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 of talented young people, the first fine arts students at the school.

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.

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.

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 actual 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.

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 and sends its students to study at art related institutions.

The ultimate aim for the founders is to see ARTE MORIS attended and operated entirely by East Timorese people. To this end, senior students are actively involved in the daily management and administration of the school - including the organization of collaborative projects with local NGO’s and other artists’ groups, the hosting of visitors to the centre, the planning and presenting of fine art exhibitions, and the fulfillment of commissioned work.

- 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.

- Art supplies including canvas, oil and acrylic colors, 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.