This programme is aimed at creative practitioners, educators and facilitators. It has been developed in response to a specific industry need to align creative practice with facilitative interactive learning methodologies for alternative, community-based and expanded learning environments. The course explores how creative teaching can open up new ways of learning and working together. You’ll gain practical tools to design and facilitate collaborative learning experiences, drawing on your own practice and knowledge.

Duration: 11th Dec 2026 – 6th March 2027

Format: Blended

6 x 3 hours on Saturdays 11:30am – 2:30pm, RuaRed + 3 x 1.5 hr online seminars

Online intro session (will be recorded and shared):

Friday 11th Dec 2026, 6:30-7:30pm

In-person sessions on Saturdays at Rua Red:

23rd Jan – 11:30 – 14:30
30th Jan – 11:30 – 14:30
6th Feb – 11:30 – 14:30
13th Feb – 11:30 – 14:30
(break)
27th Feb – 11:30 – 14:30
6th March – 11:30 – 14:30

Location:
Rua Red, South Dublin Arts Centre
Plás Parthalán
Tallaght, D24 KV8N

• Explore models of facilitative, collaborative and experiential learning
• Develop tools for sharing creative processes, practices and ideas
• Expand your understanding of teaching as a creative, critical practice
• Examine the reach and impact of creative learning across diverse contexts
• Make informed judgements about different models of learning and teaching
• Investigate how creative practices can shape and transform learning environments
• Reflect on the role of creative pedagogy in your own professional practice

Guest lecturers will include

Cian Corcoran – Co-founder of Common Knowledge, Self Build

Graduates will be equipped with skills and knowledge that will enable them to build and enact learning practices across educational, community and cultural sectors: supporting inclusive, participatory approaches to teaching through creative practice.

Pre-requisites
All applicants are expected to present an approved Bachelor degree at minimum level of 2nd class honours (2.2)

As part of your application, you will be asked to upload the following supporting documentation:

1. A statement framing your reasons for applying to the programme, i.e. how attending the above selected course will benefit you and your practice  (500 words)
2. A recent CV
3. Certified transcripts of previous programmes followed
4. Certified copies of degree / certificates and/or other appropriate third level qualifications bearing the official stamp of the institution.
5. English Language Proficiency certificate 
   • This is only required if English is not your first language. 

You can see the full list of the English Language Qualifications NCAD recognises at this link. 

All new and continuing students will receive information by email on how to register and pay fees. For information on Fee Payment and Grant Eligibility go to NCAD Fees & Grants.

NCAD Students Handbook

The Handbook is available for download here

Continuing students and new postgraduate students who accepted the offer will start receiving ‘Invitation to Register’ emails from the week beginning 19th August.

More on the NCAD website.

Michelle Browne is an artist and curator based in Dublin, Ireland. She is a lecturer in the Department of Sculpture and Expanded Practice at NCAD and her teaching has focused on spatial practices with an emphasis on participation, collaboration and performative strategies.
Browne’s art practice is concerned with what it means to live together; how society organises itself – socially, politically and spatially – and how these relationships play out in the public arena. Much of her work is site specific, often using performative events to draw people together to consider alternative uses for public spaces. She is also interested in how ephemeral performative and participatory events are remembered and archived. Browne has curated a number of exhibitions and events in and for public space and from 2017-2019 she was part of Creative Producers International, a development programme to encourage new kinds of conversations with creative communities, citizens, and city authorities to effect change in their cities.

I found the course to be a really exciting, safe and generous space to explore new ideas and old with a refreshed lens. I loved the diversity of practices and perspectives in the room. The user was always kept at the centre of all considerations. A nice balance of theory and practice. 

A brilliant community was built during this course.

It was particularly valuable to learn about both contemporary and historical collective projects and methodologies and founder practicioneers such as A. Boal and T. Brughera. Overall, this encouraged a shift away from how I experience an individual artistic practice toward a more socially aware approach—one that considers usefulness and aligns with ideas such as Arte Útil and socially aware artistic practice.