Resources · Arts Award
Grow arts and leadership talents
Arts Award is a unique national qualification that supports anyone up to 25 years old to grow as an artist and arts leader, inspiring them to connect with, and take part in, the wider world. At each level, young people work with a trained Arts Award Advisor: teachers, teaching assistants, museum learning staff, art practitioners, youth workers and volunteers can all train as advisors.
Offering Arts Award can also help schools demonstrate elements of the OFSTED and Teaching Standards framework and provides great links across the curriculum.
Discover & Explore: primary
Arts Award Discover is the introductory award: children discover the arts around them, find out about artists and their work, and share their experiences (about 20 hours). Arts Award Explore is an Entry Level 3 qualification for ages 7 plus, collecting arts experiences in an Explore arts log (about 25 hours).
Bronze: Level 1
For ages 11 to 25. Young people take part in an arts activity they enjoy, go to an arts event, research their arts inspiration and share their skills with others.
Silver: Level 2
Two units: arts practice and arts leadership. Doing Silver involves achieving an arts challenge, reviewing arts events, researching artists and arts organisations, and delivering an arts leadership project with other people.
Gold: Level 3
The highest level, developing creativity, communication, planning, teamwork and leadership skills for ages 16 to 25. Recognised on the UCAS Tariff (35 points).
Start an Arts Award journey
Full details on all aspects of Arts Award are on the national website: or talk to us about advisors in the network.