London Advocacy

Acme Studios works closely with the National Federation of Artists' Studio Providers and Arts Council England to promote the value and needs of all those providing affordable studio space for artists in London to government, to local authorities and other key strategic development and cultural agencies.

Acme took a leading role this year in supporting the work of the national federation in commissioning and disseminating a major study: Artists’ Studio Provision in the Host Boroughs: a review of the potential impacts of London’s Olympic Project. The study mapped current provision – the greatest concentration of artists’ studios in London is in this area – and affirmed not only the value and strengths of the sector, but also its innate vulnerability. The report set out the actions to be taken to ensure that not only is existing provision secured but that new studios are written into plans for the future of East and South East London after 2012.

The publication of the report provided an opportunity to promote the value of studio providers in London generally and Acme supported key presentations and meetings with a number of agencies including the host boroughs, London Thames Gateway Development Corporation, and the Mayor’s London Cultural Strategy Group.

Capital Studios

Capital Studios, the London Artists' Studios Development Programme was designed to raise awareness of the specific pressures on affordable studio space in London and explore opportunities for growth. The programme was led by Acme on behalf of all London affordable studio providers and coordinated by Val Millington. It was part-funded by Arts Council England and resulted in a number of meetings with local authorities and strategic development agencies and vital research leading to four publications. For more information and to download the publications, please see 'Further Reading'.