Building your Arts Award offer: tips for Arts and Cultural Organisations

Strengthening your Arts Award offer can help you engage more young people, showcase creativity, and raise your centre’s profile. From events and resources to partnerships and digital options, here’s a practical guide to developing your Arts Award programme.

Offer Arts Award-friendly events and resources

Making your events and resources Arts Award-friendly is a great starting point. Personalised arts logs or portfolios help young people collect evidence while showcasing your organisation’s activities. You can include your branding, logos, and even co-create designs with participants. Download the Arts Award centre logo from the website if you’d like to include it (to access, use your adviser log in).

Personalised arts logs and portfolios also encourage visitors to explore exhibitions or performances more deeply. When advertising upcoming events at your centre, you could label activities as Arts Award-friendly and include hands-on opportunities like meet-the-artist sessions, backstage tours, or short creative challenges. Small celebrations, such as marking key milestones or arts weeks, can also engage participants and raise your profile.

Promote and celebrate achievement

Showcasing young people’s work highlights your centre’s impact. Exhibitions, performances, or showcases can raise awareness of your programme and celebrate participant success. Here is an example of a poster from one of our Trinity Champion Centres, Art Classes Group, who have art exhibitions open to the public in which they advertise their Arts Award work and showcase the young people’s artwork.

*Art Classes Group received TCC funding for this event (more details at Trinity Champion Centres)

You can also feature success stories on your website, send us an idea for our Arts Award blog, and consider applying for the Trinity Hall of Fame, which recognises young achievers. Celebrating achievement not only motivates participants but also strengthens your reputation as a centre delivering high-quality Arts Award experiences.

Partner with schools, youth centres, or libraries

Partnerships help extend your reach. Schools and youth centres are key collaborators – show how your offer complements their curriculum or activities. Read our resource on How Arts Award works in schools, which includes a helpful Arts Award Schools leaflet. We also have a free-to-access resource for building partnerships with schools and community groups.

Libraries are another great opportunity. Delivering Arts Award through programmes like the Summer Reading Challenge introduces more young people to Discover Arts Award.

Develop digital or accessible offers

Digital options can make Arts Award more inclusive and flexible. Online portfolios, virtual workshops, and multimedia resources allow participation regardless of location or accessibility needs.

Remote delivery can engage larger groups, connect schools and youth centres, and provide flexible learning. Check out other blogs on the Arts Award blog that highlight centres which offer remote delivery to inspire your offering.

Seek funding and partnerships

Funding can unlock new opportunities. The Arts Award Access Fund offers grants from £100–£1,500 to support projects for young people facing barriers. Keep an eye on application rounds, which typically open in September.

Partnerships with organisations like BBC Ten Pieces or Charanga can provide resources, creative ideas, and wider promotional opportunities.

Become an Arts Award Supporter or Champion Centre

Organisations can gain recognition by becoming an Arts Award Supporter or a Trinity Champion Centre.

• Supporters offer activities, spaces, or expertise to help young people complete their Arts Award and are listed on the Supporter Map for visibility.
• Champion Centres are recognised for excellence, innovation, and impact. They receive a certificate, logo, annual funding for events, and opportunities for national profiling. Applications reopen each March. Contact support@trinitycollege.com in early 2026 if you are interested in applying.

Both options strengthen your profile, connect you with the community, and celebrate the creativity of young people.

Develop thematic or seasonal offers

Linking Arts Award projects to festivals, heritage events, or national days, such as Black History Month, World Environment Day, or Refugee Week, can attract more participants. Museums or galleries can tie projects to current exhibitions for a richer, immersive experience.

By combining creative resources, strong promotion, strategic partnerships, and recognition opportunities, your centre can deliver engaging, inclusive, and well-profiled Arts Award experiences that inspire young artists and arts leaders. Interested in learning more? Watch back our webinar from last week on Building your Arts Award offer.