This may the most important post I write for my blog… (no pressure!). I say this because this post provides an insight in to why I created the blog, the things I have learned while speaking to several Irish primary school teachers and some of my own approaches and thoughts about teaching art.

I really hope that after you read this, it sparks some thoughts about your experiences and I would love to hear them, so feel free to drop me an email or comment under the post.

Whether you look forward to the Visual Art slot in your timetable or dread its very existence, teaching Visual Art can be challenging. The same issues arise for teacher’s time after time.

• Classroom Displays – you want to focus on the process and experimentation during the art lesson but you are pre-occupied by the thoughts that this work must have a level of quality for display.

• Budget – the amount of money available for art education varies from school to school so you must be thrifty, use what you have, and use somewhat humble materials.

• Time – Art lessons can take up a lot of your time. Between shopping for materials, learning the process yourself, planning, setting up your room, teaching it, allowing the students to create and cleaning up time afterwards. It can take over!

• Creativity – How do you make sure that your lessons allow for creative expression whilst managing your classroom, teaching art techniques and avoiding template art. After all, both teacher and pupil want a sense of pride after creating art.

Taking these issues into consideration I have been able to think about the value I would like to create for Primary school teachers.

Here at Artire, I would like to create opportunities for teachers to adapt lessons, discuss creative expression in a realistic way and explore ways in which teachers can incorporate Looking and Responding to Art in their lessons.

I would like Artire to be a place that teachers can visit when their creative confidence needs a boost.