Kwa Cutshwayo Junior Primary School officially launched its Room 13 Art Studio today, 22 June 2009, making it the fourth school in KwaZulu-Natal to boast its own self-sustaining art studio. A TBWA\Group\ initiative, Room 13 is an art studio installed at specially selected schools in South Africa. Each Room 13 is run by the learners, supported by TBWA\Group and an artist-in-residence, and sponsored by corporate sponsors. Kwa Cutshwayo Junior Primary, situated in Ntshilinyama near Marionhill, is sponsored by The Nelson Mandela Children's Fund.
With their Room 13 art studio now officially launched, the Kwa Cutshwayo Room 13 learners are ready to start making many more artworks that will be used for fundraising. Each Room 13 must earn money to pay their artist-in-residence and keep the studio going. Although they are supported in part by corporates, the children learn to manage their Room 13 studio as a self-sustaining business. In the process, they learn valuable entrepreneurial and leadership skills, in addition to honing their art talents. Artworks completed to date were on display at the launch event, for visitors to buy.
The four KwaZulu-Natal schools that now have their own Room 13 art studio are Silwane Junior Primary in Inanda District, Kwa Maquza Junior Primary in Dududu, Ugu District, Dargle Primary School, in the Natal Midlands, and Kwa Cutshwayo Primary School, in Ntshilinyama. There are plans to open a fifth in the Addington Beach area later this year.
