1. The Arts Council and libraries
09/11/2012
Nicky Morgan, Director Libraries
Thank you for inviting me to speak at your conference on shaping library services for children and young people.
I want to talk about Arts Council work one year on from assuming responsibility fro library development. I will focus on our work with children and young people which is shaped by two main drivers – Envisioning the library of the future and our overarching strategy Achieving great art for everyone.
First of all AFAFE
Working to goal 5 of AGAFE – every child has the opportunity to experience the richness of the arts, museums and libraries.
The agenda for children and young people and cultural education is fast moving, complex and intrinsically linked to government policy.
Our desire in libraries work with children and young people is to:
Facilitate greater collaboration across the arts and cultural sectors
Making the case 'for culture': acquisition of knowledge and skills, benefits of cultural education for the future of the creative industries and wider benefits to society
aspiration for improved strategic overview and investment in cultural education
greater collaboration across the cultural funding bodies
Dalston Library, London
Photo: Michael Cameron Photography

2. Culture, Knowledge and Understanding
Museums and libraries are not add-ons to our work; we want them to be absolutely central to the Arts Council’s long-term mission. That’s why we commissioned Baroness Estelle Morris’ review of our 10 year strategic framework, Achieving great art for everyone.
Following her recommendations, we have now published a companion document Culture, knowledge and understanding: great museums and libraries for everyone that sets out how the five goals in our original strategic framework have been adapted to accommodate a new, wider, cultural footprint. The focus of this document is on museums and libraries, but it also touches on the benefits and opportunities for Arts Council England and its partners in having a role across the arts and culture.
Goal 5 every child and young person has the opportunity to experience the richness of museums, arts and libraries

3. Research into Envisioning the library of the future
This is a programme of research and consultation which will help the Arts Council develop a long-term vision for public libraries in England
The first phases of the consultation consisted of:
Trends and innovation reviews
Delphi survey
Online conversation
5 regional workshops with stakeholders
Currently in the last phase of the consultation, holding workshops and online conversation with the public
Dalston Library, Hackney
Photo: Michael Cameron Photography

4. Bridges
consistency and coherence across arts and cultural landscape
more young people, families and communities participate
quality cultural experiences
Core
Bridge organisations will help us to develop consistency and coherence across an often complex arts and education landscape to help more young people, families and communities benefit from high quality creative and artistic experiences.
They will build long term relationships between the arts, culture and the education sectors, acting as a first point of contact for schools, responding to their needs and securing their commitment to supporting arts organisations and artists.
The Bridge organisations will also ensure that Arts Award and Artsmark are maximised as key tools with schools, arts organisations, local authorities and other partners.
Importantly, Bridge organisations will play a key role in identifying commissioning opportunities from local authorities, local businesses, trusts and foundations on behalf of national portfolio organisations and other arts organisations, to enhance the arts offer for children and young people and families.
They will also support us to work across the sector to raise the quality of arts experiences for with and by children and young people. They will support the development of a set of shared principles and values that underpin the quality of work for children and young people and benchmark the quality of artists working with children and young people.
Dalston Library, London
Photo: Michael Cameron Photography

5. Automatic library membership scheme
Working with 22 projects to test approaches to automatic library membership
Approaches include:
Library cards at birth
Working with Bookstart and Booktime schemes
Working with schools
Combined library and leisure cards
Supported by DfE and DCMS
The Arts Council will be announcing next week (14 November) our work with 22 projects that will test approaches to automatic library membership between now and September 2013
Working cross govt – position libraries within DfE thinking
Examples of approaches being taken by the projects include
Library cards at birth
Working with Bookstart and Booktime schemes
Working with schools
Combined library and leisure cards
We will work with the projects to map current and potential practice and establish a typography of approaches and methodologies for automatic library membership which can be used by other library services
Through these projects it is hoped that there will be an increase in children, young people and families using their local libraries, stimulating more reading for pleasure by children and young people.
The scheme is supported by DfE and DCMS
Stamford Library, Lincolnshire
Photo: Michael Cameron Photography

6. Arts Award
Unique qualifications which support children & young people to develop as artists & arts leaders
available at 5 levels: Discover, Explore (7+) Bronze, Silver & Gold (11+)
Library services can chose how they get involved with Arts Award:
Arts Award Supporter
Work in partnership with an Arts Award Centre
Run Arts Award
Bridge organisations will be able to offer support and guidance
For more information and case studies:
Arts Award’s unique qualifications support young people to develop as artists and arts leaders. The programme develops creativity, leadership and communication skills, and is open to anyone aged 7 to 25. It is delivered for the Arts Council by Trinity College London
Arts Award has five levels, four of which are accredited qualifications on the Qualifications and Credit Framework. Gold Arts Award carries 35 UCAS points and young people work at A-level (QCF Level 3) standard. Arts Award Discover and Arts Award Explore introduce the arts to children aged 7 upwards.
There are a number of ways for libraries to get involved with Arts Award:
Arts Award Supporter is a free badging scheme, which can help libraries promote their programme for children and young people. To do this you can simply badge activities you are already providing as Arts Award Supporter that young people can use towards their Arts Award. This might include Summer Reading Challenge, craft activities, meeting writers, listening to stories and so on. To register as an Arts Award Supporter you just complete a short online induction tutorial on the Arts Award website
A library can easily partner with an existing Arts Award centre, such as a school, arts organisation or youth club. The centre is responsible for entering young people for moderation, but library-based facilities and activities can help young people complete their Arts Award portfolios.
If you choose to run Arts Award, your library becomes an Arts Award centre. At least one member of your team will need to train as an Arts Award adviser by attending a training course, available across the country, throughout the year. You can also book a trainer to come to your organisation to train six or more people at a time to suit you. Advisers can be anyone who has experience of working with children or young people, such as a children’s librarian.
There’s a guidance sheet on how libraries can get involved in Arts Award on the Arts Award website and some case studies from libraries that have run or supported Arts Award and Bridge organisations will be a really useful source of advice and guidance
Oadby Library, Leicestershire
Paignton Library, Devon
The Hive, Worcestershire
Photo: Michael Cameron Photography

7. Thank you www.artscouncil.org.uk
Staircase at Dalston CLR James Library, London. Photo: Michael Cameron Photography