This autumn marks 20 years since Arts Award was first introduced. To celebrate this milestone, we invited educators and practitioners to share their reflections on what Arts Award means to them and the young people they work with. Many took the opportunity to speak about the benefits they have experienced and the lasting impact on learners and communities.
Their responses were inspiring. They spoke about young people gaining confidence, discovering their creativity and developing leadership skills. They highlighted how Arts Award’s flexible framework supports individuality while building essential life skills. And they shared hopes for the future that arts education continues to thrive and that young people’s voices remain central to cultural life. We have highlighted some of the most insightful reflections shared by educators and practitioners below.
A framework that encourages creativity
Arts Award is more than a qualification. It is a structure that gives young people the freedom to create while providing a clear sense of achievement. This balance of flexibility and rigour ensures that learners can explore their originality and produce work they are proud of.
“Arts Award’s strength is its combination of flexibility and structure. The young person chooses their art form, creates their own plans, and records their work within a valuable qualification framework.”
Diana Walton, Director, Upstart Projects & Voice Magazine
Turning learning into lifelong skills
Beyond artistic expression, Arts Award equips young people with skills that last a lifetime. Educators see the transformation in communication, leadership and self-belief. Arts Award encourages learners with qualities that prepare them for future challenges in any field.
“Arts Award supports the long-term growth of pupils with a progressive structure. They develop leadership and focus on peer learning and vital skills for life.”
Charlotte Jones, Curriculum Leader of the Creative Arts at Arts Award centre, Newminster Middle School
Rewarding for those who deliver
Arts Award is transformative for learners, but it also has a great impact on those who deliver it. Practitioners spoke about the sense of pride and fulfilment they feel when guiding young people through their creative journeys. For many, the most rewarding moments come when learners achieve something they never thought possible.
“Being part of a young person’s creative journey and witnessing their extreme happiness when they achieve something they thought they’d never be capable of is huge.”
Natasha East, Arts Award adviser and Moderator, Sherwood Young Artists
Leadership through creativity
Contributors emphasised that Arts Award is not only about individual growth in arts knowledge and creativity, but also about creating confident, creative leaders who can influence the arts sector and beyond.
“I really want young people and adults who work in the cultural sector to know that young people are leaders and key voices in the cultural sector.”
Kate Jeffries, Lead Artistic Practitioner at Trinity Champion Centre, Mortal Fools
Opening doors to wider opportunities
Many of our contributors expressed a common hope that creativity and individuality remain central to education. They want to see a future where young people are given space to grow, where arts education is valued and where programmes like Arts Award continue to thrive.
“I really do hope that the wider education sector will take note of how Arts Award has been so successful treating young people as individuals and leaving space for them to grow.”
Ruth Jones, Projects and Relationships Manager at Charanga, an Arts Award partner.
Celebrating two decades of Arts Award
If you've enjoyed reading these comments, take a look at our compilation of videos shared by centres and others from across our engaged Arts Award community, celebrating the qualification's 20 year heritage. You can also check out #ArtsAward on Facebook and X to review our blog and social posts connected to 20 years of Arts Award.
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