Limerick and Clare ETB Local Creative Youth Partnership a boost for arts and culture communities

Limerick Clare ETB Local Creative Youth Partnership strengthens its commitment to the region
Pic. Brian Arthur

Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board (ETB) strengthens its commitment to the region through its Local Creative Youth Partnership

In a significant boost for the arts and culture communities in the region, Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board is strengthening its commitment to the region through its Local Creative Youth Partnership (LCYP). This coincides with the appointment of a new Co-ordinator who has exciting plans for enhancement of its programmes in a move that will also generate more creative jobs.

One of three programmes piloted nationwide in 2019, the Partnership is part of the Creative Youth pillar within Creative Ireland. The ‘voice of the child and young person’ is central to its work with state and voluntary agencies in delivering creative programmes for young people in communities across Limerick and Clare.

At a time when young people’s mental health is a topic for more discussion, youth-centred programmes are more important than ever in providing a safe space where young people can express themselves creatively.

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LCYP’s newly-appointed Co-ordinator Zara Starr Madden brings a wealth of experience to the position having worked with young people in the professional arts for over 15 years as an actor, theatre maker, filmmaker, dancer, singer and mindfulness facilitator.

Zara is a native of Clarecastle in County Clare and is passionate about developing programmes which will not only help young people express themselves creatively, but also champion the issues which are important to them. Speaking about her new role, Zara says her methodology has always centred on raising awareness of our own creative potential: “Everyone holds creative value. I have always been responsive and adaptive to participants needs and, now as LCYP Co-ordinator, I get to do this work on a much larger scale. My job is to find out what local youth communities want creatively and provide support in making that happen, which is fantastic.”

Zara’s appointment coincides with an expansion of the partnership with a recruitment campaign underway to create a panel of talented tutors from a wide range of areas in the arts to help implement engaging new programmes. This will enable exciting new opportunities for tutors to deliver workshops in dance, yoga, fashion, visual art, music, puppetry, creative mindfulness, photography, woodwork, digital art and STEM. Additional areas where new tutors are being sought include drama, needlework, film, make-up, animation, craft, creative writing, coding, voice and circus skills.

Speaking following Zara’s appointment, George O’Callaghan, Chief Executive, Limerick and Clare ETB, said: “I’m delighted to welcome Zara as the new Co-ordinator of our Local Creative Youth Partnership. Our ETB is regarded as a leader in harnessing the creative talent of young people in our region, and Zara is building on the impressive success of several years of exciting, dynamic and engaging projects throughout Limerick and Clare.”

Donncha Ó Treasaigh, Director of Schools, Limerick and Clare ETB also congratulated Zara and the work of the partnership: “It was great to see our LCYP recognised at a recent meeting of the national network at the Department of Education in Dublin, with specific praise given to its work in developing projects in North Clare and in Abbeyfeale, County Limerick.”

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