Arts status opens new learning world

Mar 5 2008 by Sue Scott, Evening Gazette

MORE YOUNG people than ever before will be encouraged to follow a career in the arts following the accreditation of Middlesbrough’s Tees Valley Training Centre as part of the national Arts Award scheme.

Its new status will mean students who previously had to travel as far as Durham for some advanced courses will be able to complete them locally.

A nationally recognised qualification, the Arts Award supports young people to develop as artists and arts leaders, and is available at levels one, two and three as well as bronze, silver and gold.

Run by Arts Council England and Trinity Guildhall, it was only previously available to level one through the Middlesbrough centre’s Gallery TS1, where more than 100 16-19-year-olds not in full time training or education already take part in two-week

Turn to Page two

From Page one

arts taster courses throughout the year. Having enjoyed the short-course, more than 90% go on to return to full time education in the arts.

Rosi Lister, executive director of Tees Valley Arts said: “The Arts Award is central to many of our new initiatives, providing an opportunity to accredit young people’s achievement when participating in the creative arts.

“The award represents a real step forward for young people, including those who have, for what ever reason, become disengaged with mainstream education and need to get back onto the ladder.”

In the future, Tees Valley Arts will also deliver professional training for schools about to embark on the new Creative and Media Diploma for 14-19-year-olds which will run alongside A-levels until 2010.

Hall Garth School in Middlesbrough will become the lead school for teaching the diploma when it rolls out next year.

Covering a rich range of disciplines, including film, TV and fashion, students will gain knowledge, experience and skills enabling them to master processes common to all creative industries.

Developed by the Government as a direct response to demands from industry that young people should be “fit for work” by the time they leave school, the Creative and Media 14-19 Diplomas will depend as much on classroom based as applied, or workplace based learning.