Self-led Discover Arts Award
Self-led Discover Arts Awards can be completed independently using the museum, collections and creative activities as inspiration.
This option is suitable for families, home educators or schools completing Arts Award independently. Children can explore the museum, take part in creative activities, and record their ideas in a logbook before submitting it for moderation.
The self-led award is free to complete. Official Trinity College certificates are available for a moderation and certificate fee.
How to complete your Discover Arts Award
The award can be completed in a single day or over a longer period of time. Children record their work in an Arts Award logbook using writing, drawing, photographs or other creative responses.
Children explore different art forms and try creative activities themselves.
This could include drawing, painting, sculpture, dance, drama, storytelling, music, photography or digital creativity. The museum galleries, collections and exhibitions can all be used as inspiration.
Children research an artist or creative practitioner and respond to their work.
This could include: painters, illustrators, musicians, actors, animators, designers and performers.
Participants are encouraged to think about materials and techniques, their inspiration, meaning and emotion and the creative style and choices.
Children share their discoveries and artwork with others.
This could be through: talking about their work, displaying artwork, creating a presentation, sharing photographs or video, showing work to family, friends or classmates.
What do you need?
You only need simple creative materials to get started, such as paper, pens or pencils and a printed or digital logbook.
Children can work in whatever creative format suits them best, including drawing, collage, model-making, photography, performance or digital work.
Submitting your Arts Award
Once complete, logbooks can be submitted to the museum for moderation and certification.
Official Trinity College certificates cost: £7.50 per child
Submission dates
Certificates are submitted for moderation on:
- 1 March
- 1 May
- 1 September
- 1 December
Certificates are usually returned within 6–8 weeks.
How to submit
Digital logbooks can be emailed to:
museumeducation@maidstone.gov.uk
Physical copies can also be submitted by arrangement.
Schools submitting large groups should ensure:
- children’s names are clearly labelled
- year groups are included
- logbooks are organised before submission
Discounts may be available for groups of 60+ children.