Arts Award

We are proud to offer young people an opportunity to explore their creative talents, in whatever creative way they want, with accredited qualifications with the Arts Awards.

Arts Award inspires and encourages young people to grow as artists and arts leaders. It’s creative, rewarding and accessible. You can do an Arts Award in any area of the arts, from fashion to digital art, pottery to poetry. Let your creative side flourish!

We deliver the Arts Award to young people within the city who are supported by a family coach or social worker, particularly focusing on young people who have mental health issues that impact their education, training or employment. The service is also offered to young people with care experience. 


Arts Award qualifications

These are the levels of qualifications we offer:

  • Bronze Arts Award is a Level 1 qualification and is recognised nationally. It should take you about 60 hours to complete and there are four parts to completing Bronze: Take Part, Be the Audience, Arts Inspiration, Arts Skillshare 

  • Silver Arts Award is a Level 2 qualification and should take you about 95 hours to complete

  • Gold Arts Award is a Level 3 qualification (which is like an A-Level or BTEC National) and should take about 150 hours to complete. Since 2017, Gold carries 16 UCAS points which can help you with your University application. 

There is no time limit on how long it takes you to achieve your award, but we recommend completing it within a year so you don't lose your drive!


What you’ll need to do

To achieve your Arts Award, you will:

  • take on challenges in an art form

  • participate in arts activities

  • experience arts events

  • get inspired by artists

  • share their arts skills with others.

You will create a portfolio to keep a record of your creative journey, and you will always be supported by an Arts Award adviser who will be your assessor, facilitator and mentor.


How to get involved

If this sounds like something you would like to get involved with and want to get into a creative career, please contact one of our friendly advisors: