Arts Award is a national qualification for young people aged between 11-25 and aspires to support any young person to enjoy the arts and develop creative leadership skills. The Arts Award is offered at three levels on the Qualifications and Credit Framework, and is achieved through three levels Bronze, Silver and Gold.

Trinity College London in association with Arts Council England is aiming to launch Arts Award for 7 to 11 year olds in early 2012. Drawing on a range of research and practice, two additional levels are being designed for this younger age group, which will encourage both children and professionals to explore connections between the arts and their own world, learn new arts skills, be inspired by artists and arts organisations and develop their own arts experience.

The new levels are being piloted under the names Arts Award Discover and Arts Award Explore. Beam were selected to take part in the Arts Award 7-11 pilot out of over 250 organisations and individuals who applied to take part.

Beam piloted Arts Award Explore over 1 intensive week in September. We engaged 30 Year 6 pupils in a bespoke learning programme about art and architecture. The programme mimicked the architectural design process as students were tasked with designing a temporary structure for their school for 2 pupils to have a conversation in. The group was introduced to a range of artists, architects and designers to gain inspiration for their ideas. Pupils also had the opportunity to interview 2 architects from DLA Architecture. Throughout the week they produced poems, mood boards and learnt how to use Sketchup software, through which they produced their final designs. Pupils then created an exhibition to showcase their design journey.