Why apply

Our Commitment to You

Arts Council England aims to ensure that every child and young person has the opportunity to experience the richness of the arts. Artsmark is a key delivery mechanism in achieving this ten year strategic commitment.

By applying for Artsmark, we will give you a clear and supportive audit of the role of the arts. We will:

- Provide rigorous criteria against which applicants can benchmark their provision

- Provide you with the chance to celebrate achievements in the arts

- Develop opportunities to work with arts education professionals throughout the assessment to develop their role with you

-  Reward all those committed to embedding high quality, broad and sustainable arts provision.

Artsmark raises the profile of the school and its arts provision in the local community

Through completing the online, two part application required to achieve an Artsmark award, a school can gain an overall picture of its arts education provision. The scheme encourages schools to consider the opportunities they offer young people in the arts by offering a benchmark of provision. Schools evaluate provision against the benchmark to identify any areas for development and to highlight the school’s strengths in the arts, and further schools are asked to give evidence towards the quality outcomes and impact of their arts offer.

Schools that have been awarded an Artsmark have cited the application process as highly beneficial in evaluating and developing their arts provision.

Gaining an Artsmark at any level shows that a school is committed to the wider development of young people. The scheme increases the status of the work of teachers within school and increases awareness of continuing professional development opportunities in the arts for all teachers.

By offering public recognition of commitment to the arts by the school and its teachers, Artsmark raises the profile of the school and its arts provision in the local community.

Together we can help ensure that every child and young person has the opportunity to experience the richness of the arts. Apply Today!