€4.3m Erasmus Mundus Grant awarded for new international Master’s in Applied Drama and Arts Education

Posted on: 20 October 2025

Trinity’s School of Education, together with partner universities across Europe, has secured the first-ever Erasmus Mundus grant in applied drama and arts education in Europe.

Worth almost €4.3 million, the award will fund the new international Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s programme Theatre SPACEs (Theatre in Social, Participatory Art, Community and Educational Contexts). Theatre SPACEs will train future leaders in the use of theatre and performance as a tool for social change, inclusion, and community building.

The programme will be coordinated by Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, with Trinity College Dublin and the University of Arts Târgu-Mureș (Romania), alongside associated partners University of Hamburg and the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague.

Theatre SPACEs offers students an unprecedented opportunity to combine academic study, artistic practice, and community engagement on an international scale. From September 2026, students from around the world can study at partner universities and complete fieldwork with labour market partners, such as hospitals, schools, prisons, museums, and cultural centres.

Dr Susan Kennedy Killian, Prof Cecily O’Neill, Prof Carmel O’Sullivan and Dr Erika Piazzoli at a Theatre in Contexts summer school in Trinity in July.

Professor Carmel O’Sullivan, Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences is the Trinity Lead on the programme. Commenting on the new programme, Professor O’Sullivan said: “We are proud that Trinity College Dublin is at the forefront of this pioneering programme, which represents a major milestone for applied drama and arts education in Europe. Theatre SPACEs will give our students the opportunity to work across different cultures and countries and to see first-hand the transformative role drama can play in education and society.”

Theatre in Contexts describes a wide range of participatory and performative practices that seek to drive social, pedagogical, or community change. These practices typically involve non-professional participants and take place in non-traditional theatre spaces.

Industry partners in Ireland who are supporting the School of Education on the programme include the Abbey Theatre, Business to Arts, Smashing Times Theatre Company, the Irish Refugee Council, the Hospital School in Temple Street, AsIAm (autism advocacy organisation), several youth organisations such as Swan Youth Services and East Wall Youth in the north inner city, Rough Magic Theatre Company, Blue Teapot Theatre Company, Crooked House Theatre Company and Youth Theatre Ireland.

Applications are open now until the 1^st December 2025. There will be no tuition fee for the pilot class (2026/28) thanks to the support of the European Union. Funded scholarships (including living costs) will also be available.  Upon completing four semesters and 120 ECTS, the programme confers a joint degree from the partner universities.

For more details, please see www.theatre-spaces.eu

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