dates for 2011/2012 module outlines, assessment methods and other relevant information.
