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What is the Artsmark Partnership programme?

The Artsmark Partnership Programme is an Arts Council England endorsed network of arts and cultural organisations and creative practitioners that understand the Artsmark criteria and can support schools and education settings on their Artsmark journey.

How can Partners support Artsmark settings?

How can Partners support Artsmark settings?

Each Artsmark Partner understands your Artsmark ambitions and has their own unique offer for settings which may include:

  • arts and cultural opportunities for students that enhance your setting’s provision and supports pupils’ creativity and wellbeing 
  • CPD provision to help your staff develop their skills
  • introductions to other cultural organisations and practitioners that could add value to your Artsmark journey

Some of these offers may be one-off, stand-alone sessions; others may be part of a longer-term project. 

The Artsmark Partner logo offers reassurance that the organisation understands the requirements and process of Artsmark Award and that they adhere to our Code of Practice for the programme.

Artsmark Partnership Programme Review

We’re currently conducting a review of the Artsmark Partnership Programme to make recommendations for how Arts Council England can best support school/cultural partnerships in the future. 

Recruitment and briefing sessions for new Artsmark partners are currently paused during this review period. Schools can still access the same great opportunities from our current network of Artsmark Partners. 

Partnerships between schools and the cultural sector are vital to Artsmark and our broader schools’ strategy. This review will allow us to better support cultural learning through effective partnerships for Artsmark schools and education settings. 

We’ll update current partners about the recommendations of this review in due course. 

Artsmark Partners in action

Making music at Strike Lane Primary School

Developing craft skills at St Thomas à Becket 

Creating theatre with Hillstone Primary School

Are you an arts organisation?

Here’s why you should sign up to the Artsmark Partnership Programme…

  • Engage and build new audiences with schools and families
  • Get support to map your current offer against Artsmark criteria
  • Use the programme as a framework to develop your offer for children and young people
  • Gain a better understanding of the needs and priorities of education settings
  • Develop deeper, longer-term relationships with education settings
  • Contribute to, and benefit from, signposting and sharing of best practice with like-minded organisations and practitioners

How do you become an Artsmark Partner?

Recruitment and briefing sessions for new Artsmark partners are currently paused as we review the programme and how it can best support school/cultural partnerships in the future. 

Keep an eye on our social media and website to stay updated! 

Who can become an Artsmark Partner?

Any professional cultural organisation or creative practitioner based in England can become an Artsmark Partner.

Resources for Artsmark Partners

Artsmark Framework for Partners

Animated storyteller facing a group of young pupils who have very excited facial expressions
Photo © The LPA, Xavier Fiddes / Elmhurst Primary School

This handy resource supports organisations and creative practitioners to develop their Artsmark Partner offer and embed it within their strategic priorities.

Music Education Hubs

Pupils playing bongo drums

This resource outlines the benefits for Music Education Hubs engaging with Artsmark, offering clear examples of how hub programmes can align to the Artsmark criteria.