This award has now been made available to young people across the country! The award can be taken at Bronze, Silver and Gold levels, which are accredited at NVQ levels 1, 2 and 3. Uniquely, the Arts Award celebrates the creative progress made by young people and not just their artistic skill.

The Arts Award does not judge artistic talent, but assesses young people's journeys with assessment criteria such as creativity, communication, artform knowledge and understanding. Typically young people work with professional artists, research career pathways into the arts, attend and review arts events and work with peers to develop arts projects. Young people can track their progress through this qualification in any format they wish - voice recordings, film, photos etc. They can also take as long as they wish to complete the Award.

The Arts Award is accessible and is appropriate for all young people interested in creative activities. It can be used to draw disengaged young people back into learning, or to develop engaged young people further. It can also develop their confidence, team work, higher education or employment prospects. It can also lead to further study and even employment, and it will encourage young people to enjoy the arts throughout their lives.

Junior Arts Award with Stuff and Nonsense Theatre Company

The award is for young people aged between 7 and 11 and will be held in Beechcroft St Paul's Primary School. The pilot is being run in partnership with wave arts education agency for Bournemouth and Poole and will also be held in two schools there. The award is to be offered at two levels - Discover and Explore - and will give children the opportunity to participate in and create art activities with artists and achieve accreditation for this. The expectation is that the award will be offered nationally from January 2012 and can be embedded into creative arts weeks, induction weeks as well as special events and projects that schools may be working on.

DepARTure Arts along with wave arts education agency, are on hand to train and support colleagues wanting to take young people through this award. Further details can be found on the Arts Award website (opens in a new window) or by calling the team on 020 7820 4753. Alternatively, do not hesitate to contact your local arts education agency. 

Wave (Bournemouth and Poole) 01202 451505

The Dorset Youth Arts website

Why not take a look at the new and improved Dorset Youth Arts website (opens in a new window)

• Manager- DepARTure Arts
  Name: Hannah Baker
  Email: h.l.baker@dorsetcc.gov.uk
  Tel: 01305 224525
  Fax: 01305 224348
  Full details for Hannah Baker