Adrian Carruthers Award

Eligibility: Final year MA students at Slade School of Art.

Next programme (2012-2013): A panel will select from next year's graduating students in June 2012.

Information

Established in 2002 for artists graduating from The Slade School of Art, the Adrian Carruthers Award provides a free studio for a year, plus a bursary of £5,000.

The award was created in memory of the artist Adrian Carruthers, who died in October 2001 at the age of 40.

Adrian was a graduate of The Slade School of Art and his family, friends and fellow artists worked together to set up an award in his name, offering practical support to talented artists at the beginning of their careers.

The studio space is at Childers Street, Deptford, SE8, where Adrian worked as an artist. Acme Studios contribute half of the cost of the studio space, as well as supporting the administration of the fund.

Soaring property prices in London and the appropriation of industrial space for residential development has made it harder for artists to find work space at affordable prices.

2011 - 2012: Luke McCreadie

Sculpture graduate Luke McCreadie was selected by a panel including Slade Director Susan Collins, Head of Postgraduate Media Jayne Parker, Head of Postgraduate Painting Lisa Milroy, Head of Postgraduate Sculpture Ed Allington and external artist/critic Martin Coomer.

Luke explains, ‘Often my aim is to test and probe the physicality, as well as the textual representation of objects, things and experiences.’ Luke began occupation of the award’s Childers Street studio in October 2011.

Childers Street Graduate Award Studios

The Adrian Carruthers Studio Award is one of four graduate awards permanently located in purpose-designed award studios, located at Acme’s Childers Street studios in Deptford. The adjoining spaces naturally promote peer support, as well as professional input from galleries, such as BEARSPACE, and through mentoring and studio visits. These awards have been carefully developed with Acme’s partners to provide a valuable and effective bridge between college and professional practice. Each award provides a rent-free studio for 12 months plus a stipend of £2,500 - £5,000 per year.

Supporting the award

Acme is committed to making this a permanent award and currently contributes half the cost of the studio. Recently the future of the award has been greatly enhanced by the generosity and effective fundraising of Adrian’s family. The Adrian Carruthers Studio Award is supported by charitable donations. If you would like to help to support artists through this award, please click on the Newsletter in 'Further Reading' for details of how to make a donation.

Previous recipients of the Adrian Carruthers Studio Award

2010-2011: Rose Davey 'The past year has been an invaluable experience that has allowed me to continue painting in an environment that is pressure-free and adorned with the luxuries of space and isolation. I have felt able to produce work that I may have been too self-conscious to create in the chaos of a shared studio, and so feel very grateful to Acme and all the supporters of the Adrian Carruthers Award for enabling me to develop my practice in such a positive and supportive environment.'

2009-2010: Janne Malmros 'To be able to explore and develop ideas in a great studio without large financial constraints has been very beneficial for my career. To be able to work and exhibit in the Acme Project Space during my time as the Adrian Carruthers Award holder was a wonderful opportunity and a great way to round off a fruitful year.'

2008-2009: Revati Mann 'My year in the studio - wonderful.'

2007-2008: Terumitsu Hishinuma 'I had a productive and quality time at the Acme studio. I really appreciate your help and support.'

2006-2007: Nicola Wallis 'This fantastic bursary will allow me precious space, time and financial assistance which are all vital for the development of my work, research and ideas.'

2005-2006: Lorraine Neeson 'Leaving the security and support of college is extremely daunting for any student. This award serves as an invaluable advancement in my professional development and affords me the luxury of working as an artist in London which otherwise might not have been possible.'

2004-2005: Bryan Parsons, Corinna Till, Eddie Farrell, Gil Pasternak, Graham Hayward & Emma Hart 'The Adrian Carruthers Award has given us vital support over the year and helped us significantly in rendering our vision real.'

2003-2004: Matt Templeton 'This award has been a necessary bridge after my postgraduate studies. Having had this time and space to carry on with my work led to several showings and supported the beginning of my teaching career. This award has benefited my work greatly.'

2002 - 2003: Sibylle Baltzer 'The award has given me the priceless time and space to pay full attention to my paintings in a real studio environment, free from too many financial anxieties.'