Open School East (OSE), an independent, self-directed and outward-facing study programme in London is seeking applications from emerging artists.

About Open School East 

Open School East was founded in 2013 in response to spiralling tuition fees and student debt. It was instituted as a space for artistic learning and production that is experimental, versatile and highly collaborative.

Located in a former library and community centre in East London, OSE is a unique space that brings together:

– A free study programme for emerging artists;

– A multifaceted programme of events and activities open to all.

Central to OSE’s approach is a commitment to fostering cultural, intellectual and social exchanges between artists and the broader public. We do this by opening our study programme outwards, responding to our locality and providing an informal environment for the sharing of knowledge and skills across various communities—artistic, local and otherwise.

Study programme overview 
Open School East is an innovative model of an artists’ study programme that engages socially and culturally with its local context.

We provide a unique environment for artist-led learning through:

– Shared studio provision;

– Tuition and mentorship from internationally renowned practitioners, curators and theorists;

– Support in the production of artistic projects.

The study programme is run according to principles of collaboration, experimentation and openness, and welcomes practitioners who engage with these notions in different ways.

How does the study programme function? 
Free to attend and non-accredited, the study programme runs across 12 months and is principally self-directed, creating platforms for the associate artists to develop their practice.

The associates come together two days a week to receive tuition, meet the mentors, work and collaborate on projects, and plan public activities. Tuition is delivered through a combination of tutorials, group crits, presentations, workshops, seminars and excursions, a number of which are open to the public.

While at OSE, the associates are required to develop a specific project or line of enquiry. Their research is advanced and shared with the public via open studios and events taking place at different times throughout the year.

In lieu of paying fees, each associate gives the equivalent of one day every month to devise, run or assist with public events and activities in and around the building.
In 2016, the study programme will be structured around three moments:

Term 1: The associates participate in a collaborative research project initiated by Olivia Plender and culminating in a performance led by the artist. The project draws on the methods of the community arts movement, exploring its origins in the 1970s and its contemporary relevance. Together with Ed Webb-Ingall, Olivia Plender has devised a curriculum around models of collaboration, feminisms, the politics of the voice, the aesthetics and ethics of participation, and how we as artists can approach history.

Terms 2 and 3: The associates receive mentorship, self-direct their learning around their practices and shared interests, programme public events and develop their respective projects.

Term 4: the associates realise and present their project as part of a final collective event.

The mentors 
The mentors for 2016 include Matthew Darbyshire, Sally O’Reilly and Ed Webb-Ingall, among others to be confirmed. The mentors come in at regular intervals to lead theoretical and practical group sessions, as well as provide one-to-one support in the development of the associates’ projects.

To find out more about the study programme, our requirements and the selection process, please visit: www.openschooleast.org

Open School East was originally commissioned by the Barbican and Create London. It has received further support from Arts Council England, Create London, Outset, The Ampersand Foundation, Hackney Council, The Sheepdrove Trust, individual donors, artists and galleries.

Application deadline: Friday, 11 September 2015, 5pm 

Open day: Thursday, 27 August, 6–9pm

Open School East
The Rose Lipman Building
43 De Beauvoir Road
London N1 5SQ
United Kingdom

www.openschooleast.org