Chelsea Studio Award

Eligibility: Final year BA Fine Art students at Chelsea College of Art and Design

Next programme (2011-2012): Application information will be available in March 2012.

Information

In 2009, Kiki Claxton and Harry Major, two second-year students at Chelsea College of Art and Design, approached Acme for support in providing more appropriate awards for graduating students. Aware of the difficulties graduate artists face and encouraged by Kiki and Harry’s pro-activeness, Acme offered to provide a studio rent-free for six months.

The 2010-2011 Chelsea Studio Award was greatly enhanced as a result of a grant from Chelsea Arts Club Trust, who encourage art and design education, and provide help and support for artists and designers. Chelsea Arts Club Trust’s contribution, meant the award holder received a cash bursary and professional mentoring.

The role of organising the award in 2011/12 has been taken on by second year students Marleen Boschen and Rebecca Kirkpatrick who will gain invaluable experience of working with professional arts bodies as a result of this and other student initiatives. The 2010/11 award was organised by Tanya Pragnell and Hannah Clayden and the 2009/10 award was organised by Lauren Holton.

2011-2012: Anna Moderato

Anna Moderato was selected by Jonathan Harvey, Acme Studios and Julia Alvarez, BEARSPACE for this year's Chelsea Studio Award. Anna says of her work 'I see my practice as a series of investigations into the physical world. Through sculpture and video I explore how materials and objects behave when manipulated and what possibilities they have within the limits of physical law.'

Childers Street Graduate Award Studios

The Chelsea 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.

Previous recipients of the Chelsea Studio Award

2010-11: Amy Gee
Amy Gee was the second recipient of the Chelsea Studio Award and works mainly in film and video. Amy began her six months in the studio in October 2010.

2009-2010: Sam Austen
A panel comprising artist Lindsay Seers and Acme's Heather Deedman selected Sam Austen as the inaugural recipient of the award. Sam took up his residency at Acme’s Galleria studios in September 2009. Sam’s previous work includes small-scale painting and projections. Having a large studio has encouraged Sam to experiment in new media and he used his time to work on a large sculptural piece.