Listening to children is not always easy.  But it was a decision to not only do this but also to give a group of primary school children complete responsibility for an exhibition of contemporary craft which has created one of Scotland’s most innovative exhibitions.

The idea started in the Spring of 2000 with one person, Pamela Conacher, who had recently become crafts advisor to Room 13 at Caol Primary School in Fort William.  Room 13 is a studio organised and managed by pupils from primary 5, 6 and 7 who can develop their own ideas working with an artist-in-residence. 

Her belief was that contemporary crafts were not being explained and exhibited in the Highlands.  It was her involvement with the Room 13 project – combined with a moment of inspiration while relaxing one evening with a gin and tonic – that led to the idea for the ’Thirteen Hands’ exhibition. The concept was to create an exhibition of contemporary craft curated by children from the school, which would then tour the Highlands. 

This would have been a challenging idea for any school to develop; however, Pamela also wanted the children to be responsible for every aspect of the exhibition, from commissioning the makers and choosing the colours of the exhibition plinths to producing the catalogue and speaking at the Private Views.  This approach would ensure the exhibition was uniquely theirs so it was not another children’s exhibition created by adults, but one designed by children for everyone to learn from and enjoy.

Pamela then took the vision a step further, and decided that the children should have the opportunity to curate the exhibition from work by Britain’s new makers and top contemporary designers.

After completing a feasibility study, funding was successfully raised from the Scottish Arts Council National Lottery Fund for Children and Young People and the Highland Council (Education, Culture and Sport), and the project began.  Cathy Shankland, Highland Council's exhibitions officer provided practical support as well as financial assistance.

From more than 90 potential exhibitors the children selected 34 makers to take part.  The majority of the makers created work specifically for the show often in direct response to information or raw materials provided by the children.  The makers involved all enthusiastically and positively welcomed the project as groundbreaking and an innovative way of explaining contemporary craft to both children and adults. 

The exhibition covers 13 craft disciplines from textiles to bookbinding. Among those makers chosen by the children were Scottish designers Jacki Parry, Mhairi Corr, Karin Muhlert, Angus Clyne, Jack Cunningham, Dot Sim, Paul Topen and Faith Shannon, while UK makers included Bob Crooks, Louise Baldwin, Kirsten Burke, Lucy Casson, Richard Slee, Nora Fok and Freddie Robins. 

An integral part of the project has been an extensive education programme, which was developed with Kim Jacobsen, education officer at Contemporary Applied Arts in London.  This includes a crafts handling collection, teacher’s talks and information packs.  A makers handbook, specially created by bookbinder Angela James, has detailed information about each of the makers and the work they do.

This unique and exciting exhibition opened in November 2001.  In a review in Crafts magazine Phillipa Swann wrote:

‘…..many professional curators and art administrators would do well to visit this show and pick up some tips. See it and be inspired.’

In the catalogue the children involved explained why they liked each piece.  Here are their words about the images we have used:

 “I like Karin’s work because it doesn’t look like paper – it looks like carved wood and feels like wood shavings.”  Rosie on ‘Sea Changes’ by Karin Muhlert

“I like all the different shapes you can see when you look at it and I like how big and different it is from all the other work that Angus makes.”  Laura on ‘Europa’ by Angus Clyne

“I like his work very much!  The best thing I like about it is the way he uses glass to make things look like real clothes.  It will look really cool close up!” Rebecca on ’Glass Corset’ by Paul Topen

The exhibition, with related workshops by makers, has visited eighteen venues in the Highlands and Islands, England and Wales since opening and is now reaching the final few venues of its tour.

From 27 August until 13 September it is showing at the Corran Halls in Oban before moving to the Maclaurin Galleries, Rozelle House, Ayr from mid October until mid December.   A programme of workshops will run at each venue and details of these will be available soon.  There will then be one final venue before the exhibition is dismantled.

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