Arts Award

A diversion from my usual line of work is the forthcoming Arts Award workshops I am co-running. It was set-up by Trinity College London and the Arts Council UK. My contribution is really going to be an illustration workshop (with fifteen children) yikes! Luckily my wonderful friend, Sharon Lane will be helping me.

Mind you I am quite used to running story time sessions with up twenty-eight toddlers, so you’d think it would be a doddle, but I’m not underestimating this one at all. For a start because the Arts Award is officially run by Trinity College and the Arts Council, everything has to be done properly! Evidence has to be provided at every stage (didn’t reckon on any police work in my life), the children’s work has to be marked (never saw myself as a teacher either)!

To quote from there own website:

“Arts Award is a range of unique qualifications that support anyone up to 25 to grow as artists and arts leaders, inspiring them to connect with and take part in the wider arts world through taking challenges in an art form – from fashion to film making, pottery to poetry. 

Through Arts Award young people gain a nationally recognised qualification enabling them to progress into further education and employment. Arts Award has five levels, four of which (Explore, Bronze, Silver, Gold) are on the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF). Arts Award Discover is an introductory award.

At all levels, children and young people work with an Arts Award adviser. This is a trained adult who supports young people in gaining arts experiences, provides guidance and assesses arts logs and portfolios.  Teachers, teaching assistants, museum learning staff, art practitioners, youth workers and volunteers can all train as advisers.

There are no entry requirements, no time limit for completing the award, and no set rules on how to present final work. Young people just need to be aged 25 or under, and ready to explore new creative experiences.”

So, as you can see quite a challenge! My plan is to get the children to create their own picture-book. Sounds ambitious I know, but I have worked out a way of achieving this that will be inclusive for every child. One can’t assume that every child finds it easy (or indeed interesting) to write or draw, but I don’t see any reason why every child can’t create their own picture book!

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