Acme Studios news

Artistsâ�� Studios at Snape Maltings

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 09:00:00 +0000

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)

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 09:00:00 +0000

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.

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

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 09:00:00 +0000

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

Tue, 05 Jan 2010 09:00:00 +0000

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

Mon, 04 Jan 2010 09:00:00 +0000

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.

Acme and NFASP advise on studio models in Winchester

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 09:00:00 +0000

Acme Studios recently hosted a fact-finding visit for delegates from Winchester City Council, including Council Leader, George Beckett and arts organisations in Hampshire. The day-long visit began at Peckham Library with a presentation from Director of the National Federation of Artists’ Studios Providers (NFASP) Val Millington on successful models of studio development across England. Acme Studios’ Director Property Development, David Panton then spoke about Acme’s own experience before leading delegates on a tour of the Galleria to meet artists and hear first hand some of the challenges they face. The visit gave delegates concrete examples of successful studio models and will lead to the drawing up of a strategic policy on developing artists’ studios in Winchester.

As the leading studio development organisation in England, Acme regularly offers advice to studio groups and local authorities on all aspects of the acquisition, development and management of affordable space for artists and works closely with the NFASP to support the strategic development of the affordable studios sector. For more information on the range of support and advice Acme can offer, please see National Support, Advice & Resources. The NFASP is the professional membership body representing the interests of all those engaged in providing and developing affordable studio space for artists in the UK. For more information visit: www.nfasp.org.uk

Janne Malmros in her studio and in exhibition

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:00:00 +0000

In October 2009, Janne Malmros began her year-long Adrian Carruthers Award in Childers Street, SE8. As the 2009-2010 recipient of the award, Janne receives a rent-free studio and £5,000 bursary. Created in memory of former Acme tenant and Slade School of Art graduate Adrian Carruthers who died in 2001, the award is designed to give selected graduates time and space to work on their practice in the year following a post-graduate qualification from the Slade School of Art. Now in its eighth year the award has provided invaluable support to artists at a key stage of their careers.

This opportunity has come at a perfect time for Janne who has recently had work in “objectretrieval” UCL (October 2009), “Impulsive Random Object Launch” Donlon Books, Cambridge Heath Road(10 October 2009) and “Interplay" Nolias Gallery (2 - 7 October 2009). Janne will be showing work at “Postgraduate Printmaking in London 2009: a survey of London art colleges” at 30th Floor Gallery, Canary Warf (December 2009 - February 2010). She is currently doing research in the Strang Print Room at UCL and using the Adrian Carruthers Studio to prepare for a show that opens on 8 January 2010 in I-myu Projects, EC2A.

Quebec artist brings graphic novel to Acme Project Space

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:00:00 +0000

Quebec artist Christian Quesnel will be exhibiting work created during his London residency at the Acme Project Space from 4 December to 13 December 2009. 'Hearts of Clay (Coeurs d'Argile)' explores the creation of a graphic novel about a house. This house, (also the home of the artist) is host to the broken dream of two lovers from western Quebec in the 1930s.

Visitors will be able to follow two stories: the romantic drama and the making of the graphic novel. Using antiques, photographs, letters, plans and archives from the 1930’s Christian Quesnel pieces together an engaging narrative about both the story and the process of its artistic creation.

This exhibition marks the end of Christian's six month London residency, funded by the Council of Arts and Letters, Quebec and managed by Acme Studios International Residencies Programme.

The exhibition will be open Thurs-Sun, 12pm-6pm. For more information, contact mail@acme.org.uk

Acme Studios / Royal College of Art collaborate on new curating course

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 09:00:00 +0000

In October 2009 the Royal College of Art added a new work-based pathway to their current MA Curating Contemporary Art. This two-year course, aimed at aspiring black, Asian and minority ethnic curators, offers a vocational and academic curriculum with a professional placement in a national gallery or museum. The thirteen students will collaborate on a project to showcase work by artists in receipt of an Acme residency or award. The resulting exhibition will be presented by the students at the Acme Project Space in June 2010.

Leven Road studios shortlisted for prestigious Arts & Business Award

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 09:00:00 +0000

Acme Studios and Swan Housing Group have been shortlisted for the Lloyd’s A&B Innovation Prize which recognises “the most innovative and progressive partnerships of the last 18 months”. Acme’s Leven Road studios form part of the Atelier Court development in Poplar E14, the UK’s first 100 per cent affordable mixed-use development, which comprises social housing, part-buy part-rent units and 21 purpose-built artists’ studios. The inclusion of artists’ studios in the scheme provided the perfect solution as an alternative to business use on the site in East London. Swan appreciated that Acme could provide a ‘known outcome’, a low-risk return which would be 100 per cent continuously occupied from day one.

This ground-breaking project has now been shortlisted alongside three others including the National Theatre and Scottish Opera. Richard Ward, Chief Executive, Lloyd's said, “The successful partnerships that have been recognised demonstrate the importance of a cross-sector collaborative approach. They also confirm innovation as a key factor to achieve wider strategic objectives.”

Leven Road provides artists with high-quality, affordable studios, but also brings additional benefits to the development and the local area. Ray Clarke, Project Manager, Swan Housing Group said, “Acme’s artists’ studios have made the Leven Road community a vibrant yet stable development, and helped cement its position as a real part of the thriving Tower Hamlets community."

The winner will be announced at the 31st Arts & Business Awards on Thursday 12 November 2009 at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. For more information about the Arts & Business Awards 2009, please visit: awards.artsandbusiness.org.uk

For more information about the partnership project with Swan Housing, please visit: http://www.acme.org.uk/housingassociations.php