Arts Award Voice Community Hub

The Arts Award Voice community is open to anyone working toward or who's achieved an Arts Award  - and it's run by a bunch of people who did their own Arts Awards! We source ideas, opportunities and benefits which help you achieve your award or move into your 'Life After Arts Award'. We also share news from past Arts Award achievers, whether they are now a film maker, musician or working in TV.

We want to keep in touch with you when you've finished your award to find out what happens next and whether Arts Award helps you achieve your dreams (it worked for us!)  Please update your profile with the month you started and again with the month you completed to join the Arts Award Alumni register.

Check out what's on offer below and do get in touch to tell us what else we can do for you: [email protected] 

Let's keep this simple, where to next? Either use the image tabs above to browse what we have to offer or jump right in with these links:

• Join the alumni by telling us which Arts Awards you've achieved and what you're up to now: Keep your profile up to date
• Find out what Arts Award achievers are doing in our series Where are they now?
• Check out Creative Careers on Voice for inspiration from professionals working in the field
• Take advantage of arts & cultural activities using the offers available from Arts Award Supporters
• Take a look at our 2019 Alumni Newsletter - Keeping In Touch - Update your profile now and tick 'contact me' to be in with a chance of being featured in our 2020 Newsletter
• Join our social media networking group on Facebook

Get your hands on high street discounts and take advantage of cultural opportunities

Check out the deals and opportunities available for Arts Award participants and alumni - and look for friendly Arts Award Supporters in your area.

Become an Arts Award adviser

If you enjoyed doing your Arts Award and you're already 18, you might want to offer it to others as an Arts Award adviser.  If you've achieved an Arts Award yourself, you can claim 15% off the cost of adviser training - book on the Arts Award website and fill in this short form to get your discounted invoice.

Stay up to date with the creative sector

The Stage is an essential resource for actors and performers, backstage workers, creative teams and those in training and education. You can get 10% off any subscription to The Stage - web only, digital edition or print edition (straight to your door every week).

The Stage shares breaking news about the performing arts industry, comprehensive reviews of more UK performances than any other national publication, audition announcements and high profile interviews with individuals like Ian McKellen, Cherry Jones and Denzel Washington.

All subscribers also get access to an exclusive 10% discount on new and long-running theatre shows, sold through The Stage Tickets. And all annual subscribers get extra discounts too.

Simply use the promotion code ARTSAWARD to access your discount at The Stage Subscriptions 

Get online for less

When you're starting a freelance career or any creative business you'll need a web presence. There's so many social channels out there now and Google is a default for anyone looking for something.  Getting a simple website online is key to starting out and showing off your offer.  Cloud Artisans offers you 30% of all website hosting packages - making it just £20.99 per year for personal hosting. Just use the promo code ARTSAWARD at cahost.co.uk 

Lots more discounts & deals

Want to save some money on things you like to do, or materials you need? We've partnered with Benefits Cloud to bring you access to discounts that change every day. You'll find discounts in clothes shops, for computer accessories, on experience days, on mini-breaks and even more. You can browse some of the offers straight away or sign-up with the 'Organisation Code' of 'ARTSAWARD'.

Please note your use of Benefits Cloud will be subject to their terms & conditions.

Arts Award Supporters

You can often save money or find a new opportunity using the offers from Arts Award Supporters. These organisations throughout the UK offer discounted tickets, work experience or space for young artists. Find your local Arts Award Supporter below and see what they provide.

So where does Arts Award lead? 

Doing Arts Award can really help you find your ideal creative career, and it's just as valuable if you're heading in another direction. Arts Award helps you develop creative thinking, leadership, problem-solving, team work and communication skills, all of which make you stand out when going for a college place or job. Check out our blog on how to make Arts Award work for you.

If you're planning a creative career, browse our Want my job? series on Voice or hear from past Arts Award achievers in our Where are they now? interviews.  Thinking of setting up as a freelance creative practitioner? Here's some advice about HMRC (Tax) and how to be a self employed creative and becoming a creative company.

If you do Gold Award you'll get UCAS points to add to your uni application. And you'll also have a beautiful portfolio to show at interview. Although remember University isn't your only option - Gold achiever Joshua shares his thoughts on this...

For further industry and career research, check out our useful websites page, or look through these links to Creative Career Workshops and Creative Mentoring and look at joining a local group from our Networking tab.

Keep in touch with Arts Award by joining our Alumni for an occasional newsletter - Arts Award KIT - and other opportunities. Just tell us when you completed your Arts Award in your profile.

Jobs and Training

Keep an eye on our growing list of opportunities on Voice for job postings and training activities.

You can also find more on Discover Creative Careers and Arts Jobs

Help and support comes to those who ask for it!

And the cultural sector demonstrates this best. It's about working together and sharing knowledge. Who should I ask to use that space? How shall I compile my Arts Award portfolio? Where can I get funding for my project? Anybody know a good drummer?

Arts Award prepares you for a creative life in so many ways. And if you want to meet like-minded individuals, ask for help achieving the higher levels, or advice on, say, which drama schools to apply to - then get on over to our Facebook group. If you're concerned about using Facebook for networking, then don't be! Here's some guidance we've put together to help you with using several social media platforms - with links to how you can ensure your privacy is sorted...

As well as our own network you might be Interested in joining others too. We'd suggest:

• Young People in the Arts - a network for young people at the start of their arts career - especially music & theatre administration roles with events in several cities
• Young Arts Fundraisers Network - a professional network for early-career fundraisers in the cultural sector
• Young Professionals in the Arts - a London-based networking group created to foster connections for creative and visual arts professionals
• Independent Dance Management Network - a forum for existing and new independent arts managers and related roles
• Contemporary Visual Arts Network - a network of professionals who represent and support a diverse and vibrant visual arts ecology
• What Next Culture - A national movement with local networks of arts professionals working to articulate, champion and strengthen the role of culture in our society

We have more organisations that you might like to visit on our useful arts websites page.