News

Artists’ Studios at Snape Maltings

04.03.2010

Aldeburgh Music is exploring the possibility of creating affordable artists’ studios and work/live space at their internationally renowned site at Snape Maltings, Suffolk. Acme Studios is advising Aldeburgh Music on the design and specification of space for artists and is undertaking a demand study to help determine if such a development is feasible. Artists and organisations based in Essex, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk are being asked to complete a short questionnaire on their potential interest in this exciting project. For more information and to download a questionnaire, please visit www.acme.org.uk/snape.php

Pioneering Fine Art Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP)

16.02.2010

Acme Studios and Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, University of the Arts London, have secured one of the first Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) in Fine Art practice. The two-year, part government-funded programme encourages collaboration between businesses and universities in the UK and will review the changing role of the artists’ studio within contemporary art practice, through an extensive programme of studio visits and interviews.

The project is set to begin in Spring 2010 and will result in new design specifications for artists’ studios which will help ensure that Acme continues to provide and manage studios which meet the changing needs of artists. An Artists’ Studios Research and Development Associate will be employed by the university and jointly supported by an academic and Acme supervisor and will be based with Acme full-time.

For more information, please see the Press Release below.

Pioneering Fine Art Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP)

PRESS-RELEASE-Knowledge-Transfer-Partnership.pdf

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Artists selected for Fire Station Work/Live Programme Four (2010-2015) announced

09.02.2010

Acme Studios’ residency programme at our converted Fire Station building in Poplar, London E14 is one of the most supportive schemes for professional artists in the UK.

The 12 residencies offer a significant practical and financial breathing space which allows artists to focus on the development of their professional practice. Consistent with our support of artists across our range of programmes, no obligations are placed on the artists allowing them to pursue their own professional agendas. Since it was established in 1997, over forty artists have benefited from this support. It is gratifying to see how these artists were able to maximise the
benefits of this ‘breathing space’ to challenge and develop their own practice, with many going on to secure national and international reputations.

Programme Four (2010-2015), which was launched in September, will provide low-cost combined working and living units for 12 selected
artists for five years includeing a two-and-a-half- year bursary (a rent-free work/live unit plus a grant of £5,000/year) specifically for a disabled or deaf artist.

Over 100 artists applied to the new programme, which was open to artists aged 23 or over from across the UK. The selection panel members this time were artist and educator Cath Hawes, artist Gayle Chong Kwan, and Acme’s Chief Executive Jonathan Harvey. Twenty-one artists were shortlisted and interviewed and we are delighted to announce that the following have been awarded residencies and will be moving into the Fire Station in April:

Briony Anderson, Gemma Anderson, Kate Atkin, Jonathan Baldock, George Charman, Melanie Clifford, Susan Corke, Robin Footitt, Haroon Mirza, Matthew Noel-Tod, David Osbaldeston and Emma Smith.

Jarman Award 2009 winner Lindsay Seers took part in the first Fire Station Programme (1997-2001). She recently spoke to Acme’s Julia
Lancaster about her experience and her career to date. The interview can be listened to at: www.acme.org.uk/firestationworklive.php

WASPS artist at the Fire Station

05.01.2010

Acme Studios and the major artists' studios provider in Scotland, WASPS have been looking at ways they can work in partnership to directly benefit artists. A short-term opportunity arose in one of Acme’s work/live units at the Fire Station in Poplar, E14. Moray Hilary was selected by WASPS to spend two months rent-free in the unit in January and February 2010. Moray is at an exciting stage of his career; over the past year he has moved from working predominantly with paint into developing sculptural and installation works on an ambitious scale. Recently, Moray has also been collaborating with a performance artist to create a new dialogue with his work. Spending time in London, based at the Fire Station is a unique opportunity for him to meet new artists, make connections with galleries and other arts professionals and embark on a period of research that will help inform his current and future work.

Chelsea Arts Club Trust support graduate award

04.01.2010

The value of the next Chelsea Studio Award will be 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. The Chelsea Studio Award was initiated by two second-year students at Chelsea College of Art and Design and provides a fine art graduate with a rent-free Acme studio for six months. The contribution from Chelsea Arts Club Trust, means the next award holder will also receive a cash bursary and professional mentoring. With the support of Chelsea College of Art, the role of organising the award will be taken on by a second year student, offering invaluable experience of working with professional arts bodies. Acme is delighted that an initial idea from two art students has been embraced and developed by their college and now supported by a charitable trust to create a valuable award which provides a supportive bridge between leaving college and entering the world of professional practice.