The curriculum for 2025-26, titled Home is where the garden is, explores the garden as a metaphor for spaces of cultivation, rooting and unexpected encounters. It is built around a rhizomatic framework that focuses on the networks, systems and communities that form civic space. After the programme commences in September 2025, the Associates cohort will develop new artworks and produce events, exhibitions and resources in response to a foundation of research and artistic outcomes produced by guest artists and community partners who we are currently working with through our Civic Programme.

This includes guest artists:, Simeon Barclay, Marley Starskey Butler, Anna Cutler, Benedict Drew, Harun Morrison, Hugh Nicholson, Harold Offeh, Sally O’Reilly, Shenece Oretha, Camilo Pachón, Flora Parrott, Hetain Patel, Keith Piper, Samara Scott and Sara Trillo.

Home is where the garden is invites prospective Associate artists who are interested in or relate to these themes to explore them through the development of artistic research, talks, workshops, collective projects and artworks with us.

The Associates Programme is structured around three terms that include various projects, modules and activities. For the 2025-2026 iteration of the programme, the cohort will focus on the following activities:

TERM 1, September – December 2025

Introductory Project with Flora Parrott & Sara Trillo: During the introductory fortnight at OSE, Associates will take part in a two-day workshop with Kent-based artists Flora Parrott and Sara Trillo. Together we will explore each artist’s approach to ‘fieldwork’, an active and sensorial process of artistic research that places the artist directly on and amongst a shifting and interrelated landscape.

Mentoring (1-1): Throughout the year Associates meet their mentors for one to one tutorials to discuss their work, research and ideas, both in general and in preparation for public events and the final show. Recent mentors have included: Benedict Drew, Clair Le Couteur, Melika Ngombe Kolongo, Simeon Barclay, Shenece Oretha and Sally O’Reilly.

Past mentors include: Anthea Hamilton, åbäke, Matthew Darbyshire, Kodwo Eshun and Anjalika Sagar (The Otolith Group), Marguerite Humeau, Paul Maheke, Janna Graham, Sophie Mallet, Sarah McCrory, John Douglas Millar, Tom Morton, Olivia Plender, Marijke Steedman, Trish Scott, Ed Webb-Ingall.

Peer Sessions: a weekly workshop series and dedicated space for Associates to share their individual skills and practices with the rest of the Associate cohort. Previous cohorts have used sessions as a space to test public programme ideas and simply as a space to learn a little more about each other’s practices.

‘Home is’ Research Group with Hugh Nicholson: As part of a long-term commission with artist Hugh Nicholson, the Associates will take part in a four-part research group that unpacks and engages with the central strands of Home is where the garden is: Civic Space, Material and Produce.

Artist Reading Group with Harun Morrison: Running alongside the Home is Research Group, artist and writer Harun Morrison will lead a series of critical reading groups that provide context to wider themes explored throughout the programme.

Open House:  To mark the end of the first term, the Associates will take part in a building-wide open studio event. This is an opportunity for Associates to open up their shared workspaces and share works in progress with the rest of the building and wider arts community in Margate. 

TERM 2, January – April 2026

Civic Project with Samara Scott and Despacito Art School: This project is a collaboration between the Associates, members of OSE’s Despacito Art School and visual artist Samara Scott, who has been working with OSE over the last year to develop a series of new artworks with Despacito Art School. This project is an opportunity to contribute to the project and to work collaboratively with young people. Works will be shown as part of the summer exhibition.

Social Practice Module: The Social Practice Module is a series of talks and workshops, devised by Polly Brannan (OSE Artistic Director), that explores and unpacks what it means to be working collaboratively with communities, and helps to form a deeper understanding of social practice and engagement.

The module invites guests that include commissioners, researchers, practitioners/artists, curators who are leading in their field. Past invitees have included; Viviana Checchia, Amal Khalaf, Anna Cutler, Sepake Angiama and Polly Brannan.

Associate-led Public Programme: A series of free, open public events, shaped by the Associates in response to curriculum thematics. Events are devised and led by the Associates cohort with support from OSE’s programming team. The Public Programme nurtures artistic planning and delivery skills in a public setting. Sessions have included writing workshops, experimental film and radio production, performance, photography, short courses in electronics, ceramics, and music production. You can view our archive of events here.

The majority of this programme is delivered in partnership with Turner Contemporary. Some specific events take place at OSE or in other civic settings.

Print Module: This module is led by George Harding (OSE Programme Producer) and explores publishing in artistic practice, looking at ways of sustainably distributing and/or communicating artistic research through print.

TERM 3, April – June 2026

Civic Project with Camillo Pachon and Despacito Art School: This project is a collaboration between the Associates, Columbian visual artist Camillo Pachon, and members of OSE’s Despacito Art School. Together, we will develop a new performative work that explores pathways between science, spirituality and artistic practice, looking specifically at the ‘mask’ as a transformative technology. This project is an opportunity to explore and develop ideas around community-based artistic practice.

Mentoring (1-1): Throughout the year Associates meet their mentors for one to one tutorials to discuss their work, research and ideas, both in general and in preparation for public events and the end of programme exhibition. 

OSE Exhibition 25-26: Associates work towards an end of programme exhibition, co-curated with an invited guest curator and with guidance from their mentors and the OSE Artistic Director and team.

The Associate Exhibition is an opportunity for the cohort of Associate artists to share their work with arts professionals (nationally), prospective collaborators, funders, peers and the wider public.

Guest Curator Sessions: Each year a curator is invited to shape the end of programme exhibition, pulling together outcomes from each of OSEs programmes. Associates will take part in 1:1 mentoring with the curator, as well as curatorial workshops and exhibition interpretation sessions.Past curators include; Sepake Angiama (Iniva), Angelica Sule (Site Gallery), Cedric Fauq (Musée d’Art Contemporain de Bordeaux), Trish Scott (King’s College London) Maggie Matić (Auto Italia) and Beatriz Lobo Britto (Iniva)