Certificate in Youth Arts Brochure
The Certificate in Youth Arts is a part time, year long university accredited course of study in Irish youth arts practice. (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 concept, principles and practice of youth arts using a context and practice approach.
The Importance of Youth Arts
For many years the National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI) has prioritised youth arts as a key medium to engage and communicate with children and young people. This is achieved 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 as critics.
It also aims to ensure that these are high quality experiences and to promote ways in which the best practice for working with young people developed by the youth work sector can influence and contribute to arts practice in Ireland.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
You can expect to:
· Explore and develop a range of skills (organisational, planning, creative and imaginative) required for best practice across all areas of youth arts (and youth work more broadly).
· Examine, critique and apply models of good practice in youth arts.
· Examine the role and contribution of youth arts to youth work both as a methodology and powerful means of self expression for young people.
· Develop the skills and knowledge to design, plan, deliver and evaluate youth arts projects at a co-ordination level in their own work setting (including accessing funding, making grant applications, project planning and delivery, crisis management, promotion, documenting and evaluation processes).
· Develop a network of youth arts practitioners, organisations, supports and contacts to aid you in your future work.
· Have an effective understanding of contemporary youth arts practice in Ireland.
- Analyse the value (as well as the challenges) of working collaboratively on youth arts projects.
In addition you will have:
· Explored case studies from small scale, limited resource projects through to cutting edge large scale projects across a range of artforms – drama, dance, visual arts, digital film etc.
· Engaged with and learned from a variety of youth arts specialists and organisations working in Ireland today.
· Explored and enhanced your own delivery and facilitation of youth arts projects.
- Acquired through workshop participation, a repository of games, exercises and “ways in” to youth arts practice within a youth work setting.
You can expect to have further developed the following personal and professional skills:
· Group facilitation, negotiation.
· Leadership.
· Project Management.
· Evaluation Processes.
· Self reflective practice.
- Negotiating and embracing change as a means of creative regeneration both on a personal level and in terms of individual youth arts projects.
Who is this course suitable for?
This course is suitable for anyone:
- Working with young people, partially or entirely through the arts,
- In the non-formal education sector,
- With two years full time or four years part time experience working with young people,
- Has participated in or overseen at least two youth arts projects in a co-ordination or management capacity in that time. (A project is defined for these purposes as being at least a 3 session activity with an arts focus)
What background experience should I have?
Please see the information above, but broadly, if you are working with young people, through arts, in the non- formal education sector, then you could be a youth worker, community development worker, a youth arts practitioner or be from one of many other professions.
We prefer to look at what all these professions have in common rather than concentrate on the differences between them.
You will have an interest in and some experience of youth arts practice and have participated in some youth arts projects, you will use youth arts as part of your youth work practice.
*Application is competitive and we cannot guarantee that those who meet the minimum requirements will gain admission
APPLICATION PROCESS:
· We will begin accepting applications on 22nd May 2009. The closing date for applications is 5pm, Friday 10th July 2009.
· All those meeting minimum criteria will be invited to a group workshop on Monday, 27th July 2009. (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. It will be led by a panel comprising the arts team at NYCI, the course tutors and an independent facilitator.
· From the group workshop 20 people will be offered places within five days.
· These participants will be asked to accept or decline their place by Friday, 7th August 2009.
CONTENT/CURRICULUM:
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Introduction to Youth Arts
Friday, 2nd October 2009
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To promote group identityand explore participants' attitudes to learning and the arts.
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Creative Social Education
Saturday 3rd October 2009
Sunday 4th October 2009
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To provide a broad theoretical framework for the course and outline particular philosophies behind the development of youth arts in Ireland.
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Youth Arts Practice
Monday 9th November 2009
Tuesday 10th November 2009
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Use models of good practice presented by artists and youth workers to explore the affirming aspect of creative arts.
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Methodologies
Mon 18th January 2010
Tuesday 19th January 2010
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To demonstrate the means whereby young people can articulate notions of identity through the arts and the training methodologies that might best define and foster these means.
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Revise and Review
Friday 5th March 2010
Saturday 6th March 2010
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Reflection on progress made to date and preparation for the rest of the course.
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Art Form Specialisation
Thur 13th May 2010
Fri 14th May 2010
Sat 15th May 2010
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To prepare and provide opportunities for valid aesthetic experience and ultimately the development of good practice. To provide opportunities to develop the skills to implement a personal arts project.
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Designing a Youth Arts Project TBC
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To provide practical, intellectual and educational support for participants in their choice, preparation and execution of a four session project.
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Delivery of Youth Arts Project
Summer 2010
(in own time)
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Participants to deliver a four session project to a group of young people in a particular art form.
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Presentation of Projects
Summer 2010
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Final assessment to panel of experts and peer group.
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ASSESSMENT:
Each module of the course is assessed through assignments of written work. These assessments vary and include essays, reports and evaluations.
All assignments completed during the course combine to arrive at your final mark at the end of the year. Each assignment carries a certain percentage of your overall mark, as outlined below.
- Three essays - weighting 30%
- Continuous assessment - weighting 30% (includes attendance and participation)
- Project and presentation of project - weighting 40%
FEES:
The overall cost of this course is €1000.00 which includes registration with NUI Maynooth.
PAST PARTICIPANTS OF THIS COURSE HAVE SAID:
“The youth arts course allowed me to develop professionally and in turn equipped me to help others develop their practice.”
“The impact of the course on my work practice has been immense. The planning, organisation, methodologies and focus are much clearer and more efficient than before. It has also directly led to paid employment and good working relationships with arts, youth and community organisations.”
HOW IS THE QUALITY OF THIS COURSE ASSURED AND MONITORED?
· The course is continually monitored by a close working relationship between NYCI, course tutors, and NUI Maynooth. Opportunities for students to offer feedback on their experiences are built into the course, as are evaluation mechanisms.
· In addition, independent reviews are commissioned at intervals (2004, 2009)
· The course must meet independant standards set by NUI Maynooth in order to be accredited.
· Course results are verified by an external examiner.
NYCI reserves the right to make any necessary changes to dates, content, delivery and assessment of this course due to unforeseen circumstances. Any anticipated change will be communicated to students as soon as possible.
FURTHER QUESTIONS:
Please consult our webpage www.youtharts.ie/certificate for more detailed information on all aspects of this course and for a list of frequently asked questions.
Alternatively, please do contact us on 01 4784122.
COURSE PERSONNEL:
Course Director: Dr Maurice Devlin, NUI Maynooth
Course Co Ordinator: Anne O’Gorman NYCI
Assistant Co Ordinator: Emmet Sheerin, NYCI
Course Tutors: Rebecca Bartlett
Majella Perry
Guest practitioners
