20/01/20 Children and Young people – Have your say for creative day

Child pictured getting creative with paint at Phobail le Chéile CDP event in An Fál Carrach during Cruinniú na nÓg 2019. Photo credit John Soffe

Cruinniú na nÓg, a national day of creativity is set to take place for the third year across Donegal on Saturday 13^th of June. It offers opportunities for young people aged 0-18 to explore their creative potential and the Creative Ireland Team, Donegal are inviting young people to have their say and make suggestions for creative activities.

Cruinniú na nÓg simply means 'The gathering of young people' and is a highly engaging initiative of the Creative Ireland programme in partnership with Local Authorities. Ireland is the only country in the world to have a national day of free creativity for children and young people.

Eileen Burgess, Creative Ireland Donegal coordinator is encouraging children and young people to have their say in shaping the nature of the activities to be planned across the county this June. ‘We want children and young people to help us shape this year’s programme by telling us what creative experiences they would like to do or try. We would like to develop a programme that excites and is relevant to young people which will help enhance their creative potential.’

Youth participating in CINE project workshop to learn the digital skills of photogrammetry and artifact digitisation. Attendees used smartphones and camera equipment and free apps to capture objects and artifacts, creating three-dimensional digital representations. Photo credit Paul McGuckin

‘In 2019 31 events took place across Donegal which included a seaweed safari, a forest school, messy play, virtual reality workshops and many more which took place both in indoor and outdoor locations. The involvement of the Donegal Youth Council in the selection process last year was invaluable and we’re excited to enhance the offering in 2020 by involving the voice of the child at an earlier stage in the planning process.’

Suggestions from children and young people can be submitted either by completing a short questionnaire which is available at http://bit.ly/CruinniúnanÓgCreativeSuggestions or by popping into Donegal County Museum, Regional Cultural Centre, Letterkenny or any one of the 13 libraries across Donegal and completing a short survey.