Room 13 Inquiry

Room 13 is a well-established and renowned art studio programme which began in Fort William, UK, and now exists in schools throughout the world. We were interested in the studio concept for a long time and curious about how it would work in practice. We consulted with artists and local schools to assess their experiences of traditional artist-in-residence projects and to identify their art education interests in going forward.

Following much thought and dialogue we embarked on visiting the original Room 13 studio in Caol School, Fort William, to see what a student run art studio looked like in practice. It was a wonderful visit and we were greatly inspired by the children and artist we met there. Their studio is hosted by the primary school but autonomous in all other aspects. It is managed by the students and self-sustainable.

On our return to Fingal we continued conversations with artists and schools. After a sincere planning phase, the door was opened to artist Orla Kelly and to Anne Cradden in Scoil Bhride Cailini NS and Tyrrelstown Educate Together NS respectively, and to each child and teacher in the school to begin their art studio inquiry. It is a collaborative inquiry that assists schools in Fingal investigate the potential of hosting an art studio for their students in the safety of a partnership with their local authority. During this inquiry participants are provided with opportunities to increase their natural capacity and capability for self-expression, philosophical inquiry and art making. Visits to current art exhibitions and artists’ studios provide essential experiences for connecting with the contemporary art world and ignite dialogue back in the school studio. Each studio operates as a space where people can share ideas, expertise, facilities, and responsibilities, and make art.

We have invited principals, teachers and educators to reflect on the work of Room 13 Inquiry. You can read an essay gifted to the project by Dr. Jessica H. Davis here.

We’ve produced this website www.room13inquiry.ie to capture the essence of the work going on in each existing studio and to share information with other schools interested in the inquiry.

We are holding an event in Draiocht on Tuesday 20th of June at 12 noon to officially launch the website and screen our documentary film. You are welcome to join us! See details attached.

For more information and to hear from our teachers and students involved please click into In Our Own Words link opposite.