Students at St. Joseph’s School in Sligo took part in a 12-week creative arts project led by visual artist Ruth Le Gear and writer Mary Branley. Funded by the RTÉ Toy Show Appeal, the project created space for students to explore art and storytelling in ways that centred their own ideas, experiences, and ways of communicating.

Working with students of different ages, the artists developed a series of gentle, open-ended activities that supported expression through making. These included mapping the school and its surroundings, creating friendship collages, designing eight-fold books, painting, and collaborating on large-scale chalk drawings. Students also planted seeds as part of the project, using this shared activity to explore ideas of kindness, care, and growth.

The project was developed in collaboration with the Children’s Disability Network Team (CDNT) and responded to a clear need for sustained, high-quality arts experiences for students with learning disabilities, who often have limited access to extracurricular creative opportunities. Throughout the process, the artists worked closely with school staff to ensure sessions were accessible, responsive, and shaped by the students themselves.

At the heart of the project was the creation of a book that brings together the students’ artwork and stories, reflecting their thoughts on community, friendship, and kindness. The creative engagement phase of the project is now complete, and the book is currently in the design phase.

This collaboration highlights the value of long-term, relationship-based arts practice in school settings. We look forward to sharing the finished publication and celebrating the students’ work when the book is launched.