A huge well done to Holyrood Academy in Chard for achieving Artsmark Gold status!

Holyrood have been working with Somerset Art Works and Culturally Chard to gain their Artsmark Gold
Award – the only creative quality standard for schools and education settings, accredited by Arts
Council England. The award recognises Holyrood’s outstanding dedication to Arts Education and Somerset Art Works is delighted to have been part of it.

Somerset Art Works is committed to supporting the development of young people’s artistic talent,
working with schools, colleges and cultural organisations to connect young people with great art and
culture. Somerset Art Works and Holyrood Academy have worked together on a number of creative
projects, where students have had the opportunity to work alongside professional artists across a
variety of mediums.

“Over the last 3 years Holyrood Academy has engaged with Culturally Chard as a consortium member
and delivery partner. Students have been involved in a number of different community projects
celebrating Chard’s historic town centre including: The Banners of Chard, Window Wanderland, Water
Histories, Chard Revealed, ChardCast the Spring Cultural Festival and more. The school has been an
enthusiastic partner and the pupils have fundraised for and devised their own film ‘It Starts Here!’ which
is all about the town and part of the Culturally Chard programme. It has been really valuable to have the
students involved in Culturally Chard, to incorporate young people’s ideas and perspectives and work
together to develop creative contributions and increase cultural activity in the town.”

• Beccy Swaine, Somerset Art Works, Culturally Chard Lead Arts Partner

“This is a fantastic achievement as few state secondary schools of this size achieve Gold status and we
could not be prouder of the team. I want to thank Somerset Art Works and Culturally Chard for their
support and investment of Holyrood over the last 3 years. The work we have completed together has
been instrumental in helping us achieve the Art Council’s Gold Artsmark today.”

• Sam Davison, Holyrood Academy, Chard

Culturally Chard is the Chard High Street Heritage Action Zone cultural programme, funded by Historic
England, Arts Council England and the National Heritage Memorial Fund. Find out more about
Holyrood’s involvement in Culturally Chard and other cultural projects in the town: culturallychard.org