On June 21, Reijo Kemppinen, the Head of the Representation of the Commission in the UK officially opened a new arts hall of Room 13 in South Bristol.
The new studio building received £90,000 of Community funding (50% of the total of the project) from ERDF URBAN II. In a cheerful and well attended ceremony, which involved speeches by the Room 13 children, ribbon-cutting and a presentation of a RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architect’s) award to the designers of the building, Mr Kemppinen highlighted the importance of often small, but influential EU projects which transform local communities and benefit neighbourhoods.
Room 13 is a democratically run artists’ studio, managed by a team of 8 to 11 year olds alongside two resident artists, where the children participate in and produce art. The idea behind the project is that the children are not learning in a formal, teacher led environment. Room 13 achievements to date position it as a model for unconventional education, not only in arts, but also in management, public speaking, fundraising, decision-making for under 15-year olds. "The European Commission is proud to be associated with Room 13 a project, that really makes a difference" said Mr Kemppinen during the opening.
The Bristol studio is the first purpose built Room 13 in the UK; it was set up in Hareclive Primary School Bristol in 2003, and received URBAN II funding for the new arts hall in 2005.
Click here for more information about the ERDF and URBAN II in England.
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