Room 13 – visual arts, creativity and stuff that matters.
Written by John MacphersonI like duckrabbit. Because its all about storytelling, and art. But mainly because its about teaching those things too. Thats what’s really important. Good art can affect people, but learning how to create art can change people’s lives. Its powerful stuff.
Room 13 anyone? Heard of it? Yes! Great.
Not heard of it?
Well Room 13 started in my home town of Fort William back in the 90’s. It grew out of the work of an artist mate of mine who worked with some children in a slightly run down and otherwise unremarkable primary school in the village of Caol – no names, because Room 13 has not ever been about the adults, and all about the developing artistic vision of the children who embrace the experience that Room 13 offers.
From that one classroom, Room 13, has grown into an international network of Room 13’s, all run by children, for children, and making a bigger impact in the development of the appreciation and practice of the visual arts amongst young people than many major publicly funded bodies I could name.
The list of Room 13’s around the world is worth looking at.
For me Room 13 embodies everything art should be about for people – inspiring, educational, engaging, life-affirming, and life-changing. There will be a great many adults wandering about whose lives have been enriched by the creative experiences they had as children in Room 13, such as the pupils of Hareclive School in Bristol.
So, anyone who has a Room 13 near them, please give them your support. (Anyone in Nepal? There’s more than a dozen Room 13’s in that country alone)
Art matters. And art for, and by, young people matters immensely.

Art matters!
Discussion (5 Comments)
Thanks John, What a great project..thanks for enlightening me.
Terrific stuff. Thanks for sharing. Just goes to show for some, many, 13 is a lucky number.
Sounds great, I actually know a couple of photographers who regularly travel to Nepal, I’ll tell them about it.
V.interesting, thanks for sharing