Jimmy Deenihan TD, Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, addressed the 'Lighting a Fire' conference arranged by the Council of National Cultural Institutions, in the National Gallery of Ireland today.

The conference aims to explore the Arts in Education Charter which is an initiative of Minister Jimmy Deenihan and Minister for Education and Skills Ruairi Quinn. Both Ministers signed the Charter earlier this year.

Addressing the conference this morning Minister Deenihan said "The Arts in Education Charter places responsibilities on Government Departments, agencies, cultural institutions and arts organisations in terms of providing and promoting arts education to children and young people.  I want to see the arts in the classroom and school children developing an interest in the arts and culture sector at an early stage in their education."

Some of the Arts in Education Charter commitments include:

• Donate time in return for taxpayer funding: A new Public Service Education Dividend will be introduced which will mean that artists and arts organisations in receipt of taxpayer funds will be expected to donate a small amount of time each year to a local education initiative.
• Arts Rich Schools: The Arts Council will introduce a national scheme  which will incentivise and recognise those schools (primary and secondary) which make the arts a key part of school life.
• Visits to museums and galleries: The National Cultural Institutions shall ensure that each student visits a national cultural institution at least once in their second level school career.
• Reduced ticket prices: The National Theatre and the National Concert Hall - along with all other National Cultural Institutions that may, from time to time, charge an admission fee for a particular event - will offer discounted tickets to those in full-time primary, post primary and third level education. These tickets shall not cost more than €5 per event.
• Artists in Residence: The number of artists' residencies in Colleges of Education will be increased.
• Curriculum design: The Arts Council will be consulted by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment on curriculum design.
A High Level Implementation Group will oversee the implementation of the Charter, and will report to the Ministers at least twice a year. The Implementation Group may also advise the Ministers on updating and improving the Charter.

http://www.ahg.gov.ie/en/PressReleases/2013/April2013PressReleases/htmltext,16948,en.html