Founded following the violent Indonesian occupation, "Its primary aim was to use art as a building block in the psychological and social reconstruction of a country devastated by violence, with special emphasis on helping its young citizens."
Arte Moris also collaborates with the professional drama troupe Bibi Bulak ("Crazy Goat").
The art center was housed on the former premises of the National Museum in Comoro, near Dili.
The artwork produced at the school is wide-ranging, but is often surrealist in style, and exhibits cultural aspects from the varied regions of the country.
In December 2021, the school was evicted from its building by the government in order to house army veterans.