Room 13

Room 13 began in 1994 in one room in Caol Primary School in the West Highlands of Scotland. The room was used as an art space where pupils could go to create artwork, carry out research or discuss ideas with the Artist-in-Residence. It was their room, their space and was managed entirely by them. Culture Company is working with Room 13 International to support local schools or communities who are seriously committed to establishing a Room 13. Room 13 is truly innovative in that it tries to change people’s minds about creativity and what young people can do.

The young artists in Room 13 are engaged in demonstrating to adults, teachers, parents and the artistic community at large, that arts education should not be confined to the timetabled lesson, or to teacher-initiated classroom projects. The young artists in Room 13 form an independent self-determining community. City of Culture 2013 will see the establishment of the first Room 13s in Northern Ireland. Room 13 International is providing support through an artists-in-residence training programme and will bring an exhibition of children’s artwork from Room 13s around the world to the city in Autumn 2013.