Cork County Council Launches Frameworks School Programme

Cork County Council's Culture and Creativity team is bringing original artworks from the Cork County Art Collection directly into primary school classrooms through a new education initiative called Frameworks.

Selected schools will become temporary custodians of original works from the civic collection, with pupils guided through a creative learning experience led by a professional artist-in-residence. The collection spans painting, drawing, print, photography, video and small-scale sculpture, featuring both emerging and established artists, many based in Cork.

Participating schools will take part in a series of workshops culminating in the creation of a collaborative artwork developed in response to the collection. The programme will conclude with a school-hosted showcase event, where both the borrowed artworks and the children's creative responses will be displayed for families and the wider school community.

Cllr Mary Linehan Foley, Mayor of the County of Cork, said:

"This collection belongs to the people of Cork, and we're keen to share it as widely as we can. Frameworks give young people the chance to experience and respond to art creatively in their own classrooms, sparking both learning and imagination."

Funded by Creative Ireland, the programme is delivered free of charge to participating schools. Primary schools interested in taking part can apply by emailing Creative.Ireland@corkcoco.ie. The closing date for applications is 6pm on Friday, 30 May 2026.