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:
-
Why is the support and training changing?
Over the last decade, a network of 10 regional organisations (formally known as Bridge organisations) have provided a fantastic ‘bridge’ between schools, the cultural sector and children and young people. During this time, these organisations have delivered Artsmark training and support at a regional level.
The Arts Council has reconfigured how this support is provided to Artsmark schools moving forward, as part of its 10-year strategy, Let’s Create. This includes recruiting a new national provider to deliver this work from September 2023, building on the great work of the Bridge organisations, continuing to offer high-quality training and support to schools at a national level.
-
When will support from my regional support organisation stop?
Support from regional support organisations stopped on 31 July 2023. If you require support during the summer holidays, please email the Artsmark team at artsmark@artscouncil.org.uk.
-
How will schools be kept up to date with what’s going on?
Artsmark has sent regular communications to schools and settings about this new phase of the Artsmark programme through email and social media. If you’re not yet on your Artsmark journey, but would like to stay updated, sign up to our termly e-newsletter here.
-
A lot of the Artsmark guidance and resources mentions Bridge support, but this will be out of date. Is there anything to replace it?
All Artsmark resources will be updated over the summer holidays with the latest information about Artsmark development training and how to receive support throughout your Artsmark journey from Goldsmiths. Up until then, all Artsmark resources remain relevant and available. The updated resources will be available from our website from September 2023.
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:
-
We are thinking of doing Artsmark but haven’t registered yet. Should we wait until after September 2023 to start?
You don’t need to wait until after September 2023 to start your Artsmark journey.
The Artsmark Framework and award aren’t changing – it’s the way our high-quality support and training is delivered that is evolving. Visit our support and resources area of the website for more guidance.
Goldsmiths will be available when you come back after the summer break. If you’ve any questions before then, please email the Artsmark team.
-
We’re new to Artsmark and haven’t completed our Artsmark Development Training. When should we attend?
There will be no Artsmark Development Training taking place during the summer holidays. Goldsmiths will be in touch about dates in the new 2023-24 academic year.
Questions for schools and education settings submitting your SOC/SOI:
-
I'm halfway through writing my Statement of Commitment/Impact, will I need to start from scratch?
No – you should continue developing your SoC/SoI in the same way you normally would. The Artsmark Framework and award aren’t changing, it’s just the way we deliver our high-quality support and training that is evolving. Over the summer holidays, if you have any questions about this please email the Artsmark team, otherwise Goldsmiths will be on hand to support you from September 2023.
-
What happens if we started connecting with our regional support organisation (formerly Bridge organisation), but haven't completed our Development training or SOC before the new academic year?
If you’d started speaking with, or attended development training with your regional support organisation in the summer term, your information will be passed onto Goldsmiths, ensuring a smooth and efficient transition, ready for September 2023.
If you need support over the summer holidays, please email the Artsmark team.
Goldsmiths will provide your Artsmark support from September 2023.
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.