Youth Arts

Promoting quality youth arts practice in the youth work sector

We work with you to realise the potential of young people through good quality youth arts practice within youth work organisations and the non-formal educational sector, and to develop appropriate policies and activities at local, regional and national level.
The NYCI Youth Arts Programme is a strategic partnership of The National Youth Council of Ireland, The Arts Council and The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.

SPARK Youth Arts Festival

SPARK Youth Arts Festival is a national event to explore, discuss and celebrate the inspiring world of youth arts practice in Ireland. Take part and spark your interest in developing youth arts activities with young people and embedding youth arts practice in your work!

SPARK Youth Arts Festival 2024 is taking place from February 19th – 24th!

Fostering young people’s creativity through youth work

Are you interested in contributing to a research project on youth work and creativity? Share your valuable insights to shape the future of youth work policies and practices in Ireland.

Deadline: 31st March 2024

Artist and Youth Work Residency Grant Scheme 2024 is now open for applications!

Do you have a good idea for a youth arts project but need funding to work with an artist? Apply now for the Youth Arts Explorer Grant €1500 or Artist and Youth Work Full Residency Grant €5000.

We are looking to support partnerships involving artists in residence in youth work settings or youth groups in residence in arts settings, starting in May 2024. This long running scheme managed by the National Youth Council of Ireland on behalf of the Arts Council and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) has been successfully bringing together artists and youth workers over the past number of years. Is this your year to get involved?

National Mapping of Youth Arts Provision – Are You On The Map?

The National Youth Arts Programme is delighted to announce that we have engaged University College Cork to undertake a National Mapping of Youth Arts Provision.

This will provide data and evidence on young people’s engagement with the arts in youth work settings across the country.

This is an important opportunity to contribute the work of your organisation to a national picture.

Youth Arts Advocacy projects

Drawing on NYCI’s advocacy expertise across a range of issues affecting young people for many years, this training programme equips young people and their leaders with the skills to take on a burning youth arts issue in their community, helping them to shape campaigns that engage the media and elected representatives and ensure their voice is hear.

Youth Arts Toolkit of resources

Commissioned from a range of specialists, youth workers and trusted voices across the arts and youth sectors, our Youth Arts Toolkit of Resources includes practical ‘how to’ guides, workshop outlines and opinion pieces across 3 key themes responding to your needs and supporting our training programme: Inpiration, Policy, and How To?

Advocacy

The NYCI Youth Arts programme provides evidence-based policy and programme advice and represent young people’s interests and works to shape and influence legislation and emerging policies that impact on the lives of young people and their engagement in the arts.

Youth Arts Hubs

Our Youth Arts Hubs support training and development needs that respond to local/regional variation and capacities, help develop better regional partnerships and support youth arts provision in youth work organisations.

Youth Arts News

Big News: 2024 Youth Arts Grant Scheme Launches 🚀

The 2024 Artist and Youth Work Residency Grant Scheme is now open for applications! Whether you’re looking to kickstart a youth arts project or take your […]

Research: Fostering young people’s creativity through youth work

Are you interested in contributing to a research project on youth work and creativity? Share your valuable insights to shape the future of youth work policies and practices in Ireland.

SPARK Youth Arts Festival 2024

We are delighted to announce that the SPARK Youth Arts Festival 2024 will take place from February 19th – 24th! SPARK Youth Arts Festival is a […]

Youth Arts Training

Youth Arts Publications

Mapping Youth Arts Provision in Youth Work Settings in Ireland

NYCI commissioned University College Cork to carry out this independent mapping of youth arts provision in youth work settings in Ireland. The research report outlines: What the nature and […]

NYCI Annual Review 2018

We’re very proud of what we achieved for the youth sector in 2018. With our members we’ve worked hard to make sure youth work is recognised […]

NYCI Arts Programme – Digital Filmmaking Handbook

A tool for inspiration, exploration and imagination in youth work. This resource is published by the Youth Arts Programme, an initiative of the National Youth Council […]