When you decide to offer Arts Award and your organisation has become a centre, you'll pay a fee to cover the training of anyone who is going to be an Arts Award adviser and there's also a cost to enter each young person for Arts Award. Prices depend on the level of the award you want to offer and how many young people are taking part. There are optional extras too, such as our printed 'arts logs' for participants.
Financial support is available, so check whether you qualify for one of our discounts or a grant to help with funding.
The costs outlined below are for the period of September 2024 - August 2025. Download Arts Award Costs and Funding 2024 - 2025
As well as helping your organisation deliver quality arts education, training to be an Arts Award adviser is a great way of meeting your personal CPD targets.
You can join one of our online training sessions, or, if at least six people from your organisation or professional network want to become advisers, you might prefer to look at our group training options.
The costs involved in providing opportunities for young people to complete the award vary greatly depending on the level, art form and setting.
Different Arts Award centres have different ways of managing the costs for young people. Some charge a fee for participation in Arts Award or for certain arts activities, others cover the costs themselves or seek funding. Some fundraise, some subsidise activities from their core funds, and many stretch their budget by making the most of free arts events and discount offers.
The fee payable for every young person participating in Arts Award are inclusive of the certificate (paper for Discover and digital for Explore up to Gold) and moderation (where required). The price depends on the level of the award and the size of the group, as you can see below.
If you need help with the costs of offering Arts Award, there's lots of support available. Your project might be eligible for one of these sources of funding:
Funding for education and training providers
Explore, Bronze, Silver and Gold Arts Award may form part of a publicly funded 16–19 study programme (or a 16–25 programme for learners with additional needs) in a school, college or workplace. Check for specific funding available on the Learning Aim Reference Service (LARS).
If you work for a school or training provider and are drawing down funding or using the exams budget, then the information in this table will help you:
Arts Award Funding
Arts Award Access Fund provides small grants of £100 to £1500 to individuals and groups who need financial help to achieve an Arts Award. These are for projects in England supporting young people who might otherwise find it difficult to access the arts or get involved in cultural and creative activities.
Funding from public bodies
There are various national public bodies offering grants or funding to support arts and cultural activities or disadvantaged young people. Try National Lottery Project Grants, Creative Scotland, Culture and Business Fund Scotland, the Arts Council of Wales or the Arts Council's Youth Performance Partnership Programme.
Charity funding
Charities you could apply to for Arts Award funding include BBC Children in Need, Youth Music and Literature Wales. You'll need to prove your planned project meets the criteria for one of their grants.
Want to know more? We've got a great blog post which post looks at all these funding opportunities in more detail.