Celebration of the M.A.D.E. IT project

The Western Education and Library Board Headquarters in Omagh was the venue for a public presentation of the M.A.D.E. IT project on Thursday, 6 November. M.A.D.E. IT is a strategic partnership between the Nerve Centre and the WELB to demonstrate how the creative use of digital technologies can greatly enhance learning within the subjects of Music and Art & Design.

In the academic year 2002/3, tutors from the Nerve Centre provided training in digital techniques to over 70 teachers of music and art in Derry, Limavady, Omagh and Enniskillen. The project was funded under the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure's Creativity Seed Fund and at the event, the department's permanent secretary, Aideen McGinley, described the strategic impact the Creativity Seed Fund has made through financing over 100 projects to the tune of 3 million pounds:

"As the Creativity Seed Fund has demonstrated, Northern Ireland is an examplar of a creative region at work. The Unlocking Creativity strategy of the four government departments has been particularly effective within the education field, where we are now seeing the establishment of a network of Creative Learning Centres across the region."

The achievements of the M.A.D.E. IT project were celebrated by the Chief Executive of the WELB, Joe Martin, the board's Senior Education Officer, Sheila McCaul, Adviser for Art and Design, Noelle McAlinden and Adviser for Music, Donal Doherty. A video showcasing the teacher-training and the follow-up productions of pupils was shown and two teachers spoke about their positive experiences on the project. Moira Bergin, the post-primary curriculum support officer for music who worked closely with the Nerve Centre on the project identified the urgent need for more digital music technologies in schools and more opportunities for teacher-training.

Among the speakers, the Nerve Centre was represented by Martin Melarkey and Jennifer Gormley who both highlighted the real commitment that now exists within the education sector to provide pupils with high level skills in the creative industries. The Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) is funding a second phase of the M.A.D.E. IT project that will focus upon four post-primary schools and the develop of cross-departmental creative projects between pupils of Music and Art & Design.

You can read more about the aims, objectives and outcomes of the M.A.D.E. IT project on this website and visit the projects own website.To do so click here