This initiative was devised and is delivered by the Irish Architecture Foundation. Now in its ninth year, the programme is funded by the Arts Council, The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and The Department of Education and Skills.

In 2021 this celebrated programme will reach a record 70 secondary schools across Ireland, delivered by a team of 40 architects, increasing opportunities for young people to connect with architectural professionals and the artform of architecture. The initiative is open to all schools interested in participating, and the selection is made on an annual basis via an open call for applications.

In 2020 the annual Architects in Schools Exhibition was presented online for the first time, through a video and series of Instagram posts. Click here to see and learn more about the 2020 Exhibition.

Architects in Schools supports trained architects to link with schools and deliver student workshops over a 12 hour period of class contact time. The initiative is supported by these resources: Student Handbook and Facilitator Handbook.

Through Architects in Schools, students experience architecture through hands-on design workshops and stimulus activities. The initiative is complementary to many Senior Cycle subjects, including Art, Maths, Sciences, Design and Communication Graphics, Construction Studies, Home Economics, English, History and Geography.

The project-based learning approach of the initiative supports individual research and classroom based activities, providing diverse learning opportunities and cross curricular links. The initiative also provides specific enhancement of critical thinking, design thinking and innovation.

Working closely with design professionals enables students to gain an insight into working life and enhance awareness of career choices.