The Young People’s Arts Award is a new initiative by Arts Council England and is the first awards’ scheme to recognise the development of young artists and young arts leaders, essentially to promote projects in the arts by young people.

The Lowry is delighted to be a part of this scheme and to help the participants work towards gaining Bronze and Silver Awards.

During the summer 2006, we ran a week-long visual arts programme for gifted and talented art students from Salford high schools. The pupils worked with artist Paul Pickford and The Lowry Community & Education Team to produce their own self-led Bronze project inspired by the Folk Archive exhibition in the galleries. All of the artwork created was displayed in an exhibition in our Studio gallery space.

As a result of their hard work, all 13 students achieved their Silver Awards.

During this project they have developed a personal challenge linked to developing their own artwork, found out how artists work, and developed and planned their own workshop, which they successfully delivered in the galleries. Their work was assessed and there was an exhibition of their work in the Studio gallery space.

For more information about the Arts Award, visit their website at www.artsaward.org.uk