“The Pinta organisation facilitated the process of developing a strategic plan for the Artane School of Music. The school’s origins go back to the formation of the Artane Boys Band in 1872 and it is now run by a trust formed jointly by the Irish Christian Brothers and the GAA. It is dedicated to educating boys and girls from its North Dublin City catchment area in musicianship and to maintaining the Artane Band which is drawn from its pupils, both boys and girls.
Orla Cullen led the strategic planning process on behalf of Pinta. She obtained agreement from the Board of Management to set up a steering group representative of all shades of interest in the Artane school community and worked with them in a structured way to develop their plan for the future. The School is a volunteer led, community based organisation and working with such a group demands particular insight and sensitivity. In demonstrating these skills Orla helped the steering group develop a forward looking, challenging, yet realistic plan to meet its objectives for the years 2013 to 2016.
I would recommend Pinta as a valuable resource to any organisation wishing to engage in a strategic planning and organisation development process”.
Conchúir Ó hÓgáin – Chairman of the Board of Management, Artane School of Music, November 2013
Following extensive internal and external consultation and discussion, the new plan was finalised and seeks to build on the history and traditions of the Artane School of Music and Band to ensure that the School of Music is well prepared to reach its potential in the years ahead.
The origins of this unique School of Music in the North Dublin city community of Artane go back to 1872 when the Artane Boys Band was founded by the Irish Christian Brothers. The Artane School of Music as we know it today was set up in 1998 under a Deed of Trust jointly in the names of the Christian Brothers and the GAA.
More than 300 students, boys and girls, receive their musical education through the School of Music in Artane at the present time. Up to 130 students study and practice for membership of the Artane Band which we see in Croke Park on big match days and which is so iconic in the fabric of Irish culture and life. The Artane Band is now so deeply embedded within GAA culture, it is hard to imagine a time when it was not there.
The School of Music is a living volunteer community in Artane and the surrounding area with up to 1,000 families and a wide network of members, parents, teachers, past pupils and supporters actively involved or supporting its work.
The new strategic plan identifies a range of strategic priorities and related key actions through which they will be addressed:
1. To grow participation numbers: To grow student and member enrolment, enable students to participate in music and assist them in reaching their potential.
2. Increase and maximise resources: maximise the return on developing the school’s facilities and further develop the range of musical activities.
3. Proactively developing partnerships: Expanding the school’s wider community and education partnerships by promoting it’s unique music education, musical activities and the facilities for the community in Dublin, nationally and internationally.
4. Strengthen the quality of music education and Artane’s reputation: To attract, retain and support the best teaching staff to enhance the school’s teaching and musical excellence.
5. Strengthen all aspects of governance: ensuring Artane School of Music has the systems and processes in place to deliver on its mission.
In pursuit of its aim to be one of Ireland’s leading schools of music, priorities are identified under a range of strategic themes:
Key actions were identified in relation to all these priorities and target dates for implementation were specified.