The Arts Award
is a national qualification for young people aged between 11-25 that recognises how you develop as artists, arts practitioners and arts leaders. The Arts Award is a nationally recognised qualification at three levels - Bronze, Silver and Gold.

Whatever art form you’re interested in, wherever you are, whatever your individual circumstances or ability, the Arts Award can fit your needs. There are no entry requirements, no time-limit on completing the award and no hard rules on how you present your work.

The Arts Award focusses on you as an individual and on your development in your chosen field. It’s flexible so can fit around your other commitments, like school and college, or a busy social life.

So far, young people have achieved Arts Awards in acting, architecture, circus arts, composing, dance, dj-ing, exhibition curating, fashion, film, graffiti art, hip hop, journalism, music, multi-media design, painting, poetry, radio, sculpture, technical theatre...and more.

You can do your Arts Award at an Arts Award centre, which can be any setting where arts activities take place such as a youth club, arts centre, school, college, theatre or a community group. Every centre must employ or be associated with at least one trained Arts Award adviser.

So, if you're a young person aged between 11 and 25 and if you enjoy the arts...then the Arts Award is for you! You can find our more at www.artsaward.org.uk

Cavatina Chamber Music Trust offers FREE tickets to students between 8 and 22 at a range of chamber concerts throughout the UK? They take the top chamber ensembles into schools all over the country, completely free of charge.

CAVATINA aims to attract young people to the fantastic world of chamber music by visiting schools and promoting Family Concerts performed by some of the greatest professional chamber musicians who impart their love and excitement of this music to both children and adults.

CAVATINA takes Young People to Chamber Music & Chamber Music to Young People - check out their website! http://www.cavatina.net

Take it away This is a new initiative from the Arts Council, allows individuals to apply for a loan of up to £2,000 for the purchase of any kind of musical instrument, and pay it back in nine monthly installments (with a minimum 10% deposit), completely interest free. All instruments are included in the scheme and, to help musical development and manage costs, equipment and services such as amplifiers, sheet music and tuition can be included within the loan where available.

The scheme, which aims to make musical instruments and tuition more affordable for aspiring musicians, especially younger people and those on lower incomes, is now available in 90 music shops across England, and this number will more than double from April 2008. It is also possible to use the scheme via mail order, so this might be an option for you if you are in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, or if there isn't a participating retailer in your area.

Take it away is open to UK residents over the age of 18, although a parent or guardian could use the scheme to buy an instrument for someone under 18. The scheme is only open to individuals so schools or organisations cannot use it for multiple purchases.

Please contact Philippa Staff on 020 7973 6434 at the Arts Council for promotional material or for more information. A list of the participating stores can be found at www.takeitaway.org.uk