
Explore Art, Craft and Design
Collins Barracks is an ideal resource for teachers looking for ideas to start an art, craft or design project or if you're a teacher of Leaving Cert Art and Art History.

Drawing workshop: The Irish High Crosses
Students can develop their drawing skills using some of the Museum galleries as starting points, including the temporary exhibition Irish High Crosses. Emphasis is on exploring different drawing techniques and on having fun through drawing!
Maximum: 30 per group
Duration: 1 hour
Curriculum Links
- Junior & Senior Cycle Art, Craft & Design
- Leaving Cert Art History
From Barracks to Museum: Exhibition Layout and Design Tour
This tour gives students the tools in which to evaluate an exhibition effectively.
Students will explore the transformation of Collins Barracks into the Museum of Decorative Arts and History using some of the exhibitions to think critically about layout and design, lighting, labelling and display.
Maximum: 30 per group
Duration: 1 hour
Curriculum Links
- Senior Cycle Art Craft & Design
Eileen Gray Gallery Tour
Wexford-born Eileen Gray (1879-1976) is now regarded as one of the most influential designers and architects of the 20th century. Students are introduced to her life and work through observation of her furniture, drawings and other artefacts.
Maximum: 30 per group
Duration: 1 hour
Curriculum Links
- Senior Cycle Art Craft & Design
A stitch through time... Fabric and Fibre workshops
Book this special workshop where your students get to learn a number of sewing techniques and make a fabric collage. The workshop also focuses on the life of a 19th-Century British soldier living in Ireland through the Stokes Tapestry in the Soldiers & Chiefs exhibition. All materials provided.
Contact us to make your booking.
Dates of workshop
January 2012 - 17th, 18th, 24th, 25th
February 2012 - 7th, 8th
Curriculum Links
- Junior & Senior Cycle Art, Craft & Design
- Junior & Senior Cycle History
Bringing your class in on your own?
If you want to do a self-directed drawing session on your own at the Museum, we can help you with ideas and suggestions for where to go in the Museum. We can also provide you with clipboards for drawing, if requested in advance.
Please note that groups must book through the Booking Office and can contact us here. Groups who arrive unannounced may find that they can't visit the galleries they want to see.
Follow these steps on how to get the most out of a self-directed visit.
This section is still in development - we are working with teachers to make this section as useful and relevant as possible. We welcome any suggestions you might have, please contact us.
For more tips, see our guide on how to plan a visit.
We're continually improving and adding to our online Museum resources.
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