The very evolution of art is not driven by creativity alone. It is also shaped by groundbreaking inventions that have transformed the way artists express, create and curate their work. This research was motivated by personal professional observations and experiences as a primary school teacher regarding the varying quality of children’s art-making experiences from an inventive perspective. Consequently, the primary purpose of this research is to examine perspectives regarding the potential role visual arts education plays in terms of developing children’s inventiveness at a time of significant change in the Irish primary school curriculum. Following a review of relevant literature concerning what is known about visual arts, inventive development and how perspectives shape teaching practice, two key research methods were employed. This includes a deductive thematic analysis of visual arts curriculum documents from 1999, 2023, and 2024, and semi-structured interviews with primary school teachers. Findings reveal a striking difference between the 1999, 2023 and 2024 curriculum documents regarding the role of inventiveness in visual arts education. While the 2024 curriculum promotes creativity, it lacks explicit reference to "invention," unlike the 1999 curriculum, which often linked visual arts to inventive development. This omission raises concerns about how effectively the new curriculum supports inventiveness. The teacher interviews reveal that teachers value the link between visual arts and inventiveness. They believe creating a supportive, playful environment that encourages creative freedom is key to fostering inventive development. However, challenges such as time constraints, lack of student confidence, and inconsistent teaching practices, along with insufficient resources and technology, hinder this process. The study concludes by recommending a re-evaluation of how inventiveness is recognised in visual arts education. It stresses the need for clearer guidance in the curriculum and increased support for teachers to cultivate artistic inventiveness, ensuring that visual arts can nurture inventive play and development effectively.