This year Arts Award turns 20. That’s two decades and 750,000 awards. It’s 20 years of young people discovering their creativity, advisers guiding them through new experiences, and centres across the UK opening their doors to opportunity. Catherine Sercombe, Trinity College London’s Head of Performance has taken time to pause, take stock and share some of the stories behind the numbers of 2024-2025.
Looking back, I feel many emotions. Obviously, there’s pride that Arts Award has grown and adapted through immense changes in the world around us. I feel gratitude to the teachers, youth workers, artists, volunteers and organisations who have made it possible for young people to explore and achieve through the arts. And most of all incredible joy for all those young people who have worked hard, aimed high and achieved great things. It really feels that together we have sustained something meaningful even through testing times, and that deserves celebrating.
Expanding diversity and reach
Everyone deserves to experience the arts, and work towards achieving something meaningful. One of the clear successes of recent years has been the growth in participation from young people with more diverse backgrounds.
If we compare participation today to pre-pandemic levels, numbers of children and young people from non-white ethnic groups taking part in Arts Award have grown by more than three per cent. Focussing on the arts and cultural sectors specifically, participation at Explore level has climbed eight per cent, and at Bronze more than five per cent. Together these are real signs that we’re reaching a wider range of young people.
Geography matters too. In 2024–25, five percent more young people from the 30 per cent most deprived areas of the country took part in Discover and Explore levels, compared to pre-pandemic figures. Economic and structural inequalities shouldn’t be a barrier to creativity and the skills Arts Award builds, and we’re happy the award is reaching those who may otherwise not have access to the arts.
Our work supports the vision of our centres: Organisations that champion inclusion are choosing Arts Award to accredit their arts learning provision. We're proud that Arts Award underpins many programmes designed to allow for inclusive arts learning and promote access to the arts, including Lowry's Socially Engaged Arts programme, arts provision at ALP Nuneaton an Alternative Learning Provision setting, part of a chain of independent special needs schools and Music Learning Collective (MLC) which is dedicated to providing accessible, inclusive, and dynamic music education across Nottingham.
Supporting centres and easing the load
We want centres, advisers and educators to be able to do what they do best – work with young people.
To do so we’ve invested heavily in operational improvements to reduce the day-to-day burden on centres. Over the past two years we have introduced risk-based moderation, a streamlined booking and submission process and embedded digital adviser training. This year, further upgrades are on the way, with an improved submission platform and a new exam booking portal through ‘My Trinity’.
Advisers can spend less time navigating systems and more energy inspiring learners. That balance is vital if Arts Award is to thrive across the next 20 years.
The return of paper certificates
Among the operational changes, one decision has sparked particular delight, and that’s the return of paper certificates. While e-certificates bring speed and efficiency, many centres told us how important it is for young people to hold a certificate in their hands, to display it proudly, and to share it with family and community at celebration events. From summer 2025, paper certificates are once again available at all levels.
This is more than nostalgia. A certificate is a tangible symbol of effort and achievement. In schools, cultural organisations and community centres, these moments of recognition are often what inspire a young person to continue their creative journey.
Resilience through challenge
Reaching 20 years has not been straightforward. The pandemic closed schools, youth clubs, theatres and galleries and forced us to rethink how Arts Award could be delivered. Shifting to online training and moderation was a huge adjustment, but it ensured continuity. Beyond the pandemic, arts organisations and schools have faced the brunt of the funding challenges and we have weathered reduced budgets in schools, funding changes in the arts sector, curriculum adjustments, and more.
Yet Arts Award has remained resilient. I believe that is because the framework is flexible and adaptable. It works in schools, museums, Music Education Hubs, youth groups, festivals and beyond. It adjusts to the context, and it grows with the young people taking part. That flexibility has carried us through uncertainty and will continue to do so through an unknown future.
Looking ahead
And what next? As ever, there’s both challenge and opportunity. Curriculum reforms now underway may open more space for the arts within education. At the same time, we know financial pressures will continue to shape the sector.
Our responsibility is to keep Arts Award accessible, relevant and ambitious. That means embracing emerging art forms, from digital media to hybrid practices. It means equipping young people not just with artistic confidence but with transferable skills - planning, reflection, collaboration - that will serve them in any future pathway. And it means continuing to support advisers and centres so they can deliver the best possible experiences with the least possible barriers.
A community effort to be proud of
We’ve built a community, and it’s a wonderful one to be part of. Arts Award is at its heart a community of teachers who champion creativity in schools, artists who mentor young people in studios, youth workers who bring projects to life in local centres, volunteers who give their time, and the young people themselves who make the journey meaningful.
Two whole decades ago Arts Award was a new idea born of a belief that every young person should have access to the arts. We still believe that, fiercely. The landscape has shifted, but the value of creativity - for confidence, for skills, for community - remains constant.
As we celebrate 20 years, we want to hear from you. Share your own memories, stories and celebrations using the hashtag #ArtsAward20. We will be spotlighting blogs, videos and reflections from across the network in the months ahead, on our own channels and over on Arts Award Voice. Watch this space!
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