Children's Laureate launches cross-border writing

Children's Laureate Siobhan Parkinson travelled to the Strule Arts Centre in Omagh last week to officially launch a cross-border programme that will give local schools the opportunity to work with some of Ireland's best known writers and storytellers.

The ‘Writers in Schools Programme’, co-ordinated by Poetry Ireland and funded by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and An Chomhairle Ealaíon, is designed to improve literacy skills at primary and post-primary levels.

Damian Smyth, Head of Literature, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, commented: "We know that stimulating the imagination at a young age can provide the building blocks for a creative and fulfilling life and there is no better way to introduce children to the arts than by offering them an opportunity to work with some of the country's most inspirational artists.

"The Writers in School's scheme proved a phenomenal success last year in Northern Ireland and we are delighted to be working with Poetry Ireland again on the 2011 programme."

The Writers in Schools scheme is one of the longest-running arts in education programmes in the Republic of Ireland. Approximately 20,000 children and young people participate in the programme each year and this is the second time it will be open to schools in Northern Ireland.

Children's Laureate Siobhan Parkinson officially opened the scheme. She said: "’Writers in Schools’ brings children to the creative process of reading and writing and gives them access to the life of the imagination right in their own classrooms and meets them where they are in their own lives."

Applications are now open for schools wishing to participate in the 2011 ‘Writers in Schools Programme’. Through the scheme, schools can invite writers to come into classrooms to host one-off workshops or arrange for pupils to take part in longer cross-community residential workshops.

Those already signed up include: Omagh High School; St. Paul's High School, Bessbrook; St. Mary's PS, Maghera; Convoy Joint NS, Lifford; Cloughoge NS, Lifford; St. Mary's PS, Derrylin; Drumlease NS, Dromahair; Gaelscoil Dhún Dealgan, Dundalk; St. Clare's College, Ballyjamesduff;; and St. Mary's CBS Grammar & St. Dominic's, Belfast.

A student after a Poetry Ireland residency said, “The experience of being taught by a published author is one that will stick with me for the rest of my life. It was absolutely brilliant.”

“It worked beyond my wildest dreams. In 24 years teaching I can safely say it was one of my best days,” a teacher commented after a writer visit.

For additional information on Border Crossings Project contact Anna Boner at email: writersinschools@poetryireland.ie or tel. 003531-4758601 or visit http://www.poetryireland.ie/education/bordercrossings.html