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About Artsmark

What is the Artsmark Award?

The Artsmark Award is the only creative quality standard for schools and education settings, accredited by Arts Council England. We support settings to develop and celebrate their commitment to arts and cultural education.

In 2015, the programme was refreshed to align with School Improvement Plans and support core EBACC and STEM priorities, giving the curriculum breadth and balance.

Why Artsmark?

  • Build young people’s confidence, character and resilience through arts and cultural education
  • Use Artsmark’s clear and flexible framework to embed creativity across your whole curriculum and use it to address school improvement priorities
  • Celebrate your long-term commitment to cultural education with pupils, parents and your local community

Read more about the benefits of Artsmark.

Who’s Artsmark for?

Artsmark is open to primary, secondary and special schools, pupil referral units, youth offending teams and sixth form colleges.

As Artsmark is an Arts Council England programme, only settings in England (including BFPO schools) are eligible to register.

Artsmark Awards

Artsmark is awarded at three levels; Silver, Gold and Platinum

 

 

 

 

How does Artsmark work?

Artsmark is flexible to the needs of individual settings and can fit around their planning cycles.

  1. Register online and complete the Artsmark Self-Assessment
  2. Two members of staff attend a Development Day
  3. Write and submit a Statement of Commitment
  4. Deliver, develop and evaluate your goals
  5. Write and submit your Statement of Impact
  6. Receive your Artsmark Award and start celebrating!
  7. Re-register for your next Artsmark journey

Most settings take up to two years to complete their Artsmark journey.

Go to How Artsmark works to find out more about the process.

How much does it cost?

The Artsmark fee is £500 (£250 for small settings with under 100 pupils) which includes:

  • An Artsmark Development Day for two members of staff – an excellent CPD opportunity
  • A clear framework for teachers to plan, develop and evaluate arts, culture and creativity across the curriculum
  • Ongoing support from Bridge organisations, including support sessions and guidance on completing your Artsmark paperwork
  • Access to practical teaching resources and our Artsmark Partners – a network of the country’s leading cultural organisations
  • Certificate of your achievement and a celebration toolkit
  • Joining a national community of education settings who champion arts and culture 

Did you know that Artsmark supports Arts Award which recognises the creative development of individual young people?

 

Cultural education gives children and young people the opportunity to develop their creativity, both individually and collectively, and that's why our goal is for every child and young person to have the opportunity to experience the richness of the arts.

Darren Henley
Chief Executive
Arts Council England

It's vital that children have the opportunity to learn and enjoy arts and culture from an early age. It develops their creativity, inspires future careers and enriches their childhood.

Artsmark Award does brilliant work in schools and education to ensure young people access a broad and balanced curriculum that includes high-quality arts and culture.

Michael Ellis MP
Minister for Arts, Heritage and Tourism
Department of Culture, Media and Sport