Children and young people

Goldsmiths, University of London, will be Artsmark Award’s new national delivery partner from the start of the 2023-24 academic year.

Artsmark is the only creative quality standard for schools and education settings in England.

Accredited by Arts Council England, the award is available across three tiers - silver, gold and platinum - to schools in England.

Schools can apply for Artsmark certification by registering online, attending development training and submitting a statement of commitment and impact, with most schools taking up to two years to complete the process.

Artsmark’s website says schools with the accreditation can unlock a number of benefits, including access to professional support, advice and resources to strengthen arts provision, opportunities to train staff and support to help broaden the school’s creative curriculum.

As the new national delivery partner, Goldsmiths will develop “high-quality support and training for our Artsmark schools and education settings, marking a new chapter of collaboration, innovation, and creativity”.

Warden of Goldsmiths Professor Frances Corner says the university is delighted to be supporting the delivery of the programme.  

“This is timely and vital work in a context of economic uncertainty and evidenced inequalities in England’s cultural education landscape, and we are proud of the opportunity to make a difference, inspire ambition, and contribute to social mobility in and through the arts and culture.”

Primary school children from four schools in London have built a temporary performance structure at South London theatre Brixton House.

Organised by architecture educator Matt + Fiona, the project, called Let’s Build, was designed to teach participants creative and practical building skills that are disappearing from schools.

The number of students studying design and technology at GCSE level has seen the steepest decline of all creative subjects, having dropped by two-thirds in the last decade.

"Design and build projects of this kind are invaluable in helping to fill the gap left behind," said Matt + Fiona co-founder Fiona MacDonald.

"They give young people the agency to shape their own environments and grow in confidence and their own identities."

The performance structures are made of timber and will remain in the theatre for schools and community groups to use for free. It will also be used as a rehearsal space for the Brixton House Youth Theatre.

Brixton House, which commissioned the project, then plans to donate the structures to any interested schools or community groups.

A legacy donation in excess of £3m has been left to the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama (RWCMD) and Welsh National Opera (WNO).

The organisations have said that the money, left by the late David Seligman, will be used to deliver lasting support to the training of singers and musicians and will also create future opportunities for young artists to perform on a professional scale.

RWCMD Director of Music, Tim Rhys-Evans said: "I had the very great pleasure of knowing David and [his late wife] Philippa for many years and saw first-hand their belief in young people and the power of singing to enrich young lives. 

"Their passion for opera in particular was something incredibly dear to them, and the need for this artform to be made accessible and relevant to young people of every background was a major driving force behind their philanthropy. 

"David knew the impact that legacies of any size can have, and now his exceptional gift will ensure that future generations of artists will continue to be supported for many years to come."  

WNO Youth Opera Producer, Paula Scott said: "We are incredibly grateful for this generous bequest. David and Philippa Seligman were passionate supporters of WNO Youth Opera, and we are delighted to be honouring them both by continuing our work with young artists."