Special dispensation

Arts Award’s national qualifications support young people aged 25 and under to develop as artists and arts leaders. To be entered for Arts Award, a young person must be aged 25 and under for Arts Award Discover and Explore, or aged 11 – 25 for Bronze, Silver and Gold Arts Award.

Special dispensation can be requested if:

• All levels - One or more of the young people in a cohort is/are aged 26 at the point of being entered for Arts Award. In this case, the young people, who are granted special dispensation, must be entered alongside a cohort where most of the young people are within the stated age limits for Arts Award.
• Bronze, Silver, Gold only - One or more of the young people in a cohort is/are aged 10 at the point of being entered for Bronze, Silver, Gold Arts Award. In this case, the young people, who are granted special dispensation, must be entered alongside a cohort where some of the young people are within the stated age limits for Arts Award.

In both cases the centre must request special dispensation prior to entering the young people for Arts Award, and present a valid reason for the request.

To request special dispensation for young people who are outside the stated age limits for Arts Award, please download and complete the Special Dispensation Request Form and send to ArtsAwardOpsTeam@trinitycollege.co.uk.

Please note: it is very unusual for special dispensation to be granted in any circumstance other than those detailed above.

If you are intending on offering Arts Award to an individual who will not meet the above criteria, we strongly advise that you contact us before you start delivering your Arts Award programme/project.