TBWA to introduce Room 13 to SA

Called Room 13, this initiative involves setting up a self-funded business, which sees the primary school children create art, raise sponsorships, hold exhibitions and ultimately sell their art. Two primary schools in South Africa - Sapebus in Soweto and Mmulakgorro at Botshabelo - are about to launch studios.

The original Room 13 started in Scotland in 1994 when two 11-year old girls volunteered to take their school's photographs and bought a camera with the money they earned in the process. The two subsequently asked artist Rob Fairley what it would take for him to come and work with them at the school.

"Pay me," Fairley said and so Room 13 was born. The adult artist started working with the young entrepreneurs, but as their employee rather than their teacher. Today other young children at Caol Primary School continue to run this project.

The children in charge of Room 13 apply for grants, order supplies, give talks at educational conferences and manage their own finances. The only resources they take from their school are light and heat.

"We are particularly pleased to bring this to South Africa where there is such rich tradition of art and where entrepreneurship can also make such a big contribution to the future economy of the country," says Rod Wright of TBWA Worldwide.

The children who have passed through the Room 13 studio since its inception in 1993 have produced ground-breaking art. Danish Radio describe one Room 13 exhibition as "one of the most important exhibitions, possibly in the whole of Europe".

"In South Africa, artists will be working with the children involved in Room 13, teaching them about philosophy as they teach themselves the business of art," says Marie Jamieson of TBWA \ South Africa.