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We adopted an ‘artist in residence’ model within 18 educational and community based groups with children, young people and adults with diverse learning needs. During 300 hours of workshops we studied if the open-ended materials encouraged greater flexibility and creativity in classrooms. The results were over- whelmingly positive and the whole project is a mass ive confirmation to the work we are doing. Heads Up: The documentation of creative reuse To further share the results of this research, ReCreate has published a beautifully designed, engaging publication called Heads Up. This book, funded by the Environmental Protection Agency, displays the results of the study and creative tips for practitioners as well as stunning photographs and graphics to depict the ReCreate story. It is a book for everybody and is available online and free of charge. We will now scale up the project in 2017 to produce the first fully-documented, third-party, confirmed research paper with the aim to influence national policy, recognizing the multiple benefits of creative reuse in the areas of education, active com- munity and mental health. This will enable ReCreate to also produce a comprehensive training manual and an educational module in conjunction with Trinity College for both artists and teachers. The definitive findings in the Heads Up study that visual arts education training in inclusive schools using open ended materials was very limited, is an area ReCreate will action in 2017. The Ireland Funds enable the Sensory Project 2016 saw ReCreate solidify its position as an enabler of arts in Ireland with major awards from Social Entrepreneurs Ireland, winning the National Community Recycling award as well as the Dublin City Enterprise Award. ReCreate now hopes to take what was learned in 2016, and thanks to a grant from The Ireland Funds, build on this in 2017 with “The Sensory Project.” Focusing on play, the Sensory Project is using open-ended reusable materials to engage children’s senses, provide provocations and enhance existing environments. Our aims are to create sensory areas within crèche settings for all children to use while the carers and teachers can utilize the space as an additional learning tool that focuses on the child’s individ- ual needs. We are documenting this process with the help of Early Childhood Ireland to enable reconstruction of the spaces as the knowledge we have gained can be easily repeated. This will be supported with evidence-based research of the tactile and sensory attributes of the materials. A vision of growth : The Creative Hub Our biggest challenge in 2017 is to keep up with the insatiable demand for the materials. Our main objective for the year is to secure a new premises in Dublin as we have quickly outgrown the ‘Warehouse of Wonders’ and we need double the space we cur- rently occupy. In fact, we are bursting at the seams with fantastic materials, and have to turn away large groups that want workshops and refuse very large deliveries of materials. As well as opening up other centers around Ireland via social franchises, we have a vision of creating a Creative Sustainable Hub with shared spaces for other social enterprises and large workshop spaces where sculptures can be created. We would like to install recording equipment to record our programs and put online the learning of the team and our large body of artists. This concept of the online Creative Hub has the support of our new partners, the University of Massachusetts who are very interested in our work especially the results of the Heads Up project. The online Hub will signify a huge development and will greatly add to the sustainability of the organization, ensuring quality materials in abundant quantities can be accessed for all kinds of creative projects whenever and wherever they are required. We are very confident and with the help of our supporters we will create another ‘Alad- din’s Cave’ for an even wider community to explore and enjoy. — Dara Connolly is Executive Director of ReCreate