WHAT IS AN ARTS AWARD?

Arts Award is a national qualification that recognises how young people develop as artists, arts practitioners and arts leaders. Young people aged between 11-25 can achieve Arts Awards at levels 1, 2 and 3 on the national qualifications framework.

Arts Award centres are organisations which support young people to develop their arts activities, including arts centres, theatres, schools, colleges, youth projects, voluntary clubs or community groups. Every centre must employ or be associated with at least one trained Arts Award adviser.

Arts Award advisers should have at least two years full-time or three years part-time experience of work with young people and complete a one-day adviser training course. Training courses are run regularly in every English region.

AN ARTS AWARD IS VALUABLE

Achieving an Arts Award says a lot about a person. It shows your commitment to your art form/s, your interest in developing your skills and understanding, your communication, planning and evaluation skills. It demonstrates skills in leadership as well as your own arts practice.

These skills are what colleges, universities and employers are looking for and many recognise the Arts Award as an additional qualification. The Arts Award team are currently preparing an application to UCAS to attach points to the Gold Award.

The Arts Award is run by Arts Council England and Trinity Guildhall – two organisations with a high profile and considerable reputation in the arts sector. This means that arts organisations take the rts Award seriously, and many of England’s best-known arts organisations are getting involved with the award.

AN ARTS AWARD IS ACCESSIBLE

We want the Arts Award to be accessible to all young people who want to take part. We believe that every young person can develop their creativity and leadership skills. The Arts Award is about personal challenge and not competition against others. You'll develop your own plan according to your interests and personal circumstances. You'll enter for whichever level of award best suits you, and take as long as you wish to complete your Arts Award.

AN ARTS AWARD IS FLEXIBLE

One of the unique aspects of the Arts Award is its flexibility.

Whatever art form you’re interested in, wherever you are, whatever your individual circumstances or ability, the Arts Award can fit your needs. There are no entry requirements, no time-limit on completing the award and no hard rules on how you present your work.

The Arts Award focusses on the individual young person and your development. It’s flexible so can fit around your other commitments, like school and college, or a busy social life.

So far, young people have achieved Arts Awards in acting, architecture, circus arts, composing, dance, dj-ing, exhibition curating, fashion, film, graffiti art, hip hop, journalism, multi-media design, painting, poetry, radio, sculpture, technical theatre...and more!

You just need to show how you can develop your creativity in your chosen area.

So, if you're a young person aged between 11 and 25 and enjoy the arts...then the Arts Award is for you!

BRONZE

The Bronze Arts Award is a level one qualification, and has one unit – Enjoying the Arts. The award involves taking part in the arts, going to arts events, researching an arts hero or heroine and sharing your skills with others.

You record your achievements in a portfolio, including records of arts work you have seen and been part of, your personal reflections on the process and your own research material. You can choose how you present your portfolio – you might make a folder or sketchbook, or a video diary or website.

For more details of what’s involved in a Bronze Award, please see the Enjoying the Arts section.

The Bronze Award requires 30 guided learning hours, where you work with your Arts Award adviser, and 15 hours working independently.

SILVER

The Silver Arts Award has two units –Arts Practice and Arts Leadership. The award involves completing an arts challenge, reviewing arts events, researching arts careers and pathways, and leading arts activities.

You record your achievements in a portfolio, including records of work you have seen and produced, your personal reflections on the process and your own research material. This can be presented in a way that suits you, from a book or folder, to a video diary or website.

For more details of what’s involved in a Silver Award, please see the Arts Practice and Arts Leadership sections.