Arts Award inspires young people to grow their arts and leadership talents: it’s creative, valuable and accessible.

Arts Award can be achieved at five levels, four qualifications and an introductory award.

• Discover
• Explore
• Bronze
• Silver
• Gold

Arts Award is…

…a range of unique qualifications that supports anyone aged up to 25 to grow as artists and arts leaders, inspiring them to connect with and take part in the wider arts world through taking challenges in an art form – from fashion to digital art, pottery to poetry.

Through progressing through the five levels, young people get to:

• discover the enjoyment of creating and participating in arts activities
• experience arts events
• develop creative and communication skills that are essential for success in 21st century life
• explore the work of artists and craftspeople and gain insights into the professional arts world
• gain experience and knowledge to help progress into further education and employment

Find out more about the impact of Arts Award on young people. There are no entry requirements, no time limit for completing the award, and no set rules on how to present final work.

How does it work?

Arts Award’s flexible framework means it can fit around a wide range of arts, cultural and heritage activities and projects, including creative and technical roles. It can be delivered in many ways and in a wide range of settings. You can map it to your existing activity or use it to kick-start something new. Arts Award delivery happens in curriculum or extra-curricular programmes and enrichment options, museum or heritage projects, weekly clubs or groups, and partnership projects.

Want to know more?

Download the Arts Award Guide containing everything you need to know about doing Arts Award.

The BCDH can deliver / support Arts Award Programmes in your school.
Each Programme is specifically designed for your school to support and enhance the curriculum offer

Accreditation

The awarding body responsible for Arts Award is Trinity College London. In England, Arts Award is managed by Trinity in association with Arts Council England and 10 regional Bridge organisations drive participation. Since its launch in 2005, the award has grown quickly and is now flourishing in arts centres, colleges and schools, community projects, libraries, galleries, local authorities, theatres, youth clubs and youth justice settings.

Arts Award’s principles

• to offer learning and qualifications which support individual creative development in any setting
• to place young people at the heart of the Arts Award process
• to increase young people’s experience and understanding of arts practitioners and cultural organisations
• to embrace new art forms and technologies
• to reach the widest possible range of young people