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ATAI - Art Teachers' Association of Ireland is an Association for Qualified Art Teachers in Ireland since 1950. It is the official voice for Art Educators in Ireland. It is made up of both a Regional and National Structure. The National Group meets 3 times a year with the regions, as well as once more for the National Conference which is held in Dublin. Regional groups meet more frequestly, some up to once a month, others less so. It depdens on the size of the group.

History The ATAI (then called the ATA) was set up in Clontarf in 1950 by Padraig Heney (RIP) as Voluntary group and an attempt to give Art Teachers' in Ireland a voice. . It developed over the years into a vibrant group.

Regional Breakdown 1950-2007 2007-2008 Brona Molloy Years 2008-2009 Shaun Johnston Years 2009-2011 Margaret Keenan Years In 2009 Margaret Keenan was elected President of the Association. Keith Michael Gregg was elected Vice President, Web Adminsitrator & Treasurer, Sarah E.King and Lorraine Dingle were elected joint secretaries, with Fiona Buggy in charge of Membership. Several things happened over the course of the first year. there were several key meetings with the Department of Education & Skills as well a renewal of the long defunct Cork Branch of the ATAI, After Keenan and Gregg visited former President Áine Andrews in Cork, with Head of CCAD Education Albert Walshe and two Cork memebers Daniel Sexton and Éibhlin Collins, who aimed to revive the branch. At the AGM in 2010, Fiona Buggy, Aenghus Martin both stepped down from office. Sr Enda Mc Mullen took on responsibility for Sarge Rep. Ruth Graydon and Carly Keegan took on Responsibility for Membership and Membership data Keith Michael Gregg and Ann-Marie Costello took on Web Administration, and Gregg let go of the Treasury. This position id still vacant. ATAI Constitution
 * Cork
 * Dublin - Dublin, Kildare, Meath, Louth, Wicklow
 * Galway & Clare
 * Donegal
 * Midlands - Laois, Offally, Tipperary
 * North Midlands -Longford, Leitrim, Roscommon
 * North East - Cavan, Monaghan, Louth, Westmeath, Meath
 * North West - ''Sligo & Mayo"
 * South East - "Carlow, Kilkenny, Wexford, Waterford, East Tipperary"
 * Kerry
 * Limerick
 * Northern Ireland

ATAI Conference The first conference was a one day event held in Athlone. over the years it developed substantially. In 2006 the first conference was held in the Hodson Bay hotel in Athlone. Places were limited to 75 members as a starting point. The success of the event proved the importance of the event and it was agreed that it would become an annual event The 2007 and 2008 Conference was held in May in the same venue, i.e. the Hodson hotel in Athlone. It was a very successesful on the previous one. The event saw speakers from all over the country. Art suppliers had very generous art packs for all present. Lunch and folders on all the presentations were also given to each delegate. Around 190 delegates attended and really enjoyed their day out. Free websites available to down load in the classroom were also shared. The 2009 Conference was held in October in a new venue, The Morrison Hotel Dublin. It was decided to stage the Conference in Dublin as all roads lead there. The Conference saw attendance from a great many delegates, and there were a lot of speakers discussing Irish Art Education The 2010 5th Annual National ATAI Conference took place on October 1st & 2nd in Dublin, in the Camden Court Hotel Camden St, Portobello, Dublin 2. It was given the theme “Innovation in Art Education”. There was a great sense of inspiration coming from all the speakers, 3 of which were International Art Educators, Dr. Howards Hollands, Henry Ward and Dr. Richard Siegesmund. again there as many suppliers and informations avaiable for delegates.

The 2010 Conference - Innovation in Art Education The 2010 conference was the biggest yet. There were a record 150 Art Educators present. Over 2 days there was a lot done in planning and there was a full day of lectures, exhibitors and discussions. Two Lectures and a quize were held on the first evening, ont the second day lectures were given on several topics. The day was filmed by a camera man and is being edited still. Several Keys Topics were discussed, and there was a prize giving at the end of it.

these included {
 * 1) Howard Hollands of Middlesex University
 * 2) Howard Hollands: Middlsex University h.hollands@mdx.ac.uk
 * 3) Henry Ward: Welling Specialist Art School
 * 4) Helen O'Donoghue: IMMA
 * 5) Miriam Van Geldren: BCFE
 * 6) Prof. Gary Granville: NCAD
 * 7) Anne Molloy: Amnesty International
 * 8) Derek West: NAPD
 * 9) Dr Edward Mc Partland: Irish Landmark Trust
 * 10) Donough Cahill: Irish Georgian Society
 * 11) Conor Harrison: PDST (formerly SLSS)
 * 12) Prof. Richard Siegesmund: Fullbright Scholar from the University of Georgia