Creative Ireland Kildare seeks to support creative projects, workshops, or initiatives for children and young people as part of the county’s Cruinniú na nÓg 2025 celebrations.

Expressions of Interest are sought from Kildare-based youth groups, childcare services, family/parent groups, and community groups. These groups are invited to submit a proposal for a creative project, with a particular focus on proposals which provide new creative opportunities to children and young people (age 0 – 18) with limited or no previous access to creative projects.

Proposals must be informed by the young people themselves. The Expression of Interest must provide evidence of consultation with your children/youth group. Projects can take place in the weeks leading up to the official festival date, culminating in a showcase, exhibition, performance or online release of the project on June 7^th 2025. The children/young people should be able to participate free of charge.

It is anticipated that all projects will include collaboration with a professional artist/creative. Creative Ireland Kildare can assist in matching successful applicants to a professional artist/creative to work with them, if required.

It is anticipated that up to 10 Expressions of Interest will be shortlisted to progress to the next phase. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to engage with the Kildare Creative Communities Engagement Officer to discuss your proposal further and confirm a budget. A Cruinniú na nÓg Kildare grant of €2,000 is available for each supported proposal.

Criteria for shortlisting include feasibility, meeting the objectives and priorities of the call out, and strength of proposal. Shortlisting will also consider supporting a variety of ages and locations across the county.

Cruinniú na nÓg is a national day of free creativity for children and young people up to the age of 18. The day is activity based, with children and young people ‘doing’, ‘making’ and ‘creating’. This year Cruinniú na nÓg will take place on Saturday June 7th, 2025.

Applications are welcome from Kildare-based youth groups, childcare services, family/parent groups, and community groups.

Priority will be given to proposals that consider harder-to-reach children and young people, and groups who do not have regular access to arts or creative programmes.

Youth arts groups may submit but should consider how their project will provide creative engagement opportunities for children or young people not regularly involved in their arts programming.

Submissions are welcome from individuals who represent the diversity of Irish society. We encourage submissions from all areas of the community regardless of gender, sexual orientation, civil or family status, religion, age, disability, race or membership of the Traveller Community, or socio-economic background.

Submissions are welcome from individuals whose first language is not English.

Applicants must be aged 18 years or older.

Facilitate a consultation process to explore the following questions with your child/youth group:

·      What creative things do you like making?

·      What creative things do you like doing?

·      What creative things do you like going to?

·      What other creative things would you like to try?

·      What would you like to do on the Cruinniú day?

For best practice guidance on how to incorporate the voice of children and young people in decision making, please visit the Hub na nÓg website.

Kildare County Council is committed to fair pay and a policy to Pay the Artist. Please refer to the Arts Council's policy on Paying the Artist when valuing your time as an artist and/or the artists collaborating with you.

Your attention is also drawn to safetocreate.ie, where you will find more information about the Safe to Create Dignity at Work programme which aims to impact change on the culture and practices of the arts sector in Ireland to provide safer working conditions for artists and arts workers.