The STAR Creative Cluster
The STAR Creative Cluster school initiative is part of Ireland’s national Creative Clusters programme, designed to encourage creativity, collaboration, and inclusive learning among schools. The programme brings together groups of schools to work on shared creative projects that support student engagement, innovation, and personal development.
STAR Creative Clusters particularly focus on supporting Traveller and Roma students, and promote inclusion, cultural identity, wellbeing, and creative expression through arts, music and other cross-curricular activities.
St Nathy’s College has participated in the two-year project, culminating with a recent celebration day in the IMMA in Dublin.
Over the two years, students participated in a variety of workshops including jewellery making, basket weaving, and drumming. They also enjoyed a visit to Sligo ATU where they sampled college life through availing of a tour of the college, and participating in a graphics workshop in the Dream- maker space. Students also enjoyed an adventure day in Willowbrook, where they created dens made of willow, and where they also participated in arts and crafts, pizza making and song composition.
At the celebration day in the IMMA last Thursday, our students got an opportunity to display the creative work that they enjoyed participating in over the past two years. They enjoyed a tour of the art galleries in the museum followed by food, and a chance to mingle and to meet the participants in the other creative clusters from around the country.
Students involved in the cluster have enjoyed the experience, and it has supported attendance, participation and retention in our school.
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