Why Festivals Are the Perfect Creative Playground

Chris Baldwin, Co-founder and Director of Sonic Boom Music CIC in Burton-upon-Trent, East Staffordshire explains how they deliver Bronze Arts Award as part of the festival and shares his top tips for other advisers considering integrating Arts Award into their festival.

I’m passionate about making the arts accessible, engaging, and hands-on for young people. As part of Sonic Boom Music CIC, we piloted the TURBO training programme for 16-25 year olds; a festival-based initiative designed to introduce young people to live event production while working towards their Bronze Arts Award. We believe that festivals and other music events are the most inspiring places to learn—spaces where creativity thrives and young people can see, feel, and be part of the arts in a way that’s truly transformative.

Festivals are vibrant, immersive spaces where creativity comes alive. From music and performance to visual arts and behind-the-scenes production, festivals offer young people an authentic, hands-on way to engage with the arts. That’s why Sonic Boom Music CIC find delivering Bronze Arts Award at a festival setting such a powerful experience.

A festival isn’t just an event; it’s a living, breathing creative ecosystem. Young participants aren’t learning in isolation—they’re surrounded by professional artists, live performances, and the buzz of real-time production. This makes the Arts Award journey more dynamic, engaging, and inspiring.

How we deliver Arts Award at Sonic Boom Music Festival

Our festival-based training programme TURBO aligns with Bronze Arts Award. Here’s how we bring each stage of the qualification to life:

• Explore the arts as a participant (Part A) – Young people engage in festival production through hands-on activities in lighting, sound effects, and photography. They learn real industry skills, using professional equipment which contributes to the festival’s creative atmosphere. On the day, young people shadow and sometimes even get hands-on experience with the professionals - seeing and learning how the skills they’ve tried contribute to the event.
• Explore the arts as an audience member (Part B) – Participants step into the audience role, attending the free festival main stage performances and reflecting on how lighting, sound, and staging create a powerful experience.
• Arts inspiration (Part C) – Festival acts serve as direct sources of inspiration. We facilitate backstage meet-and-greets and artist Q&As so participants can learn from and be inspired by industry professionals. Participants conduct a research project on one of the headliners.
• Arts skills share (Part D) – TURBO participants give back by teaching their newfound skills to others, leading mini-workshops during preparation sessions. This real-world approach makes the learning process feel natural and meaningful. Young people leave not just with a qualification, but with tangible experiences and a sense of ownership over their creative work.

There's a lot to see and do at a festival which can count towards Bronze Arts Award. Evidence gathered on the day can form part of the reflective work as learners create their portfolios of evidence.

Top tips for delivering Arts Award at a festival

Whether you’re running a small community festival or a large-scale event, here are my top tips for integrating Arts Award into your festival setting:

1. Get hands-on with festival production

If possible around technical riders, invite and encourage young people to take active roles—whether it’s working with the lighting team, capturing event photography, or experimenting with sound effects. Let them create and contribute rather than just observe.

2. Build in time for reflection

With all the excitement, it’s easy to forget the critical thinking element of Arts Award. Give participants dedicated moments to document their experiences, whether through a festival journal, a vlog, or quick sketch notes.

3. Connect young people with industry professionals

Festivals attract creative experts, from performers to technical crews. Arrange backstage tours, Q&A sessions, or artist talks to help young people see potential career pathways in the arts.

4. Encourage peer-to-peer learning

Arts Award isn’t just about personal growth—it’s about sharing. Set up informal learning spaces where participants can demonstrate their skills to festival-goers, like pop-up photography workshops or interactive lighting demos.

5. Keep it flexible and fun

Festivals are unpredictable, and that’s part of the magic! Be adaptable, let young people explore their interests, and embrace the spontaneity that comes with a festival setting.

Join the festival arts movement!

If you’re considering running Arts Award at your festival, go for it! Give young people the opportunity to step into the creative world, and you’ll see their confidence, skills, and passion flourish.

Read our nine top tips for delivering Arts Award at a festival here.

Photo by Sonic Boom Music CIC