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Home Page > Leisure and culture > Arts Development > Education
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EDUCATION

 

Artsmark

This is a nationally recognised award given to schools who demonstrate a commitment to the arts. The Artsmark is an excellent performance indicator for schools wishing to communicate to parents, pupils and the wider community that Arts and creativity are a central and important part of the school curriculum and its extended provision. We now have forty four schools in Leicestershire with and Artsmark and a further thirty are applying this year.

 

Artsmark is supported by the DCSF and is awarded by Arts Council England to schools following an application process. Some advantages in applying for this award, graded at gold, silver and bronze are as follows;

  • A tool to audit the range and breadth of arts provision 
  • An opportunity to celebrate strengths and identify areas for improvement
  • To develop and create a school’s arts policy
  • To plan, set and achieve targets in the arts curriculum and in extended provision
  • Identify CPD opportunities for staff responsible for delivering the arts in school.

Arts Award

The Young Peoples Arts Award

The Arts Award recognises achievement in the Arts through accreditation. This initiative fits perfectly into the Extended Schools agenda as it allows young people to gain further access to the arts in informal learning time. Young people from the age of 11-25 can take the award and must be supported by an advisor - this could be any adult who works with young people such as teachers, creative practitioners and arts organisations, youth workers and so on with a background in the Arts.  Further information about the Arts Award can be found at http://www.artsaward.org.uk

 

Get creative and enjoy the arts!

 

The facts:

  • The Arts Award is for anyone between the ages of 11-25 years old who is interested in taking part in one or more art forms and sharing what you learn with others.
  • The Arts Award has no time limit, you will need to agree a time with your adviser that is realistic for you and your centre.
  • You can achieve a Bronze, Silver or Gold Arts Award which gives you an Award in the Arts level 1,Level 2 or Level 3. The Arts Award is on the National Qualifications Framework and is accredited by NDAQ  (National Database of Accredited Qualifications)
  • Many schools, arts organisations, colleges, and youth centres are becoming registered Arts Award centres. You can find centres by postcode on the Arts Award Website.

Achieving an Arts Award says a lot about a person. It tells you about their commitment to their art form/s, about their interest in developing their skills and understanding, about their communication skills, planning and evaluation skills. In many cases it tells you about their skills in leadership as well as their own arts practice.

 

Many of these skills are what colleges, universities and employers are looking for - the more the Arts Award gets known the more recognition your Arts Award will get. Remember it will always look good on your CV, or on an application form.

 

For more information on the School Arts Forum, Artsmark, Arts Award or any projects you have in mind at your school please get in touch with the Cultural Arts Officer on 01664 502377 or email arts@melton.gov.uk

 

Cultural and Creative Ambassadors Scheme

What is the Cultural and Creative Ambassador’s Scheme?

Leicester Arts and Museums, in partnership with Renaissance East Midlands and Creative Partnerships Leicester are funding this scheme to improve links between the cultural sector and schools.

 

This scheme will

·         Ask schools to nominate one teacher to become their cultural and creative Ambassador.

·         Support the nominated Ambassador by sending them information from cultural partners to share with their schools’   community.

·         Enable cultural partners to help deliver the national curriculum through creative activity.

·         Create a two-way dialogue between schools and creative practitioners.

 

The inspiration for this project comes from the highly successful ‘Cultural and Creativity Ambassadors’ initiative in Gateshead and has been running in Leicester City from the start of the Autumn term 2007.

 

We aim to create long lasting and cohesive links between schools and the cultural and creative industries across the East Midlands, piloting the scheme in Leicester and Leicestershire. In the long term we will create a network of teachers, who will become Ambassadors for the work of cultural and creative practitioners.

 

This network of teachers and creative practitioners will ensure that the innovative and outstanding work on offer to schools not only gets into schools but also gets to the right person within schools at the right time.

 

Why do we need the Ambassadors?

The Ambassadors will become the foundation of our network of knowledgeable and motivated teachers. They will disseminate information from cultural partners, and act as the ‘Cultural and Creative Voice’ for their school community.

 

This will involve the Ambassador engaging with other members of the school community and helping them to access creative opportunities as well as emphasising the importance of culture and creativity in planning learning activities. They will provide feedback to the cultural and creative partners to ensure the maximum benefit from learning activities, and that any future developments meet their needs.

 

Who can be an Ambassador?

Any enthusiastic and motivated teacher nominated to represent the school from any discipline may be an Ambassador. They do not need to be specialists in fine or performing arts, but rather need to be interested in developing the cultural and creative life of the school and improving the delivery of these services within the school.

 

What do the Cultural Ambassadors do?

 

·         They receive regular information and help distribute it within the school. This information will including email bulletins of ‘special offers’, free or half price tickets, trips, lectures, events and a ‘Cultural Pack’ of current paper information delivered on a termly basis to aid planning.

·         They will access the web presence to share news, good practice and comment.

·         They aid their school in accessing cultural opportunities both offsite at locations within the community as well as onsite visits from cultural practitioners and help with problem solving.

·         They receive invitations to attend free twilight training sessions, as well as to experience some of the wider CPD opportunities on offer.

·         They promote creative and cultural practice within their school.

 

How does it work?

 

Schools will be invited to nominate a teacher to become their Cultural and Creative Ambassador and to take part in the Cultural and Creative Ambassadors network.

 

The Ambassadors will receive a ‘culture pack’ once a term containing upcoming and ongoing information about cultural and creative activities and services directly relevant to their schools.

 

They will also receive fortnightly e-bulletins telling them of more current activities as well as developments such as cheap ticketing and ongoing activities within the scheme.

 

This scheme will work with creative partners to develop CPD opportunities for schools. This may include InSET training, showcases, an AGM etc.

 

In addition, Ambassadors will have access to a web-presence where they can share their experience the other Ambassadors, as well as with the Cultural and Creative Ambassadors Co-ordinator. This will help with ideas sharing, and aid in getting the most out of the project as well as expanding the experience. 

 

For more information contact Catherine Hallsworth, the Cultural and Creative Ambassadors Co-ordinator on 0116 252 7392 or email Catherine.Hallsworth@leicester.gov.uk

Also visit www.leicester.gov.uk/cca for more information.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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