Tag Archives: Fort William
Creative Place Awards Nominee 2015
Room 13 International is delighted to announce that we are leading the team which has seen Fort William shortlisted for the Creative Place Awards 2015, funded by Creative Scotland.
Since their launch in 2012, the Creative Place Awards have been awarded to smaller communities across Scotland, outside of the main cities, to enable them to enhance and promote the creative activities and programmes in their area. The awards recognise the communities’ ambitions in using the arts for the benefit of both local residents and visitors to their area.
‘Being nominated for the Creative Places award offers a wonderful opportunity for communities in Fort William and the surrounding area to celebrate our environment, mountain culture and native woodland through the planting of trees and the installation of innovative sculptures.’
Richard Bracken, Artist in Residence, Room 13 Caol
Working with the Fort William community, we plan to use the Creative Places award to create a series of interwoven art and arboreal projects, at the heart of which is The Liberty Grove / Doire na Saorsa, planting 1,000 native trees throughout the region. Working with different art forms, from sculpture and poetry to film, we will improve the environment for the entire community, and celebrate the world-renowned landscape of Lochaber in new and innovative ways.
As the lead organisation Room 13 International will co-ordinate a substantial programme of community-led activities, fostering an awareness of biodiversity and appreciation of wilderness, working with local and international artists, poets and storytellers.
Thanks to its inspiring surroundings, and initiatives such as the Fort William Mountain Festival, the town has an iconic status for visitors; now we will enhance and transform its identity, through innovative ecologically-sensitive cultural projects. Working amongst a community consisting of a remarkably strong network of local organisations, including woodland, geology and environmental specialists along with creative and cultural organisations, we will create a grove in which they can share their expertise in outdoor education, ecology and heritage. The Liberty Grove / Doire na Saorsa will prove that the region, and the Highlands as a whole, is supportive of visionary cultural projects integrated within wilderness landscapes.
All shortlisted Creative Place applicants have been asked to submit a second stage application, detailing more information about their project. We will find out if the bid from Fort William has been successful when the award winners are announced at a ceremony on 10 June 2015.
Fort William – Creative Place Awards Nominee 2015
Room 13 Community Studio hosting Odd Numbers Project 7th/8th Feb
This weekend, Room 13 Community Studio will host a temporary exhibition and workshop which will recreate the experience of the Odd Numbers project. Members of the community are invited to participate in the building and creation of a structure, which will be mainly made from reclaimed/salvaged materials. The building of this pavilion will be led and supervised by Lee Ivett, a qualified architect who teaches at in the Mackintosh School of Architecture, Glasgow School of Art, and who is also the project leader for the Love Milton project, which is a partner in Remaking Society.
Participants will be invited to ‘adopt’ a ceramic creature for a short time and then return it, having made a creative response.
In this way the community of Caol will go through the three stages of Odd Numbers that the community of Milton has participated in – choose a creature, own/possess/document it, then make a creative response; all of these will be exhibited in the pavilion on the final day.
Construction begins on Friday 7th Feb and the event will conclude with a public seminar led by the University of the West of Scotland’s Artist Teacher programme on Saturday 8th Feb.
This seminar will consider the pedagogical implications of the Odd Numbers project. Creative or merely curious individuals of all ages are welcome to come along at any point to construct, create, watch or listen.
Paper & Printmaking Workshop Series
A series of weekend workshops in Printmaking, Papermaking & Bookbinding.
Best experienced as one course over three weekends, these workshops are designed to give an insight into three related skill sets. These workshops are available for anyone aged 12 to adult and will take place in the relaxed environment of Room 13 Community Studio in Caol, Lochaber.
Printmaking: 1st & 2nd March £58 adult £38 under 18s
Explore printmaking techniques with visiting artist Sarah Keast. Printmaking is a diverse subject with many skills to master, however, learning just a little can go a long way. We will look at linocuts, and monoprinting. Be warned, it can be addictive!
Papermaking: 8th & 9th March £58 adult £38 under 18s
Learn how to make paper with recycled materials and naturally occurring materials with Room 13 resident artist Richard Bracken. This workshop will introduce you to the techniques and allow you to experiment with making your own unique paper.
Bookbinding: 15th & 16th March £58 adult £38 under 18s
Richard Bracken will introduce methods for assembling your own sketchbooks, journals and notepads with just a few simple tools and materials. You will also have the chance to combine all of the skills of printmaking, papermaking and bookbinding during this weekend, giving you, for example, the opportunity to create a book of prints incorporating hand-made paper.
Full course price (all 3 weekends): £160 Adults, £95.00 under 18s
Includes tuition, all materials, and refreshments.
Click here for further information & booking form
Or Contact: info@room13international.org
Visit to Room 13 from St Mary’s Derry
Meghan Doherty, a studio manager from Room 13 St Mary’s, Derry, reports on her team’s fact finding mission to Room 13 in Caol, Scotland:
On Thursday, September 26th, our group of ten, (accompanied by Mrs. Quinn and Mr. Hoeritzauer) from St. Mary’s Room 13, travelled to Fort William, Scotland, home to the original Room 13. After planning for numerous weeks, the excitement between us was immeasurable! Tickets booked, bags packed, passports in hand; we were ready to go. Following a quick trip to the City of Derry airport, a short plane ride and a bus journey, we had arrived. The scenery travelling to our destination alone was captivating. From the sculpted mountains to the lush greenery, there were sights that caused gaping mouths, at every corner. We arrived at the Bank Street Lodge, our home for the night.
After changing out of our ‘travel clothes’, we headed for dinner. When our stomachs had settled, we decided to go to the amusements. Filled to the brim, with incredible rides, impressive bouncy castles and mouth-watering food stalls, there was action at every turn. We made our way to the bowling alley, followed by a slightly competitive game of bowls. Everyone had so much fun in one night alone, that we could not wait for the next day to begin, so we ‘hit the hay’.
We awoke, had breakfast and were buzzing to see Room 13. We went firstly to see the community studio in Caol Youth Centre, which most definitely looked the part. They showcased amazing work, by Artist-in-Residence, Sarah Hughes, and by the local residents. This included a spectacular photography exhibition, picturing the local residents; it showed the diversity in the area and the differences in personalities. We can all say that the work blew us away!
Our first session, guided by Sarah, was exploring the different way to paint; using brushes, bottles, spoons, knives, and even our bodies, and the outcome was extraordinary! We had lunch on the sea-front, which had a picture-perfect view, followed by a trip to the park and the beach.
Now it was what we had been waiting for, to see Room 13 in Caol Primary School. It was mind – boggling that primary aged children could make such wonderful work and at such a high standard! They even had their own souvenirs! The management team talked to us about the day-to-day running, fundraising ideas and their own artwork, they give us excellent advice and concepts which we could never have thought of. All of the members were simply awe-inspiring!
Following this, we had a second session, which focused on how we could show emotions through different shapes and colours in modelling clay. It gave us a better understanding of artwork and different ways to express ourselves in our artwork. Our final session was using symbols to talk to each other. It was interesting to see how you could make conservation without saying anything at all, and how Sarah was able to tell our personalities and friendships. At the end of the day, we were sad to go, but glad at the knowledge we took home.
Our final night in Scotland was in a beautiful hotel. Sitting on extremely comfy beds, we were able to discuss the day, and take away significant understanding. We were deeply saddened at the end of our trip; we never wanted it to end! We came home with memories that will never be forgotten.
Meghan Doherty, Room 13 St Mary’s Derry
Room 13 St Mary's Derry Visit to Scotland Sept 2013
Room 13 Open Day
We have an open day coming up where you can come by and experience Room 13 by diving right into the middle of it all and see for yourself how a Room 13 works within a school and community environment!
There will be visits to the original Room 13 based in Caol Primary School at regular intervals throughout the day. The artists in residence and managers will be on hand and will happily answer any questions you may have about what really goes on in a Room 13. It will be also a great opportunity to bring up any individual project ideas you may have which are relevant to your community or organisation and you can book a one to one meeting to discuss it further.
Room 13 Open Day, Caol Youth Centre from 11:00am – 3:00pm on the 27th of September.
Come by for the whole day or just drop in for a chat!
Contact: admin@room13internation.org for further details on the day’s events..
Room 13 Summer Studio 2013
Room 13 Community Studio in Caol was the focal point for our 2013 summer programme. which included Portfolio Preparation for senior school pupils, workshops for Very Young Artists and popular afternoon studio sessions for artists of all levels of experience and ability.
There was drawing, painting, construction, wood, wire, looking, thinking, talking, photography, glitter, poetry, printmaking, sculpting, discovery, hilarity, collaboration, mystification, exploration and questions. Lots of questions. A good time was had by all.
Browse photos of the fun and interesting happenings at Room 13 Summer Studio 2013.
More photos here on our Facebook page.
Ice and Light @ Fort William High Street Gathering
Room 13 artists and participating members of the community had a great time on a wet Thursday night in Fort William making art installations on the High Street using ice and light. Check out the photos of this event on our facebook page.
Light and Ice 20/12/2012
Artists from Room 13 International will be constructing ice cairns and creating an installation of 3000 glowsticks as part of Fort William High Street Christmas Gathering on 20/12/2012
Join Room 13 artists at Fort William High Street Christmas Gathering. Find out how you can get involved.
My Creative Fort William
Room 13 Caol organised an interactive open studio & art installation at My Creative Fort William launch event.
