THESE talented youngsters are among more than 50 young people from across Glasgow who will get their moment in the spotlight at celebrations on October 22 at St Andrew’s in the Square.

Aged from eight to 25, they are all involved in working towards an Arts Award, a series of qualifications accredited by Trinity College London that allows them to grow their leadership and learning skills.

Like an arts version of the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme, youngsters in schools, youth groups and arts organisations have been doing everything from putting on fashion shows to stage productions, art exhibitions to learning how to play instruments as they work their way through the various levels of the Arts Award.

“Some awards will be handed out but it’s more of a celebration to acknowledge there has been loads of young people in Glasgow who have achieved an Arts Award over the last couple of years,” said Sarah Longfield, director of See Think Make, the social enterprise that is developing Arts Award across the country.

“They have to put a portfolio together of their work. As well as being good fun and a flexible way of gaining qualifications, it gives them the extra edge when they are going for interviews as they have explored different artforms, identified what their own arts practice is, which is really useful if they are going into the creative industries

“For some of the young people we work with, it is just providing a different way of gaining a leadership qualification.”

From next year Arts Award will become a recognised SQA qualification in Scotland.

At PEEK, Toonspeak, Glasgow, Kelvin College, Depot Arts and Platform, creative kids Kasey Louise Smart, Jerome Kasusula Katende, Shelby Johnston and Sophie Rodgers have worked towards an Arts Award.

They will be showcasing some of their work to the invited audience at St Andrew’s in the Square.