You are here: Home » News, views and events » Press releases » Self-expression in Room 13

Self-expression in Room 13

02/06/2003

"Kids who struggle in other areas no longer feel failures, and they feel able to have a go at difficult areas of the curriculum that they would otherwise decide were hard and boring."

Established nine years ago, Room 13 is an autonomous arts studio based at the Caol Primary School in Fort William and run by pupils aged between 8 and 11 years. It elects its own officials, keeps its own accounts and pays the salary of an artist-in-residence. To date, Room 13 has survived on small grants and fund-raising through the sale of post-cards and murals. The NESTA award is the first UK-wide body to offer the project substantial funding to consolidate its base.

Room 13 operates at a very challenging academic level and teaches through a 'hands-on' approach, everything from art skills and business practice to personal development and philosophy. Danielle Souness, its 11 year-old Managing Director, expresses the studio's core belief: "We believe in the importance of each individual's integrity and the expression of that individuality is essential to the wealth and health of the wider community."

A special feature of Room 13 is that pupils in years six and seven (in Scotland, primary six and seven equates to year five and year six in the English system) are free to leave their lessons whenever they want - as long as their classwork is up-to-date. At any time of day you can find up to 10 children scattered around the floor making or painting something. Some of the work that has been created in the studio has attracted critical attention from the arts establishment and last year Room 13 won both the individual and the schools awards in the Barbie Prize, otherwise known as the 'Turner Prize for kids'.

Caol's headteacher, Jennifer Cattanach, praises Room 13's approach to adding value to the school curriculum: "The self-confidence that children get from that they do there is unbelievable. Kids who struggle in other areas no longer feel failures, and they feel able to have a go at difficult areas of the curriculum that they would otherwise decide were hard and boring. Through Room 13 we get to see the whole personality of the child, not just the bit that performs academically."

NESTA's award, which has been made through its Learning (formerly Education) Programme, will enable Room 13 to extend their work within Fort William as well as develop the model and network across more remote highland schools and their communities. A part of this expansion is the development of new gallery space and waterfront development in Fort William by the Highland Council. NESTA will share its learning from this groundbreaking project in the hope that other schools around the UK may take up the Room 13 model.

Gareth Binns, NESTA Learning Director, comments on the award: "NESTA's learning programme is committed to finding projects that pioneer new ways of learning and Room 13 is a perfect example of this. Some may say that supporting a project run entirely by young people is risky but we feel that it's a risk worth taking, as the project leaders have demonstrated a unique vision to complementary learning and have a proven track record of success. We look forward to working with them over the next three years and we hope that our funding will enable Room 13 to go from strength to strength."