ST HELENS has become the first town in the region to be awarded Artsmark status for its booming arts and culture scene.

Accredited by Arts Council England, Artsmark is the creative quality standard for schools, helping them to evaluate, celebrate and strengthen their arts provision by championing high quality arts and cultural education within their curriculum.

More than 50 per cent of schools in the borough have achieved, or are working towards the Artsmark Award, by incorporating art and culture into every student’s life and learning.

This comes after a pilot project, led by St Helens Council Arts and Music Services and Curious Minds – a charity which champions creative and cultural education for children and young people across the North West region.

Artsmark registered schools in the town, supported by the Local Cultural Education Partnership, will be encouraged to build and strengthen new and existing partnerships.

Cllr Gill Neal, St Helens Council’s portfolio holder for arts and culture, said: “We are elated to receive Artsmark Town status which is a great testimony to the hundreds of talented young people in the borough who are socially engaged in the arts.

“The council has a stated ambition to become a national centre of excellence for arts and cultural practice – and this recognition is yet another feather in our cap and string to our bow as we look to achieve this.”

Curious Minds’ Senior Manager for Programmes, Emma Bush, added: “We’re proud to have been able to support these schools with St Helens Council Arts and Music Services, to achieve this milestone.

“Take-up of Artsmark on this scale will deliver lasting change in cultural provision and learning outcomes for the children of St Helens.

“Culture and creativity increases pupils’ confidence, critical thinking, literacy skills and improves attainment.

“We’re delighted to see it embraced so enthusiastically by the local teaching community and hope to welcome the remaining St Helens schools to the Artsmark family.”

This latest accolade tops off an excellent year for the council who were crowned the UK’s favourite Lottery-funded arts project in August for its Cultural Hubs: Arts in Libraries programme.

This has led to £440,000 worth of funding for the next four years from the Arts Council England’s National Portfolio.