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Teacher Artist Partnership (TAP): Understanding, Entanglement, and Exploration through Creative Learning Relationships

image of Teacher Artist Partnership (TAP): Understanding, Entanglement, and Exploration through Creative Learning Relationships

The Teacher Artist Partnership (TAP) programme in Ireland advances creative partnership between teachers, creative practitioners, and students, emphasising equality, creativity, and reflective practice in collaborative professional development. Established in 2014 under the Arts in Education Charter and continuing under the Creative Youth Plan 2017-2027, TAP integrates creative partnerships in education. This chapter traces TAP's evolution as a professional development model from international and national perspectives, identifying its successes and challenges. The process-focused, adaptable nature of TAP training and residencies is highlighted, emphasising the benefits of mutual learning and ongoing adaptation to new research and insights. Themes such as personal histories, professional identities, and stereotypes are examined, while stressing the importance of articulating the breadth and depth of learning for artists, teachers, and children. Ultimately, the core values essential to effective partnership are explored, positioning TAP as a continually evolving model for arts education and growth in learning.

Keywords: Arts in education ; creative collaboration ; creativity initiatives in schools ; emotional connection in creative partnerships ; impact of TAP residencies ; international collaboration ; professional development ; professional identity ; stereotypes in arts and education

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References

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References

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     [Google Scholar]
  40. Palmer, Parker J. (2004), A Hidden Wholeness: The Journey Toward an Undivided Life, San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
     [Google Scholar]
  41. Roe, Sandra and Annabelle Egan (2023), An Evaluation of the Teacher-Artist Partnership (TAP) CPD Initiative for Supporting and Enhancing Arts Education in Primary Schools 2017–2021, Dublin: Department of Education and Skills.
     [Google Scholar]
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     [Google Scholar]
  44. Wolf, Shelby A. (2008), ‘The mysteries of creative partnerships’, Journal of Teacher Education, 59:1, pp. 89–102, https://journals.sagepub.com/toc/jtea/59/1. Accessed 9 October 2024.
     [Google Scholar]

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