Young Creatives
We are committed to supporting the young creatives of tomorrow!
We work with artists at every stage of their career, supporting and fostering opportunities for exciting new talent.
Young people engage with our arts and cultural activities each year, performing on our stage with their schools, stage schools, orchestras, bands and dance groups, as well as taking part as individual artists and performers.
Dunamaise Arts Centre is also proud to be the home of Laois Youth Theatre, providing a dedicated creative space for young people to explore theatre-making, performance and storytelling, develop confidence and skills, make new connections and find their own creative voice. No previous theatre experience is required, helping to make participation welcoming and accessible to young people from across Laois.
Our wider artistic and cultural partnerships create outstanding opportunities for young people in Laois and beyond. Young people can connect with Dunamaise through Laois Youth Theatre, Youth Cafés countywide, Laois School of Music, Music Generation Laois, Laois Youth Dance Ensemble, Midlands LGBTQ+ Group and many other partners and initiatives.
We also create opportunities for young people to take part in ambitious arts projects, performances, workshops and creative collaborations. These are made possible through the support and funding of partners including Creative Ireland Laois, Laois County Council, the Arts Council, and others.
Our aim is to ensure that Dunamaise is a place where young people can experience the arts, develop their creativity and, importantly, see a pathway for themselves as the artists, performers, makers and cultural leaders of the future.
Youth Art Competition
Create a piece of art inspired by comics, graphic novels or super heroes for this art competition for young Laois people up to 18 years old.
Artwork can be in any medium. Winners will have their artwork exhibited in the Dunamaise Arts Centre Bar in June. Prizes will be presented at Celtic Con 2025. The Competition opens at 1pm on Friday 9th May and closes midnight Tuesday 27th May.
The Cruinniú na nÓg Art Competition is supported by Creative Ireland Laois as part of the Creative Ireland Programme and in partnership with Dunamaise Arts Centre and Celtic Con.
Laois Youth Theatre
Membership is open to young people in secondary school. The fee per semester is €50.
Laois Youth Theatre is facilitated by Pauline Dunne at Dunamaise Arts Centre.
For queries, call Pauline on 085 7887303 or email info@dunamaise.ie
NASC Young Curators 2025
Since 2021, our NASC Young Curators project has directly engaged young adults in programming exciting events for their peers. Young Curators are aged 18 – 25, interested in a career in arts and event management, have a passion for delivering quality live entertainment experiences. The next programme is now open for application.
Cruinniú na Óg
This free celebration of creativity for children and young people under 18 encourages participation in cultural activities and is a perfect chance to take a taste of Dunamaise! Each year on a Saturday in June we host a day with free performances, workshops or films. Check our Whats On for event details.
This year check out our Art Competition with Celtic Con here
Art Classes for all ages
Weekly art classes facilitated by local artist Caroline Keane are available for children, teenagers and adults. Queries directly to Caroline.
Examples of Some Previous Projects
Lasta 2021
We collaborated with the NASC venues to present this national arts programme for young people by young people, in association with Brightening Air / Coiscéim Coiligh, a nationwide ten-day season of arts experiences brought to you by the Arts Council; as well as Creative Ireland Laois. Featuring a new innovative approach to programming, twenty-one young curators were engaged to programme a festival of work. We selected three Young Curators Alannah Murray, Pauline Dunne and Ruairdhí Tierney via an Open Call, who contributed to this national arts programme curated entirely by young people.