News and Press
Young artists exhibit their work at TLT

A team of young artists from Room 13 Hareclive, based at Hareclive Primary school in Hartcliffe, showcased a selection of their work at an evening reception held last night at the Bristol head office of top 100 law firm TLT. 

Room 13 Hareclive is an award-winning art studio that operates within the school, employing an artist in residence. Pupils at the school can go to the studio to draw, paint, sculpt, use the computers and work on any creative project or idea. Unlike most arts projects however, it is the children that run Room 13. A management committee, made up of pupils aged between 8 - 11 years, is in charge of the studio and is responsible for everything from buying materials to paying the artist’s salary.

At the event, which was brokered by Arts & Business South West, Room 13 Hareclive presented a range of exciting and high-quality work by young artists. The studio also offered businesses and individuals the opportunity to lease work from the studio as a means of generating future income for the project. The studio has secured funding until 2010 but aims to support itself beyond that through a variety of enterprising activity, including the loan scheme.

Robert Bourns, Senior Partner at TLT, says, "We're delighted to be able to offer our office space to Room 13 Hareclive's artists so that they can showcase their paintings, drawings and prints. This is a worthwhile cause and will hopefully encourage greater links between the arts and the business community within the South West region."

Commenting on the value of Room 13 Hareclive, 11-year old Amy says, "The first time I went to Room 13, I really didn’t know what to expect. In Room 13 I started meeting more friends. I loved it there so much I started going a lot more. It is a room for kids, run by kids. We have freedom in the room and we can choose what to do and when to do it."

Another young artist, Paige, added "Room 13 gives you a lot of responsibilities. It’s a place where you learn, chill out or be creative and express all kinds of feelings. It gives us a better education into jobs for the future."