Artsmark

Arts Council North East will be holding seminars across the North East for assistance in working to and applying for an Artsmark Award. The seminar for Gateshead schools is on 11 September between 12.30 - 2.30pm.

The venue is Lord Lawson of Beamish Secondary School in Birtley, and our guest speaker will be Maggie Mitford, Head teacher at Brandling Primary School, who will talk about being an Artsmark Gold Award school.

Please endeavour to attend this event if you are interested in pursuing the Artsmark Awards at your school or learning setting as it is invaluable in terms of assisting your application for what could prove to be an enriching addition to your school.

Let me know if you are interested in attending and I will book you a place on the seminar on 0191 433 6727 or fionakelly@gateshead.gov.uk. Please let me know by Friday 7th September if you would like to come.

Artsmark is a national award scheme, managed by Arts Council England that recognises schools with a high level of provision in the arts. The scheme helps develop an understanding of the arts in the broadest sense.

Artsmark provides a benchmark for arts opportunities in schools so that young people have access to a wide range of experiences in art, dance, drama and music and this encourages schools to adopt a broad and balanced curriculum.

Why apply?
Through completing the detailed audit required to apply for Artsmark, a school can gain an overall picture of its arts education provision. The scheme encourages schools to consider the opportunities they offer young people in the arts by offering a benchmark of provision. Schools evaluate provision against the benchmark to identify any areas for development and to highlight the school’s strengths in the arts. Schools that have been awarded an Artsmark have cited the application process as beneficial in evaluating and developing their arts provision.

Gaining an Artsmark at any level shows that a school is committed to the wider development of young people. The scheme increases the status of the work of teachers within school and increases awareness of continuing professional development opportunities in the arts for all teachers.

By offering public recognition of commitment to the arts by the school and its teachers, Artsmark raises the profile of the school and its arts provision in the local community.

Congratulations to Gateshead Artsmark Winners!
Here are the results of the Arts Council North East's Artsmark awards for Gateshead Schools for 2004.Congratulations to all those who worked towards this excellent set of results.

Colegate Primary School Artsmark Silver
Dunston Riverside Primary School Artsmark
Fell Dyke Primary School Artsmark Silver
Front Street Primary School Artsmark Silver
Harlow Green Infants School Artsmark Silver
Harlow Green Junior School Artsmark Gold
Oakfield Infants School Artsmark
St Albans Primary School Artsmark Silver
The Drive Primary School Artsmark
Hill Top School Artsmark Silver
The Cedars School Artsmark Gold
Lord Lawson School Artsmark Silver
Whickham School Artsmark Gold