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ABOUT US

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INTRODUCTION; VISION & PRACTICE; PROGRAMS & RESOURCES

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INTRODUCTION Established in East Timor’s capital Dili in February 2003, ARTE MORIS has  become the first Fine Arts School, Cultural Center and Artists’ Association in  the world’s youngest democracy.   ARTE MORIS was born in the aftermath of 25 years of Indonesian military occupation and the extremely violent events following the August 1999  referendum leading to the country’s independence restoration on May 20th 2002. Its primary aim was to use art as a building block in the psychological and social reconstruction of a country devastated by violence, with special emphasis on helping its young citizens.   The Honorary Patron of ARTE MORIS is Dr. José Ramos Horta, winner of the 1996 Nobel Peace Prize and currently East Timor’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation.   This project was the idea of Swiss artist Luca Gansser and cultural coordinator  Gabriela Gansser, who turned it into reality with the help of a  group oftalented young people, the first fine arts students at the school.

Today, these original students have become a class of about 30 ‘seniors’, who live and work at the school, sharing the responsibilities of its day-to-day management whilst passing on their knowledge of administration, accountancy and general organization to the next generation of junior students.

The school now runs daily courses     in drawing and painting for more than 100 junior students from the age of 12 years. They study art under the guidance of Luca Gansser, international visiting artists and the senior students themselves, who have been trained in art education.

 

ARTE MORIS has now developed into a

real cultural center thanks to the

collaboration of the theatre group

“Bibi Bulak”.

This association is very close to the East

Timorese community and shares the

same aims as the school: to use the arts

 to help people rebuild their lives.

 ARTE MORIS and Bibi Bulak operate

independently but put their energies

together to help the East Timorese in

capacity building, becoming more aware and involved, building

cohesiveness in their community and finding hope and joy for the future.

 

Apart from its initial cathartic role, which was amply

demonstrated in the first works of youngsters

traumatized by past events (pictures depicting

rapes, murders and torture), ARTE MORIS has

 helped the students to acquire self-esteem from

their skills and to become more involved in the

 world about them, bringing communities together.

 

ARTE MORIS was awarded the United Nations

Human Rights prize for the year 2003 for its

 promotion of Freedom of Expression

 

VISION & PRACTICE

PRINCIPLES

The vision and day-to-day practice of ARTE MORIS is one of creativity, cooperation, and commitment to artistic endeavor. These priorities combine with an open-door policy, to create an environment in which young East Timorese people from all backgrounds can feel comfortable to participate in classes and express themselves freely through fine art.

PERSONAL GROWTH

Part of the school’s vision is to encourage students’ personal growth

, individual and communal self-esteem and other life skills.

While classroom settings primarily develop artistic skills and talents,

just as important is the process of learning – with its associated

successes and failures - in an atmosphere of guidance and encouragement

 which allows students to experiment, build self-confidence and expand

upon their own vision of themselves and their new nation.

SELF DETERMINATION

The ultimate aim for the founders is to see ARTE MORIS attended and

operated entirely by East Timorese staff. To this end, senior students are

actively involved in the daily management and administration of the

school - including organization of collaborative efforts with local NGO’s and

other artists’ groups, hosting of visitors, the planning and presenting of fine art

exhibitions and creating jobs through work contracts.

INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE

ARTE MORIS demonstrates its commitment to fine art and the students by hosting and liaising with international artists. In the process of exchanging ideas and techniques with overseas artists students encounter the reality of art as a viable livelihood. The school also presents exhibitions of the artworks overseas.

ARTE MORIS FACILITIES & RESOURCES

In less than one year the rapid expansion of the ARTE MORIS free art school has seen it move from a private house in Quintal Kiik to the public buildings of the Ministry of Education, Sport, Youth and Culture in Comoro.

Thanks to these larger facilities the school now includes:

- In door and out door classroom spaces. - Carving and sculpture area. - Gallery space for saleable works and exhibition of the   permanent collection. - Music and drama space currently run by the Bibi Bulak   theatre and music troupe.

 

LOCATION

 

ARTE MORIS is housed in the former premises of the

 National Museum and more recently the UN Hospital on the main road, Comoro.

 

Coming from Nicholas Labato Airport and before the main Comoro Bridge, look for the big red dome on your left.

 

Coming from town, we are located after the main Comoro Bridge just past the Academia Policia on your right.

 

PROGRAMS & RESOURCES

The following opportunities and services are available to all students free of charge:

- Art supplies including canvas, oil and acrylic colours, hand and electric tools.

- Tuition in fine art and craftwork skills.

- Exhibition space for the sale of students’ artworks.

- Paid contract work when available e.g. mural and sign

  painting, illustration and workshop facilitation.

 

- Exposure to the national and international fine art

  community.

- Visiting artist workshops.

- Collaboration and exchanges with other artists such as

  actors,  musicians, writers and poets.

- Tuition in environmental awareness through recycling of waste material for use in artworks e.g. plastic, tin cans, glass and engine parts. The school also has its own garden and grounds that utilize only sustainable agriculture techniques.