National Outreach for Your Gallery at School at the National Gallery of Ireland

A female figure dressed in black stand beside a female figure wearing a brown suit, looking at artwork created by children.
Annabel Fitzgerald, SVP ESG and Corporate Affairs, SMBC Aviation Capital, and Kim Smit, Director of Collections and Research at the National Gallery of Ireland. Photo © Mark Stedman.

The National Gallery of Ireland is excited to announce the return of Your Gallery at School, an educational initiative that brings the Gallery to classrooms nationwide through art-making. All primary and post-primary schools across the country are invited to apply to participate in the programme which is supported by SMBC Aviation Capital, the first nationwide Schools Partner of National Gallery of Ireland.

With the generous support of SMBC Aviation Capital, this year’s programme will collaborate with ten schools. The programme aims to create opportunities for young people to connect with their national collection through art-making projects, designed to complement the education curriculum and ignite creativity. As a civic space, the National Gallery of Ireland seeks to promote a sense of shared ownership and foster a deep and lasting interest in the national collection. Your Gallery at School was developed to address a number of identified barriers to engagement with the Gallery, and in some cases, the arts more broadly. These include, but are not limited to, geographic, gender, and socio-economic barriers.

How it works

Selected schools will be paired with an artist from the Gallery’s Art Education Panel, who will travel to the school’s location to deliver the programme. In collaboration with teachers, the projects will be tailored to the specific needs of each group. The goal is to provide fun and engaging opportunities to learn through and about art, fostering connections with the National Gallery of Ireland and the arts more broadly.

All projects will include:

  • A virtual introduction session
  • Art-making workshops at the school’s location (delivered over one week)
  • Art materials
  • Post-project engagement opportunities

How to apply:

To learn more about the Your Gallery at School programme, and to apply, please visit https://www.nationalgallery.ie/explore-and-learn/schools/your-gallery-s…
Applications are now open and close at 11:59pm on 11 January 2026.

Dr Caroline Campbell, Director of the National Gallery of Ireland, said: “Your Gallery at School is an extremely ambitious programme which has brought fantastic learning opportunities to classrooms across the country in recent years. We are delighted to launch this round of applications. None of this would be possible without the support of SMBC Aviation Capital who understand our vision around young people and the power of art. They are a terrific partner across our entire schools programme and we are grateful for their support.”

Annabel Fitzgerald Senior Vice President of ESG and Corporate Affairs at SMBC Aviation Capital, added: “As the official Schools Partner of the National Gallery of Ireland, SMBC Aviation Capital is proud to see the Your Gallery at School initiative continue to bring art to children across Ireland who otherwise might not have the opportunity to engage with the Gallery. Since its pilot in 2020, we have seen first-hand the positive impact this project has had on the lives of young people in Ireland, and are pleased to see its continued success.”

For further details, please visit www.nationalgallery.ie.

ENDS

Media Contacts:

Notes to Editor:

  • Dr Caroline Campbell (Director, National Gallery of Ireland) and Sinead Rice (Head of Education, National Gallery of Ireland) are available for interview.

About the National Gallery of Ireland:

The National Gallery of Ireland is one of the country’s most popular visitor attractions housing the nation’s collection of European and Irish art from about 1300 to the present day, and an extensive Library & Archive. Entry to the collection is free for all to enjoy, learn and be inspired. Visit nationalgallery.ie or follow us on social media:

  • Facebook & Instagram: @nationalgalleryofireland
  • X: @NGIreland
  • LinkedIn: @National Gallery of Ireland

About SMBC Aviation Capital:

SMBC Aviation Capital is a leading aircraft lessor globally by number of aircraft and benefits from the strong support of its shareholders Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group and Sumitomo Corporation. SMBC Aviation Capital has a high-quality global airline customer base with a portfolio comprising 87% narrow-body aircraft and 73% new technology aircraft (by net book value). SMBC Aviation Capital has a strong capital position and holds an A- and BBB+ rating with S&P and Fitch respectively, reflecting the long-term strength of its business. For more information, please visit: https://www.smbc.aero/

The SMBC Aviation Capital Schools Programme:

The SMBC Aviation Capital Schools Programme, launched in 2024, marks the National Gallery of Ireland's first nationwide initiative in its partnership with SMBC Aviation Capital, (which began in 2017). This ground-breaking three-year programme includes four key projects: 

  • My Primary School is at the Gallery, connecting Dublin's inner-city primary schools with the Gallery;
  • Your Gallery at School, an outreach programme bringing art education to classrooms nationwide
  • Transition Year/Youth work experience
  • A new Schools Fellow position to enhance museum education.