Room 13 Summer School, Courses, Painting Holidays and Artists Expeditions in 2008:

Contact Room 13 HQ to request a brochure.

As the reputation of Room 13 has grown we have become used to visitors to our studios. Through this, and through talking to people at any conferences or events we attend we have discovered that people who take an interest in Room 13 usually start by asking the same basic questions.
We have decided it might be useful to post the answers to the questions we are most often asked.

Q. Please explain more about how Room 13 works.

A. The best way to understand Room 13 is to experience it. It is very difficult to explain everything about how it works as it is multi layered and there are many variables. By its nature it is chaotic and transformative, subject to ever changing creative and environmental factors. We are delighted that so many are inspired by Room 13 and would encourage any school wanting to instil a more creative and entrepreneurial form of education.
However, having a Room 13 Studio is a big commitment for any school as it means fully embracing a very different way of working. We want to make sure that any school wishing to establish a Room 13 understands exactly what this commitment entails and is willing to work with us over a long time to make it happen.
The name Room 13 means something and what it stands for is very important to us, so we don’t allow people to use it unless they are officially members of the Room 13 Studio Network. New studios have to be invited to join the Room 13 Network by an existing studio or associate of Room 13. Only once you have been granted official Room 13 status by Room 13 HQ can you consider your studio a Room 13.
We are very strict about his because it is our way of protecting Room 13’s reputation and making sure all studios carrying our name respect the values and ideas behind Room 13 and work in a way that we would want to be associated with.

Q. How do we go about setting up a Room 13?

A. There are no instructions and no start up pack. If that is the sort of thing you are looking for, Room 13 probably isn’t for you! Each Room 13 is unique to the individual culture of its environment and the individuals involved. Room 13 works best when it is initiated by the students, with the full support of their teachers or adult staff.
If you think you would like to establish a studio with a view to being accepted into the Room 13 Studio Network, we strongly advise you take the following steps:
1. If possible, visit an existing Room 13 Studio or get direct experience of Room 13.
2. Get support for the idea from students and staff of whichever institution will host the studio.
3. Write to Room 13 HQ outlining your plans.

Q. What are the initial costs?

A. The main factor required is time. The great thing about Room is that it grows organically. It’s important that the students are in charge right from the start, and that includes thinking about how to generate the money they need in order to do what they want to do. To get started, you just need enthusiasm, commitment, inspiration and ideas – all of which are free!

Q. What basic equipment is needed?

A. This depends what sort of form the studio is going to take. Having a dedicated space is pretty important. As the studio business grows and becomes more profitable the management team will gradually be able to invest in equipment as required.

Q. How do we set up a management team?

A. It varies from one studio to the next but generally there is a team of students who take responsibility for studio management. They are either formally elected (for example, at an annual AGM) or self-selecting as the most dedicated studio users. Each Room 13 studio is run as a business, and has to make money in order to function, which means that there are opportunities for people with different skills, not just creative artistic types.

At Room 13 HQ we do give careful individual consideration to all who seek our advice, but is becoming quite difficult to keep up!
We would encourage anyone interested in exploring the Room 13 concept further to come along to one of our open weeks or join a seminar session.

Q. Why is it called Room 13?

A. The original art studio in Caol Primary was established in Room 13! In later years, the studio moved to Room 14, in a more convenient location in the school. But by that time the name Room 13 had stuck, so we swapped the numbers on the doors. When we started setting up studios in other schools, initially we said they could call their rooms whatever they wanted. But everyone identified with Room 13 and now new studios are proud to adopt the name and become part of the Room 13 Network. The only exception is Studio 13, in Lochaber High School who chose to adapt the name to distinguish the different environment of the High School studio.

Q. How many people can use the studio ?

A. This seems like a strange question to us, but it is very often asked! The answer depends on a lot of things. A studio can accommodate as many people as can find a space to work. There is no limit really because if someone finds the room too crowded or too noisy they can always come back later. In some cases, students can book the room or the equipment for a time that suits them.

Q. How do you deal with discipline problems in Room 13?

A. Discipline problems never really arise. People come to Room 13 to work on things that are important too them, or to appreciate the atmosphere in the space. The management team are in charge and their authority is backed up by the adult members of staff if nessecary, but usually the students respect Room 13 because they know it is theirs.