Please note: This programme is currently under development and Open School East is not recruiting new Young Associates. For updates, please consider joining our mailing list here. (Updated: Feb 2024)

The Young Associates Programme is a free programme for young people living in East Kent, ensuring they are part of growing arts ecology in Margate. OSE will work with young people and partner with organisations that reflect and enhance this work and approach. YAP adapts yearly responding to current access issues that young people face in the cultural sector. Our most recent programme ran annualy and saw Associates and Young Associates work closer together through mentoring, co-learning and collaborative works and commissions.

An innovative, alternative approach to arts education with an emphasis on developing essential creative and employability skills. The programme encourages the development of a sustainable career in the arts and creative industries by offering young people direct experience working with leading international arts and creative practitioners and professionals to develop their own arts practice and projects. Young Associates will have exciting opportunities to work on curatorial projects, live briefs, attend specialist skills-building masterclasses, and mentorship as well as developing their own programmes.

Through participating in the Young Associates programme students will have the opportunity to gain experience, network and create projects with organisations both locally and nationally. We aim to ensure that young people can thrive within the growing arts and creative sector here in Thanet.