Arts Award Blog

Summer Reading Challenge and Arts Award

Written by Amy Lee | 10 Aug 2021

Each year, we’re excited to work with The Reading Agency on a Summer Reading Challenge. The challenge supports children who want to achieve Arts Award Discover during the summer, whilst reading some new stories!

How does it work?

To complete the Summer Reading Challenge, young people need to read six library books over the summer holidays, libraries will also be offering all sorts of extra fun activities, including Arts Award! Summer Reading Challenge activity can be used towards Arts Award Discover, however young people don’t need to have read all six books to achieve their award.

How does Arts Award Discover link to the Summer Reading Challenge?

To offer Arts Award Discover, libraries can download a free resource pack from The Reading Agency which includes: an A5 flyer of information for parents, activity sheets and a mapping document showing how activities fit with Arts Award Discover. Don't forget you can include drawings, posters and photos alongside the activity booklet as evidence for Discover! Many more resources for delivering Discover can be found on our Arts Award Adviser Hub.

If you have delivered Arts Award Discover before as part of Summer Reading Challenge, why not think about progressing onto Arts Award Explore like Staffordshire adviser Liz Gardener? Here’s what she had to say on delivering Explore:

Running Arts Award Explore alongside the Summer Reading Challenge helps to engage 8-10-year olds in completing the Summer Reading Challenge. By this age many of the children will have done it two or three years in a row.

If you would like further information about the Summer Reading Challenge, please visit their website: www.summerreadingchallenge.org.uk

Please note Arts Award Discover portfolios must be assessed by a trained Arts Award Adviser before ordering certificates. For more information please visit our website: www.artsaward.org.uk/discover