Tourism and Culture Minister Catherine Martin has launched this year’s Cruinniú na nÓg – the day of free creative activity for young people.
This year’s events will be on June 10 and will feature more than 500 free creative activities for children and young people throughout the country. Cruinniú na nÓg 2023 is a collaboration between, the Creative Ireland Programme, local authorities and RTÉ and is the only event of its kind in the world.
Announcing Cruinniú na nÓg 2022, Minister Martin said: “Every year Cruinniú na nÓg becomes more firmly embedded into the lives of young people all over Ireland. There’s a huge programme of free creative activities for 10th June that will really stretch the imaginative muscles of all young people. Cruinniú na nÓg 2023 is a wonderful opportunity for the young people of Ireland to show off a little, try a new creative activity, make new friends and connect with their communities. Every event is free.”
The Creative Ireland Programme and its strategic partners have developed a number of creative projects, all planned to go live on Saturday, June 10.
These include:
Irish Street Arts, Circus and Spectacle Network (ISACS) will host open days for young people who want to try their hand at circus skills and street spectacle at their dedicated venues in Cloughjordan, Cork, Dublin and Galway. For those that can’t be there on the day, there will be a full range of online tutorials available.
Rhyme Island – This year Creative Ireland is teaming up with The Kabin Studio to get every young person in Ireland rapping. In preparation, the Rhyme Island team have been travelling the length and breadth of the country holding a series of online and in-person workshops which will culminate in a massive day of rap at 17th Century Elizabeth Fort in Cork.
This is Art 2023 – Creative Ireland and RTÉ’s wonderful art competition for young people has returned, and the winning entries will be announced on 10th June 2023 along with a national online digital gallery of all entries.
TG4 with support from the Gaeltacht division of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media will support ‘Our World’/ ‘Mo Dhomhan’ several Cruinniú na nÓg projects groups which will include sand art projects.
Cruinniú na nÓg 2023 Ambassadors – This year, Creative Ireland has asked five wonderful young people to represent Cruinniú na nOg 2023 to inspire others with their creative energy and skills.
Caterina Chiu Paone (8) Last year Caterina triumphed in This is Art with her cat collage. Not only does Caterina make art but she loves Irish dancing, playing the guitar, writing and singing her own songs.
Sibéal de Spáinn (8) loves swimming, making art and recording radio shows. She made her first radio show in 2022 on Raidió Rí-Rá. Making art makes her feel great and that she is helping the world.
Jamie (the King) Forde (17) has been rapping at Knocknaheeny’s The Kabin in Cork since he was 10. With his friend MC Tiny (Darren Stewart), Jamie recorded ‘Yeah Boy’ which they have performed all over Cork, at Dublin Castle and on The Late, Late Toy Show.
Jodie Byrne (14) is a member of the Dublin Circus Club which she joined in 2022. In a relatively short period of time, she was walking on stilts in the St Patrick’s Day parade. For Cruinniú na nÓg this year she will be at the Dublin Circus Club learning to spin plates.
Archie Evans (15) has been involved with the Dublin Circus Club for over a year and he loves it! Once a week he joins his friends in the club to learn everything from stilt walking to trapeze to juggling. Through the circus, he has met other circus teens from all over the country.
In 2023, Cruinniú na nÓg will be an all-island day with free creative collaborations through cross-community events, connecting young people from both sides of the border, through Circus Explored and Rhyme Island event ‘Rock the Block’.
For a full listing of all activities and information on how to join in for Cruinniú na nÓg – please go to https://cruinniu.creativeireland.gov.ie and www.rte.ie