M Shed exhibition and event
For two weeks in July, Room 13 Hareclive exhibited at M Shed, Bristol: an important city arts and culture organisation for the people of Bristol and international visitors. We had the whole education space, with huge windows looking out over the heart of the city. We filled it with Hareclive children’s creativity, art, enterprise, independent thinking, learning, collaborating, voice and change-making.
What better way and place to mark 20 years of Room 13 and children’s phenomenal achievements – from individual artworks to studio wide creative films, projects and speeches – and to share these with our community, city and world. We launched it with a wonderful private view to mark our 20 years – read more below – and got media coverage too.
Private view event
Around 100 people attended our private view – nearly everyone we invited! Current Room 13 children aged 9-11 helped to run the event and mingled with other guests and older Room 13ers, now in their 20s and even 30s, who came back to see their artworks and mark 20 years. Our school Head, Helen Rees, and many other teachers and staff came in their own time to share the moment. Other guests included important representatives from our community and from the arts, education, business and philanthropy in our city and many other supporters of the studio.
There was AMAZING cake donated by Cakesmiths, refreshments kindly donated by Helen Wilde, hours of good conversation, and speeches. See pictures from the event at the end of this News post.
Speeches
Phil Gibby, Director of Arts Council South West, championed Room 13’s 20 years of work on creativity, art and opportunities for all. Pointing to our regular project funding from ACE, he said that Room 13 is what Arts Council England Let’s Create strategy is all about and that our work is one of the best things they have funded over the years.
Richard Pendlebury, High Sheriff of Bristol, spoke about the importance of art and creativity to all children and his admiration for Hareclive children’s initiative and talent. Both he and Phil Gibby praised Hareclive (primary) E-Act Academy and teachers for all they do to support children and for understanding the vital importance of a space like Room 13.
Room 13 voices
We the adult team spoke about our journey of 20 years. This was our chance to thank everyone who has helped Room 13 along the way (many of whom were in the room). And to say as clearly as we can: art, creativity and space for independent thinking and trust matter to children – to their learning and wellbeing – and Room 13 is the 20 year proof. Equity of opportunity for all children – so very far from the reality – is our dream and what drives us on. But the best and most important speeches of course were from Room 13ers.
“Good afternoon, my name is Kye and I am 9 years old.
I have just joined the Room 13 Management Team. Room 13 is a safe space where we can paint, draw and express ourselves. In Room 13, learning looks different and can be fun. I can follow my own interests and ideas. After being in Room 13 I’m in a better mood to return to class. This creative place is important because not all children can use words to show their feelings. If we can’t express ourselves in any way, people don’t know what we children are thinking or feeling. Adults do not know what it feels like to be 9 years old right NOW.
Hope you enjoy looking at our artworks.”
“Good evening and welcome to Room 13’s exhibition at Mshed. My name is Lauren and I am a senior manager director at Room 13 in 2011/2012. I was involved in the making of the circular table [link to To the Table film], our Dundry Slopes project and a fair few speeches!
Room 13 allows children to explore their thoughts and feelings with freedom through artwork, conversation and responsibilities. My time in the studio, I felt safe and free. I was listened to and I was supported to unravel my thoughts and to make a difference. As a child, this made me feel empowered and confident.
The opportunities that I was involved in such as speeches to large audiences, meeting artists such as Richard Long and creating thoughtful artwork were important to how I identified as a person. Room 13 become part of my identity.
It has been 12 years since I left Hareclive primary school and 9 years since my artwork was displayed through Generation art alongside Grayson Perry exhibition, ‘Provincial Punk’. My artwork ‘Hands’ was made at Spike Island where selected Room 13ers continued to explore art in Year 7. We had the opportunity to view other artwork in the studios, work with artists and to be part of the annual Spike Island Open Studios event.
Here and now, although I may not be directly connected to Room 13, I hope my artwork continues to make children and adults stop and start that initial conversation that leads to something special. To explore your mind brings expression and endless imagination.
I want to lastly say thank you to Shani and Paul who have continue to commit their hard work to Room 13, giving the thousands of children who have walked through the studio the opportunity to explore and experience a therapeutic sense of identity through art.”
