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1. New technologies in support of creativity and innovation

2. Facilitating access to culture through new technologies

New technologies in support of creativity and innovation

Culture 2025 A National Cultural Policy Framework to 2025 is a policy framework that defines the scope and sets the direction of Government policy for the whole cultural sector (described further in Chapter 8.3). The framework recognises that “Rapid developments in technology, new methods of communication and the internet have changed the way people create, access, and participate in culture. This is particularly true for young people”. It states that there will be a requirement for “continuous investment to ensure that the cultural sector remains at the cutting edge of digital developments”.

The Design and Crafts Council of Ireland is the national economic organisation for the Design and Crafts Sector. It aims to stimulate innovation, champion design thinking and inform Government policy. Its activities are funded by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment via Enterprise Ireland. The Council recognises has developed online Second Level Design and Craft Education resources and information to engage second level students and further their interest and understanding of craft and design.

Learn Craft Design is a digital resource that supports learning about craft and design for children of all ages in Ireland. It provides support and information for primary and second-level teachers and for craftspeople delivering craft-based education programmes in schools and other learning centres.

Facilitating access to culture through new technologies

The Arts and Culture in Education Research Repository (ACERR), was launched by the Department of Education and Skills in 2019. It is a free online archive to showcase creative activity of teachers, artists, researchers, and others. ACERR is open to people working in education and the public, allowing them an insight into the inspirational ideas being developed for schools. ACERR has was developed as part of the Creative Ireland Programme and has been supported by the Dormant Accounts Funds.

The Arts in Education Portal provides a platform through which good collaborative practice in arts-in-education and arts education is supported. The portal was established under the Arts in Education Charter.

The National Youth Council of Ireland have put together a list of podcasts, film, photography, visual art, creative writing and reading resources and book recommendations for young people.

In response to Covid-19 measures, the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media established several online cultural initiatives:

• Ireland Preforms is a joint initiative by the Department, through Culture Ireland, and Facebook Ireland. They have come together to support and present live presentations by Irish artists, in English or Irish. Funding of €100,000 is being made available on a match funded basis by FACEBOOK Ireland and Culture Ireland.
• partnering with the national broadcaster Radio Television of Ireland (Raidió Teilifís Éireann), TG4 (a public service television channel which broadcasts in Irish) and others to bring a broad range of cultural, heritage and language content to the public from archive and new sources in partnership with organisations such as Druid and Other Voices.
• a new Creative Ireland partnership with Healthy Ireland to promote wellbeing and creativity, including sharing of new Design and Crafts Council Ireland online resources to engage young people and adults in home-based making activities
• TG4 to partner with the Society of the Musicians of Ireland (Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann) for a reimagined Festival of Music (Fleadh Ceoil) and TG4’s television show Recommended/Praise Story (Molscéal) to showcase language-based Arts and stories from Gaeltacht communities in collaboration with Gaeltachta Art (Ealaín na Gaeltachta), TechSpace and others.