Talks

Room 13 children have been writing speeches and giving presentations right from the beginning of the movement, when the first studio opened in Caol, Fort William, Scotland. We followed in their footsteps and sharing in this way has been an important part of our studio practice, with younger children learning from older role models already on the job.

Speeches always start with children getting big sheets of paper and collectively writing down thoughts and ideas. This helps children to reflect on what happens in the studio and what the work means to them. The process of finding a voice also gives children agency and the opportunity to grow in confidence and self-esteem.

Over the years, ‘generations’ of children have stepped up to celebrate and advocate for their project in this way, and to a wide variety of audiences: other Room 13ers in the studio, children and teachers in school assemblies, and representatives from the arts, education, community, local authority, business and social change at events out in the world…

More talks coming soon, as we develop and update our new website to represent 20 years…

Talks archive

  • The whole team took to the stage at this international conference at City Hall. We showed our film‚ The Sad Reality, and held up placards for things that matter to us. Elsewhere, our film Now’s the Time was also screened and discussed in a seminar about children and bus travel. The whole team also held an open exhibition space in the archway beneath City Hall, welcoming deleguates and citizens to sign a huge card to the Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees, calling for Bristol to be more child friendly.

  • Senior Room 13ers calling for change. Watch the film that reproduced the presentation.

  • Mia and Freya spoke about their experiences of being part of their city in this joint presentation by the Bristol Child Friendly City intiative (Playing Out, Architecture Centre Bristol and Room 13 Hareclive).

  • Tamsin Edwards, a climate scientist at University of Bristol, got in touch with Room 13 to see if we could be part of ‘Bristol Ice Explorers: exploring Antarctica and ice through art’. Room 13’s Managing Director, Lily, made a presentation in front of many Scientists at the Symposium, also attended by the Management Team. We had a tour of the Wills building, University Library, Great Hall and Ice Labs. ‘The management team are incredible. I am absolutely in love with Room 13 and what it achieves.’ Tamsin Edwards, British climate scientist, 2014.

  • Shani, Paul and Lauren were invited to speak about Room 13 and our work at this conference organised by the International Journal of Art and Design Education. The theme was how ‘Collaboration in the arts can give young people a voice and provide platforms to become agents of change in their city’. You can read about the presentation on the Room 13 Studio Network blog. Shani, Paul and Ingrid also co-wrote an in depth chapter for the IJADE encyclopedia on Room 13 Hareclive’s history, approach, practice and importance.

  • We were invited by North Somerset Council to be small keynote speakers at this conference at Winter Gardens, Weston Super-mare. Senior Room 13er Lauren (year 8) and Managing Director Rhiannon (year 6) spoke about what Room 13 meant to them in front of 300 head teachers and teachers.

  • Lauren, a senior Room 13er and artist who has moved onto the local secondary school and artist in residence Shani Ali spoke in front of 85 delegates, sharing what we do in Room 13 and why it is so important to children’s creativity and art.

  • Room 13 International invited us to speak to delegates (artist and educators) at a Room 13 event in this year’s city of culture, Derry, via Skype, giving an introduction to Room 13 and our work in Hareclive.]

  • Shannon and Amy led a talk, a Q and A session and an activity and game for the theme of this conference: ‘Like Nothing Else: experiment, risk and gallery education’.

  • Shannon and Amy spoke about Room 13 Hareclive alongside well-known experts in the world of art and culture and children’s voice. This event asked many questions, including the following:

    Can young children grapple successfully with conceptual art? (Or is all children’s art actually conceptual?)

    Is there an age at which rational intelligence begins to encroach upon creativity?

    Can a great work of art still be a great work of art if the artist happens to be aged 11?

    Can children’s art ever be successfully displayed alongside adult works in a gallery or museum or is children’s art really destined only for school walls or parental fridge doors?]

  • Artsadmin was commissioned by Creative Partnerships London East to organise two afternoons of informal talks to build upon and extend debate around contemporary art and performance and its power to engage young people. Shannon and Amy spoke about art and creativity in Room 13 and why these matter to them.