Despacito Art School – Open School East

Story of the Despacito Art School

Started in 2017, the Despacito Art School is a hands-on place to learn about art, craft and functional object-making. Despacito is open to young people aged 5 to 12, who live in and around Cliftonville and Margate. The art school was named by the young artists after their favourite 2017 summer hit. Despacito provides regular opportunities to showcase the work of the young artists to their families, the local community and the broader public; these include exhibitions in and around our building, projects in collaboration with our community partners, and participation in events and festivals.

What next? Despacito Art School 2022

OSE Partners with Iniva

Open School East and Iniva are excited to announce a new 3 year partnership which sees us working together across programmes, artists, communities and learners.

Despacito Art School, Shenece Oretha and Drift Pavillion

For the first year of the partnership we are commissioning the artist Shenece Oretha.
Shenece Oretha is a London based multidisciplinary artist sounding out the voice and sound’s mobilising potential. Through installation, performance, print, sculpture, sound, workshops and text she amplifies and celebrates listening and sound as an embodied and collective practice.

This first collaboration will be with the multi-disciplinary artist as part of Iniva’s Drift Pavilion where they will create a project in collaboration with OSE’s Despacito Art School families and children. Shenece will work directly with the 5-12 year olds to create a new sound work through voice, sound and play this August.

Garden Art at Garden Gate

Wednesdays throughout July.

Despacito Art School

a young person plays experimental percussion instruments

Despacito Art School: All Sound is Music

Response to Covid /children and young people

Artists are part of the cultural sectors’ journey in the healing and recovery post Covid. Open School East aims to develop support systems for children and young people who may have fallen behind through programmes to support physical and emotional wellbeing.

If you’re enjoying Despacito or want to take part, please fill out our short survey below:

Despacito survey

Past Sessions

In 2019 the Despacito Art School was featured on TV twice, in a short film that premiered on BBC Breakfast, and as part of a short documentary about Margate and the Turner Prize.