Location
  • Ireland
Length
4 - 12 weeks
Program Tags
Adventure Travel Arts Cultural Immersion Drama
Merit-based funding, Payment plans, 529 Plan eligibility
Health & Safety

Program Details

Timeframe
Fall Spring
Housing
Guesthouse
Age Min.
18
Age Max
21

Pricing

Starting Price
17000
Price Details
Program fees include food, all travel within Ireland, artistic tutoring, art supplies and workshops, accommodation and the full support of the Irish Gap Year team.

Who is this program for?
The Irish Arts and Culture Program is for students interested in a broad-exposure art program in Europe with tangible takeaways. This is a low-stress program designed to facilitate self-exploration using the arts as a vehicle for this journey.

Many of our past students have enjoyed taking part in a community-based program. This means that you will have your own home, neighbors and really get the chance to be part of our town. It also means that you will develop independence in an environment that resembles college life.
What's Included
Accommodation Activities Airport Transfers Equipment Meals
What's Not Included
Airfare
Jan 29, 2025
May 10, 2025
34 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

The Irish Arts & Culture Program gives you an opportunity to explore and cultivate your creative side, travel throughout Ireland, build independence and develop an appreciation of Irish arts and culture.

Daily workshops with professional Irish artists in photography, creative writing, charcoal, painting, sculpture and jewellery making. This program is all about exploring and developing your creative side and no prior artistic experience is needed – Only enthusiasm! Most importantly you will build your independence, living and working with your peers in the beautiful coastal town of Bundoran County Donegal.

This creative, light-hearted and community-oriented program is for students who would love to spend their time making art in a tranquil coastal village on Ireland's west coast.

Video and Photos

Diversity & Inclusion 💙

We welcome students from all walks of life and backrounds and have hosted many BIPOC students on our programs.
We welcome students from all walks of life and backrounds and have hosted many LGBTQIA+ students over the years. Ireland and Europe in general are quite progressive with regards to LGBTQIA+ policy, lifestyle and support. Irish Gap Year provides support to our LGBTQIA+ students to help them feel secure and safe during their time with us.

Impact 🌎

Irish Gap Year is a Carbon Negative Company, meaning we remove more C02 from the amosphere through our ecological volunteering than we create as an organization (including student flights to Europe).

Irish Gap Year Director, Ryan Allen is the Chair of the Gap Year Association's Sustainability Commitee and created the Association's Climate Action Plan in 2023.

Program Highlights

  • Live With Your Peers: Live in your own home with your fellow gappers, enjoy the freedom and fun of having your own place!
  • IGY's Team of Artists: Our art tutors are professional, exhibiting Irish artists who are so so fun to work with!
  • Overnight Travel Around Ireland: We'll travel as a group all over Ireland's culture capitals (and off piste gems)
  • Focus in on the mediums that interest you most, working with our expert art tutors as you prepare to exhibit your work at Le Cheile art exhibition.

Program Reviews

4.85 Rating
based on 96 reviews
  • 5 rating 85.42%
  • 4 rating 14.58%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Housing 4.25
  • Support 4.75
  • Fun 4.8
  • Value 4.85
  • Safety 4.85
Showing 1 - 8 of 96 reviews
Default avatar
Lily
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

IGY arts program (very cool)

This has been everything I wanted in a gap year program. I came here hoping to explore Ireland, make art I could be proud of and learn new skills, make some friends, and overall have a good time. I got all of that and more. The arts tutors are all amazing, and with their help we put together an amazing exhibition. The location's also great- the cliffs are beautiful, the beaches have lots of cool shells and other fun treasures, the sky's great for stargazing on clear nights, and Bundoran's fun to explore on the weekends. I couldn't be happier that I chose this program.

Pros
  • Art workshops
  • Bundoran
  • Many dogs to befriend (and cows and a horse)
Cons
  • Housemate complications
  • Two rounds of illness
  • Town's kinda far
18 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Vivienne
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

My Time With IGY

My time with Irish Gap Year has been very enjoyable. I really liked being able to learn from such amazing art teachers that are all so unique and helpful. Charcoal worked the side of my brain that requires precise line work. Found art gave me an ability to be more free and open with creation. And painting was very enjoyable as I loved the very kind teacher who taught us about different artists and styles. I wish there were more opportunities to work with bog jewelry, leather and wood working. I felt that some mediums were prioritized more than others, which has its pros and cons. I really enjoyed the town we stayed in. I didn’t mind being a bit far (I would recommend renting a bike). Bundoran has a lot of character and once you find the places you enjoy the most in the small town, you’ll very much miss letting go once you leave.

18 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Maeve
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Arts & Culture - such a fun program

The arts and culture program was so much fun and so valuable for improving my stills in so many different art mediums. I was able to make some really good friends that share a lot of the same interests as me. All of the workshop leaders and program leaders/staff are so wonderful and supportive, and I really recommend Irish Gap Year for anyone looking to do a gap year program. It’s a great way to learn independence and is an awesome opportunity to see some beautiful places around Ireland/Europe.

What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?
I was so nervous for the exhibition and for people to see my work, but I knew that I was confident in my own art and the opinion of everyone else is second to that. The exhibition turned out really well and I got some really great compliments on my pieces.
22 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Clover
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Clover’s Awesome Review

I did the Irish Gap Year Arts and Culture program in Spring of 2025 (I’m actually still here while writing this) and I can say pretty certainly that this was what I needed right now. This program was as much a vacation as it was a challenge (in a good way). Bundoran (and by extension, the entire country of Ireland) is a beautiful, magical place, and every day spent there was soothing and relaxing. The art program, between seven different instructors and the chance to learn and practice a whole host of mediums, was a perfect opportunity to learn and grow as an artist in a guided, but still fun and free environment.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Explore the area as much as you can! If you’re like me, then you’ll find plenty of cool stuff. Check out the coastline and cliffs right near the houses.
Pros
  • It’s just really god damn beautiful here.
  • Loodine (dog)
  • Making Art
Cons
  • Roommate Troubles (Yours will probably be great, though!)
  • I can’t get a haircut :(
  • I don’t like drinking :(
21 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Annie
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Arts and Culture 2025

I had a great time during the IGY Arts program. The exhibition at the end of the trip felt very rewarding and I developed meaningful relationships with the local art tutors. The charcoal teacher in particular is excellent. The friends I made here were kind and open minded. And Bundoran itself is a great little town and a beautiful location. The leaders were fun and lifted everyone’s spirits. Being here in the spring was nice because it was green when we got here in February, and it only got warmer. I would recommend the program for art students who want to create!

15 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Vin
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Vins review

This was an interesting program, and overall I enjoyed my time here. Some mental health things made it a little hard to enjoy it sometimes. Overall the program directors were good at addressing that, and kept us safe. There were a few times they made decisions that I felt were unwise or perhaps not thought out completely, and while concerning those decisions never actually put anyone in danger. The art was amazing, and I feel like I grew a lot as a person and as an artist. Living on my own in a house full of people was really usefull as a way to grow, and I hope to take what I have learned in this program onwards in my life.

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
The most surprising thing i saw was the stunning Cliffs by the ocean. I rarely see the ocean back home, and though I am surrounded by mountains I have never seen such beautifull Cliffs.
Pros
  • Learned a lot about myself, and grew
  • Explored art that I wouldn't normally get to experience
Cons
  • Stress, especially in regards to expo prep
  • House dynamics can be difficult
41 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Astra
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Astra’s review

I’ve really loved this program, and felt that it was a really good fit for me as a person. We had a lot of options, and I got to learn and expand my knowledge on art forms I hadn’t had experience in previously. Charcoal comes to mind as an art form I have had no previous experience in, as does oil paint. I loved the instructors; they were all welcoming and very good at what they do, and I will miss them when I leave. The found art instructor, Ken, helped me see art in a brand new light, and I am very grateful for that. Instructors taught me how to be more carefree with my work and made the process less stressful once my personal anxieties about being perfect were removed.

What was your funniest moment?
This is not one moment in particular, but instead a collection of moments. I have what I call a quote book, which is an online document where I write down funny things I overhear other people say. It’s been going for the entire program, and I strongly recommend others to start one.
Pros
  • Almost everyone, in the program and out, was very welcoming.
  • The absolutely stunning skies
  • Exploring and finding souvenirs
Cons
  • Lack of spice in food
  • In physical pain a lot of the time
  • Stores being a decent walk away, coupled with the pain (I’m a city dweller)
44 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Ashlin
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Ashlin’s review

I think this was a lot of fun and I’m really glad I did this. I wish I did more art and I also wish I went on more trips. I also wish I went on more walks on trails because it is such a beautiful country and I want to see more of it. It’s a really peaceful town and I enjoyed that. I’m glad I came here. This program isn’t for everyone but I really enjoyed it and am glad I did this. I think being in a smaller group would have been better but it was already a pretty small group. I loved marking so much art and trying new mediums that I wouldn’t have otherwise.

What would you improve about this program?
I would get better beds and go on more walks in nature.
Pros
  • I made friends
  • They fed me
  • We we’re a group
Cons
  • Some people were hard to get along with
  • The food was repetitive
  • The beds
45 people found this review helpful.

Questions & Answers