Skip page header and navigation

Artsmark training and support: Q&A

Content

Please note that this webpage was last updated in July 2023. For more recent updates on Goldsmiths’ training and support offer, visit our training and support page. 

We are thrilled to announce that Goldsmiths, University of London, will be Artsmark Award’s new national delivery partner. From the start of the 2023-24 academic year, Goldsmiths will deliver Artsmark development training and provide schools and education settings with support throughout your Artsmark journey. 

Goldsmiths will build on the great work of our network of 10 regional support organisations, formally known as the Bridge organisations, continuing to offer an excellent training and support offer to schools at a national level. Bridge organisations have worked closely with Goldsmiths to ensure a smooth and efficient transition, ready for September 2023.

During the summer holidays, you should contact the Artsmark team if you have any queries about your Artsmark journey. 

Find out more about this exciting phase for the programme, here:

General questions about Artsmark: 

General questions about Goldsmiths, University of London (Goldsmiths): 

  • Who are Goldsmiths, University of London (Goldsmiths)?

    Goldsmiths is renowned for its research and teaching, celebrated both nationally and internationally as a vibrant hub for creativity, arts, and culture. Over its long history, Goldsmiths has trained artists, creatives, and educators, shaping the arts and cultural landscape with its distinctive approach.

    Its staff, students, and graduates are deeply engrained in arts and cultural life; and whether as household names in the arts, classroom teachers, or cultural and community leaders, their contributions will have a great impact to schools on their Artsmark journey.

    Their expertise and experience in creative pedagogy and cultural placemaking will drive Artsmark’s support and training forward at a national level, all whilst supporting Arts Council England’s ambition to ensure that all children and young people have access to arts and cultural education across the country.

  • When will Goldsmiths start supporting me?

    Goldsmiths will begin delivering Artsmark support and training at the start of the 2023-24 academic year in September 2023, following a transition period over the summer.

  • How will Goldsmiths be able to support me?

    Goldsmiths will provide Artsmark schools and settings with the same quality of development training and support throughout their Artsmark Award journey, including Artsmark Development training, guidance with your submissions, and support with growing your creative and cultural connections.

Questions for new schools and education settings: 

Questions for schools and education settings submitting your SOC/SOI: 

Questions about regional support organisations (formerly known as Bridges): 

  • What is happening to my regional support organisation (formerly known as Bridge organisations)?

    A network of 10 regional Bridge organisations across England have provided a fantastic ‘bridge’ between schools, the cultural sector and children and young people for the last decade. 

    The Arts Council has been reconfiguring how this support is provided to Artsmark schools and settings moving forward, as part of Let’s Create, the Arts Council’s 10-year strategy. Goldsmiths, University of London, is our new national provider and will deliver this work from September, building on the great work of the Bridge network.  

    Bridge organisations could apply to join Arts Council England’s 2023-26 portfolio of funded organisations with their own approach to delivering Let’s Create, allowing funded organisations to be more sensitive to particular needs of specific places. You can find out more about what is happening to your Bridge organisation by contacting them, or visiting their website.

  • My Bridge website has a directory of Artsmark Partners we can work with. Can I still access Artsmark Partners?

    You can find an Artsmark Partner near you on our website, here. Over the next few months, we’ll share new and exciting ways to help schools and education settings connect with cultural provision in your area – so keep an eye on our newsletters, social media accounts and website.

  • My Bridge organisation is great at directing me to creative organisations and practitioners to work with – will there still be opportunities for my school?

    The Artsmark Partnership Programme is a great way to find creative and cultural organisations to work with - you can find an Artsmark Partner near you on our website, here.  

    Arts Council England’s new National Portfolio came into effect from April 2023 and will increase opportunities for schools to connect with more creative and cultural provision in your local area as well as nationally, ensuring all young people are able to access and progress their interests where they live and go to school.  

    Goldsmiths will offer the same level of support, including signposting to creative cultural organisations and practitioners to support you on your Artsmark journey. Artsmark also has some exciting new tools to help you find creative partners that will be launched over the summer – keep an eye on your inbox and our social media channels for updates.  

Questions for Artsmark Partners: 

  • Will The Artsmark Partner role still exist with Goldsmiths?

    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. We’ll use the recommendations from the review and work with Goldsmiths to ensure Artsmark schools and settings can access the highest quality cultural learning through effective partnerships from September. Stay updated about the Artsmark Partnership Programme on our website, here. 

  • Will the benefits of being an Artsmark Partner remain the same with Goldsmiths?

    Yes – the benefits of being an Artsmark Partner will remain the same. As mentioned, the Artsmark Award or Framework isn’t changing, it’s just how we deliver our high-quality support to schools that is evolving. You can find out about the benefits of signing up to the Artsmark Partnership Programme here.  

Questions for schools on an Artsmark Pilot Project: 

  • Will these changes affect our Artsmark journey differently?

    No – you still have access to the same high-quality training and support from your regional support organisation in the summer term, then from Goldsmiths from September 2023. You’ll still receive additional support from your pilot project’s unique lead partner.