The Model is delighted to re-launch PUNC 1×1 primary school programme to be rolled out to schools in 2021/2022. Throughout the lockdown we have been busy re-imagining an online version of this exciting programme, which has since 2015 reached 27 schools throughout Sligo town and county. Throughout the school year, each school participating in the programme received each month an original artwork from The Niland Collection in a carousel and slow-seeing exhibition. One teacher described it as a kaleidoscope of wonder and magic, as children and teachers alike got to view and respond to works from The Niland collection in the school environment.
As the artist-in-schools has been a vital element to PUNC 1×1 throughout, we have now joined up with the Internationally award-winning Branar Theatre company and through this unique collaboration we bring to you an innovative online project in response to our favourite painting in the collection The Toy Theatre by Jack B Yeats. Busy behind the scenes, we have re-imagined PUNC 1×1 as a series of theatre design, drama, visual art and puppetry workshops in response to the painting. This suite of six workshops will be brought directly into the classroom via online video sessions. Working in collaborative pods of 3-6 students, PUNC Re-imagined is designed with all the current Covid 19 restrictions in mind. This project is cross-curricular, engaging a whole range of primary school subjects, e.g. English, Irish, Geography, History and Maths.
Our vision for Arts and Education is aligned with current government policy which Maureen Kennelly, Director of the Arts Council spoke passionately about at the National Arts and Education conference last weekend. She said that “every single child in Ireland has a right to a rich cultural life of the very highest quality.” We at The Model work to the very highest possible standards to ensure this and invite you to participate in this exciting new version of PUNC 1×1. PUNC Re-Imagined is available in both Irish and English and is a completely free programme. Our aim is to reach every primary school in County Sligo next year, before going nationwide in 2023. This programme is generously sponsored by the Community Foundation for Ireland in partnership with The Model. If you are a teacher in a Sligo primary school and interested in participating in the coming academic year, please email education@themodel.ie.