FACE TO FACE: ART FOR ALL - PROCESS NOT PRODUCT

Summer Course Booking Policy

Our summer courses are booked on the condition that the course fee is non-refundable.
Unfortunately, if you wish to cancel your place on one of our courses or are unable to attend the course, we are not in a position to refund fees.

 

PRIMARY Teachers who attend the full 20-hour summer course will qualify for 3 extra Personal vacation days. 

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This course invites teachers to explore the power of visual art as a process-led, inclusive learning experience for all students. Through hands-on activities, reflective practice and collaborative discussion, participants will engage with visual art concepts in ways that encourage creativity, curiosity and experimentation rather than focusing solely on finished outcomes.

Teachers will explore a range of artistic processes and develop greater awareness of artists, techniques and creative approaches. The course supports participants in making meaningful connections between visual arts and other curricular areas while aligning with key principles of learning, teaching and assessment and the development of core competencies.

By experiencing and reflecting on creative processes themselves, participants will build confidence in facilitating engaging art experiences in the classroom that value exploration, imagination and individual expression, ensuring that art is accessible and meaningful for all learners.

Bio: Susan O'Keeffe

I am a qualified primary teacher with 24 years of experience in education and a long-standing interest in visual arts. Over the years, I have designed and delivered summer courses for teachers and worked with Teacher–Artist Partnership (TAP) for nine years, facilitating professional development courses for primary teachers nationwide in collaboration with artists, both online and face to face.

I have also supported schools as a Creative Associate and as a Creative Cluster facilitator. I currently work with Oide as a Primary Learning Leader, supporting schools with the Primary Curriculum Framework and contributing to the Arts team in providing guidance on the new Arts specification being introduced in the 2026–2027 academic year.

My qualifications include a degree in Art and Design and Geography, a Diploma in Leadership and Management and a Master’s degree from UCC with a focus on pupil voice, as well as a Diploma in Education and Law from the Law Society of Ireland. Alongside my work in education, I continue to create artwork and have exhibited pieces in Mount Congreve and The Hub in Carrick-on-Suir.

In my courses, I aim to support teachers in building their confidence in teaching visual arts by exploring practical techniques and ideas that allow children to experiment, explore, and express themselves creatively with purpose, meaning, and enjoyment.

 

In line with DES Circular 0037/1997, participants attending Summer Courses accrue entitlements as follows:

• Full Attendance (20 Hours): 3 EPV Days
• 4 Days Attendance (16 Hours): 2 EPV Days
• No EPV days will be awarded for less than 4 days attendance