Advice

Over the last thirty-seven years we have converted over 25 major buildings to non-residential studio use as well as refurbishing and managing over 400 short-life houses. In recent years we have pioneered the development of work/live space for artists and the use of planning-gain to support the development of new affordable studios. Increasingly we are involved in new-build studio schemes, in partnership with commercial and social property developers, which require detailed design and performance specifications to ensure that we fully meet the needs of artists now and in the future.

We have consistently shared our experience with others and continue to provide free advice on all aspects of the acquisition, development and management of affordable accommodation for artists. With an expanding residency and awards programme for artists and over 20 years experience of managing international residencies, our advice extends to these areas of activity as well. This advice is available to individuals and groups of practitioners, studio organisations and local authorities, indeed to all those with an interest in helping to develop affordable space for artists.

The advice we give ranges from helping a group of artists to negotiate a lease on a building to advising a local authority on how best it can help develop sustainable studio space. Many groups of artists seeking studio space are unsure about what form of organisation, if any, they should become. We work with them to consider the options that are appropriate to them. We also take on this mentoring role with established organisations which may be undertaking a major capital project for the first time. Our advice will be given at various stages in an organisation's evolution, often taking the form of an ongoing conversation.

Specific areas of advice include:

• Business rates and rate relief
• Tenancy agreements for artists
• Day-to-day building management
• Artist / tenant liaison
• Lease negotiation
• Business planning
• Conversion and new-build design
• Maximising access
• Planning gain
• Artists' residencies

Our staff regularly give talks in art colleges to help students begin to consider how they will continue their practice once they graduate.

Recent recipients of advice

• A Space, Southampton (South East)
• Arts in Perpetuity Trust [APT] - artists (London)
• Art Space Honiton, Devon (South West)*
• Art Space, Portsmouth (South East)
• A.S.C. [Artists Studio Company] - artists (London)*
• BECA Studios, Brighton (South East)
• Blank Studios, Brighton (South East)
• Borlase Smart John Wells Trust Ltd, Cornwall (South West)
• City Studios (London)*
• Cobalt Studios Ltd, Newcastle (North East)*
• Coexist Artist Collective, Leigh-on-Sea (East)*
• Coventry Canal Basin Trust Ltd (West Midlands)
• Coventry Council (West Midlands)*
• Creek Creative, Faversham (South East)*
• Cubbitt Gallery and Studios (London)
• Cuckoo Farm Studios, Colchester (East)
• Electro Studios Artists, St. Leonards on Sea (South East)*
• Exeter Artspaces (South West)*
• The Florence Trust (London)
• Frome Silk Mill Studios (South West)
• Kingsgate Workshops Trust (London)*
• Leeds City Council - Holbeck Urban Village (Yorkshire)
• Lewisham Arthouse Ltd (London)
• Luneside, Lancaster (North West)*
• Maryland Studios (London)*
• Nottingham Studios (East Midlands)*
• Phoenix Brighton (South East)
• Pilot Studios, Plymouth (South West)*
• Platform Arts, Middlesborough (North East)
• Plymouth City Council (South West)
• Sunderland City Council (North East)
• The Tower, East Barnet (London)
• The Light Factory (London)
• Trewidden Studios, Penzance (South West)
• Village Underground (London)
• Wimbledon Art Studios - artists (London)*
• Writtle College, Chelmsford (East)
• Wysing Arts Centre, Cambridge (East)*
• Yorkshire ArtSpace Society, Sheffield (Yorkshire)*

* - referral from National Federation of Artists' Studio Providers.

If you would like help with any of the specific areas of advice listed above or any other matter relating to the development and management of affordable studios for artists please contact:

Acme Studios
44 Copperfield Road,
Bow, London, E3 4RR
T 020 8981 6811
F 020 8983 0567
E mail@acme.org.uk