Art Classes Group in Slough believes young people should have opportunities to experience art beyond the studio and discover opportunities within the creative industries. As an Arts Award Trinity Champion Centre, their partnership with the National Saturday Club connects young people with professional artists, national arts organisations and cultural experiences that enrich their Arts Award journey. In this blog, Director of Art Classes Group, Marinela Caldarus, shares how connecting young people with national arts organisations and cultural experiences helps them progress from Bronze to Silver Arts Award, offering top tips for Arts Award advisers.
Our Arts Award journey with the National Saturday Club
Each year, we support around 15 young people aged 13–16 through our National Saturday Club Art & Design programme, where they explore different visual arts techniques, develop their own ideas and work towards their Arts Award qualifications.
As our programme developed, we wanted to offer more opportunities outside our studio, allowing students to visit cultural venues, meet professional artists and discover new creative disciplines. While researching opportunities, we came across an Arts Council England blog featuring the National Saturday Club and decided to contact them.
The process of establishing our partnership was straightforward, and we quickly developed a positive working relationship with their team, who have continued to support us in organising masterclasses, cultural visits and opportunities for our students to explore the wider arts sector.
Learning from national arts organisations
Through the National Saturday Club, our students have participated in masterclasses and creative experiences with organisations such as Arup, a global design and engineering company, the Royal Opera House and Pinewood Studios, introducing them to different creative disciplines, including architecture, performance, film and visual storytelling.
These experiences help students understand how artistic skills can be used in professional environments and encourage them to explore creative careers they may not have considered before.
We use these opportunities to support Bronze Arts Award Part C, Arts inspiration, by encouraging students to research artists and creative professionals whose work inspires them.
At Silver level, these experiences can support Unit 1 Part B, Identify and plan an arts challenge, and Part D, Arts research, as students explore new techniques, identify skills they would like to develop and research artists and organisations connected to their interests.
We encourage students to document their experiences through photographs, sketches and personal reflections, building evidence for their Arts Award portfolios.
Exploring art as an audience member
Through organised visits to London galleries, including the National Portrait Gallery, our students explore different approaches to portraiture, composition and artistic expression.
For Bronze Arts Award Part B, Explore the arts as an audience member, we encourage students to identify artworks that interest them and reflect on their experiences.
At Silver level, these visits support Unit 1 Part C, Review arts events, as students consider how exhibitions are presented, share their opinions and explore how the experience might influence their own creative projects.
Developing our creative curriculum
Each year, we develop a visual arts programme based on feedback from our National Saturday Club members, encouraging them to explore new materials and techniques.
In previous years, we have explored tufting and textile art, while our more recent programme combined abstract and graffiti-inspired painting with LED lighting to create immersive artworks. This academic year, we have introduced animation, allowing students to experiment with movement and visual storytelling.
By involving young people in shaping our curriculum, we help them feel included and valued while supporting Bronze Part A, Explore the arts as a participant, and the development of personal arts challenges at Silver level.
Celebrating achievement at Somerset House
One of the highlights of our programme is the annual summer exhibition at Somerset House in London, where our students have the opportunity to display their artwork alongside projects created by National Saturday Club members from across the country.
Each July, students can visit the exhibition, discover the creative approaches used by other clubs and celebrate their achievements during the graduation festivities.
For our Silver Arts Award participants, this experience also supports Unit 1 Part C, Review arts events, as they explore the exhibition, discuss the artworks and reflect on how the experience inspires their own creative development.
Encouraging leadership and progression
Alongside our National Saturday Club programme, we organise two visual art exhibitions each year, in July and December, where participants from across our studio display their artwork and celebrate their achievements with families and the wider community.
These exhibitions provide opportunities for our National Saturday Club members to develop leadership skills by helping to select and display artwork, prepare the venue, arrange refreshments, create promotional materials and collect visitor feedback.
Through Silver Arts Award Unit 2, Arts leadership, we support students in planning, delivering and evaluating their own creative activities, whether organising part of an exhibition or sharing techniques such as animation or LED painting with younger participants.
These experiences help our students develop confidence, teamwork and communication skills while recognising that they can inspire others through their creativity.
Our top tips for Arts Award advisers
- Build partnerships with national arts organisations to introduce young people to new creative experiences.
- Connect cultural visits directly to Arts Award through preparation, discussion and reflection.
- Listen to students' interests and involve them in shaping creative activities.
- Encourage leadership by giving young people responsibility for exhibitions and practical workshops.
- Celebrate achievements publicly to help students recognise their progress and develop confidence.
Through our partnership with the National Saturday Club, we have extended our Arts Award delivery beyond our studio, giving young people opportunities to discover new artistic interests, connect with professional creative practice and share their achievements with wider audiences.
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