NUI Certificate in Youth Arts

The NUI Certificate in Youth Arts is a Level 7 Special Purpose Award delivered by the National Youth Council of Ireland in partnership with the Department of Applied Social Studies, Maynooth University. It aims to introduce those working in the youth work sector to the concepts, principles and practice of youth arts using a context and practice approach.

The Certificate programme will be of interest to youth workers and youth arts practitioners looking to develop their knowledge, skills, and competence in youth arts so they can enhance their arts-based work with young people in youth work settings.

The programme is delivered over 100 contact hours involving online and on-campus learning (including four residential weekends) and will include youth arts workshops and experiences; specialist inputs from NYCI and Maynooth staff as well as practitioners from youth work and youth arts; practical activities and project work; lots of opportunities for group discussion and reflection.

This Certificate is funded by The Arts Council and the Department of Education and Youth.

Register your interest for the next Certificate in Youth Arts

Applications for the NUI Certificate in Youth Arts 2025/2026 are now closed.

NYCI and Maynooth University aim to deliver the Certificate every two years. The next Certificate in Youth Arts is scheduled to take place from October 2027 to May 2028 with applications opening in Spring 2027. Register your interest in the Certificate below to receive advance notification about the application process in Spring 2027.

If you have any questions about the Certificate in Youth Arts, please contact rhona@nyci.ie

Course Description and Objectives

The NUI Certificate in Youth Arts aims to deliver specialist training for the youth work sector in youth arts methods and approaches, addressing the need in the sector for skilled practitioners who can integrate youth arts with their developmental work with young people. The Certificate aims to further enhance youth arts practice in youth work, increasing access to high-quality youth-centred arts practice that empowers young people and supports their development.

Through a blend of online and in-person learning, students will explore:

• Context and purpose of youth arts in youth work settings
• Principles and values of youth arts practice
• Skills and methodologies in youth arts practice
• Design, delivery and evaluation of a youth arts project

The Certificate aims to provide a supportive learning community for all participants and provide a wide range of learning experiences including: youth arts workshops at Certificate residentials; specialist inputs from NYCI and Maynooth staff as well as practitioners from youth work and youth arts; practical activities and project work; lots of opportunities for group discussion and reflection. As part of the Certificate programme, students are supported to complete 4 assignments, ranging from a short essay to youth arts resource development and project work.

Participants in the NUI Certificate in Youth Arts will:

• Gain an understanding of the cultural and sociological background to, and the theories and principles underpinning, youth arts;
• Develop an awareness of the relationship between youth work and youth arts;
• Experience and assess a variety of methods of implementing experiential arts-based learning in youth work settings;
• Develop skills for working with young people through a range of selected art forms;
• Build competence in planning, delivering and evaluating a youth arts project

Designed for

This course will be of interest to youth workers and youth arts practitioners working in youth work and youth arts settings who want to:

• Deepen their understanding of the role of youth arts in youth work settings and the principles and values underpinning youth arts practice.
• Build their youth arts toolkit, developing new skills and exploring methodologies across a range of youth arts practice and project management areas.
• Develop their competency in youth arts practice so they can apply their learning to their work with young people in youth work settings.

Eligibility

Please note that applicants for the Certificate must be:

• Aged at least 21 years old on 1st January in the year they apply for the Certificate
• Be based in Ireland.
• Participants must be currently working as a volunteer/ paid employee / contractor with young people in a youth work or youth arts setting, have support from their organisation to take part in the Certificate, and have support to deliver a short youth arts project as part of their coursework and final assessment towards the end of the Certificate. This part of our criteria is designed to ensure that our Programme’s investment of time and funding in the training of youth workers and youth arts practitioners/artists results in improved provision and outcomes for young people in youth work settings.

Delivered by

The NUI Certificate in Youth Arts is developed and delivered in partnership by Maynooth University and the National Youth Council of Ireland.

The Certificate is led by the National Youth Arts Programme team at NYCI in conjunction with staff from the Department of Applied Social Studies at Maynooth University and with the participation of a wide range of guest facilitators and inputs from youth arts and youth work.

The Course Co-ordinator is Rhona Dunnett, National Youth Arts Programme Manager and a member of staff at the Department of Applied Social Studies, Maynooth University acts as Academic Director of the Certificate programme.

Register your Interest in the NUI Certificate in Youth Arts 2027/2028

To register your interest in the NUI Certificate in Youth Arts 2027/2028, please complete the following form. This will ensure you receive direct notification once the application process opens in Spring 2027.

Please contact Rhona Dunnett, National Youth Arts Programme Manager, at rhona@nyci.ie with any questions about the Certificate!