I’m a young person
Arts Education Exchange is a creative community in Thanet, East Kent.
We provide long-term, person-centred support for young people through art, advocacy and care-based programmes. Our approach is grounded in trust, stability, and slowing down - creating space for you to find your own pace and pathway, rather than fitting into rigid timelines or targets.
What’s it like at AEE?
A low pressure environment where you can work at your own pace. We don't follow a set curriculum so everything is based around your interests. You can work 1:1 with our music or art lead, or work in a small group. You can do art, music, or both!
Our voice
We want to share our stories, art, music, and activism so other young people will feel inspired or will come to AEE.
Our space
Our Margate based studio is the heart of AEE. We have an art and music studio which are both warm, welcoming and well resourced.
Meet our visual arts and music leads
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“Art is not about being good at drawing painting or getting things perfect. It's about giving yourself the chance to experiment, express yourself and what is important to you. It's about finding your voice and exploring different ways to communicate your ideas. I get so excited hearing what young people have to say about their lives and it's my job to help them explore how those ideas can be made into a reality.”
- Cherelle, our Visual Arts Lead
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“I value young people and place great importance in unlocking their potential, building confidence and widening aspirations.”
- Joe, our Music Lead
What our young people think
“In my opinion, everybody needs AEE in their lives. I cannot stress how much they have helped me over the years. Being able to make music really helps express my feelings and I can freely talk to any staff member about anything going on in my mind and they are always there to listen. It’s definitely one of my main safe spaces and I love being part of such a brilliant place. I wouldn’t have achieved so many things if it wasn’t for them.”
How do I get involved?
Our programmes are open to anyone aged 11-25, and you don't need any background in art or music. Signing up and accessing our programmes is completely free! All you need to do is tell us a bit about you and what you’re interested in.
How our sign up process works
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Sign up using our form
This is so we can get to know a bit about you and what you’d like to do at AEE. After that we’ll be in touch within 7 working days.
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Visit our space
We’ll then be in touch to invite you and your parent/carer to our space. We'll introduce ourselves, show you around the studio, and can answer any and all questions you may have.
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Try a taster session
When we have a suitable space on our creative programme you’ll be invited to a taster session. If you’re happy to start sessions we can then continue weekly from there in the term time.
Frequently asked questions
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Any young person aged 11 - 25.
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It doesn't matter where you live, as long as you’re able to travel to our studio in Margate (We can also cover travel costs on a case by case basis).
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We ask you to provide the contact details of your parent/carer as we will need to speak to them to obtain permission for you to attend a meeting at AEE. We will also invite your parent/carer to attend.
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Sessions can last between 1 and 2 hours. You can come weekly, or every two weeks depending on what works for you. You can attend sessions with us for up to two years.
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I'm a parent/carer
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I work with young people
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I'm a supporter