Room 13 seminar

Room 13 has very organic roots - it started with Caol camera club and involved an artist and some pupils. The club was commercial, taking and selling school photos in order to raise funds to buy a camera (Rob Fairley was original artist). Room 13 developed from this in a fairly organic way. It went global as a result of interest generated by a Room 13 artist's exhibit based on 9/11 that was exhibited in the Tate Modern in 2003. The young artists then produced a documentary about the work of Room 13 called "What age can you start being an artist?" The concept of Room 13 was then introduced and replicated in other countries and schools - it went global. This has resulted in many links between Room 13 in Scotland and Room 13's in the wider world. Latterly, Room 13 has developed into the community and there is a community studio in Caol. This is funded differently.

The philosophy behind Room 13 is based on the philosophical premise of the Plato and the Scottish enlightenment. There are 4 cornerstones of the project:

1. Ownership - the studio is run by an elected management team of pupils, there is no (or very little) outside funding.
2. Philosophical enquiry - activities are lead by curiosity, there are no limitations, it is free and open. Pupils engage in intellectual and material questions and exploration.
3. Reciprocal learning - everyone is there on an equal basis. No one is paid to teach, all learn from each other. Children work alongside artists and there is a professional ethos.
4. Creative freedom - but you need the other things first in order for it to be successful.


The artists explained a number of benfits to the Room 13 approach such as:

1. Learning how to think like an artist and to be creative and thus to take this to any area of life. Learning to learn and to be self directed and self motivated.

2. Room 13 gives you a thirst for education and knowledge. You can explore deeper things outwith formal curriculum when you want to.

3. Art allows you to access all other subjects through a visual, representative way. All areas can be integrated. It allows you to make links in your understanding.


I found it a very interesting and valuable day at Room 13. As well as a better understanding of the root, philosophy, pedagogy, and practical running of the studio, I have come away with a great deal of food for thought in terms of the impact this could have on my own teaching but also of the constraints within secondary education.

In addition, on a simpler level, I have come away with a number of practical ideas I can integrate into my own teaching such as developing a 'wall of ideas' and the postcard activity as a way in to discussing and engaging with artwork.


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