Publications

Profiling studios and facilities around the UK.

Acme Studios

Acme Studios is a London-based charity which provides affordable studio space, residencies and awards for fine artists. Acme manages over 400 studios in London across ten buildings - five of which are permanent - and is recognised as the leading studio development organisation in England. It has several studio developments currently underway. In March 2010, Acme will open 12 purpose-built studios in NW10, near to Kensal Green underground station. Acme recently extended the lease on its Childers Street studios in Deptford SE8 until 2028 and is currently exploring the option of creating up to 34 new studios. Other new-build projects include; 15 studios in Stratford, E15 (opening February 2012) and 49 studios in Homerton, E9 (opening July 2012). Artists interested in affordable studio space can register for the waiting list via the Acme website.

Acme also offers an expanding programme of residencies and awards, including the Acme Southwark Studio Residency based at the Galleria in Peckham, SE15. The 18-month residency is a partnership between Acme Studios, the South London Gallery and Southwark Council. The residency, which includes a free studio and £10,000 grant, is open to artists living or working in the borough of Southwark. Applications for the next programme will be open in spring 2010.
www.acme.org.uk

Art Hub

Art Hub is based in South East London across three sites. All the studio spaces boast 24 hour access, good natural light and great facilities. Framework Studios, Deptford is based in the Creative Hub area of Creekside. Some of these studios are enclosed spaces with ceiling and windows and the rest are open top spaces with natural light from skylights and windows. All studios are fitted with power sockets and daylight striplights. Art Hub Studios, Woolwich, houses two facilities. Art Hub Print overlooks the Thames Barrier and houses fifteen studios on the second floor with natural light from skylights and daylight strips. Art Hub Craft houses new studios based on the ground floor, comprising of eleven open top spaces with high ceilings and good light. All studios have power sockets and wi-fi access.
www.arthub.org.uk

Artist Studio Company

Established in 1993, Artists Studio Company (ASC) is a London-based registered charity that exists to support artists through the provision of affordable studio space. ASC provides workspace to over 500 artists across ten sites in London. Studios are located in Brixton, Stockwell, Streatham, Lower Sydenham, Southwark, and New Cross, with recently opened new sites in Bow and Greenwich.

This year ASC have broadened their reach with the opening of a professional dance/theatre rehearsal space in Southwark. The facility benefits from a fully sprung floor, mirrors, ballet rails and audio equipment. It is offered at subsidised rates to groups and individuals working on projects that fit the aims and objectives of ASC. Future plans include two bespoke new build schemes. These will provide artists live/workspace, studio space and two public galleries.
www.ascstudios.co.uk

Berllanderi Sculpture Workshop

Berllanderi Sculpture Workshop in Raglan Monmouthshire Wales is a seventeenth century farm complex set in the Usk Valley. This inspirational setting offers the isolation of a retreat for practising sculptors. The conducive environment without the distractions of the normal routine allows artists to concentrate on new work in the privacy of their studios. The Workshop has been running for the last 26 years and many sculptors have found it a useful stepping stone in their career. Each sculptor has a private flat, a large private studio and use of specialist workshops. The communal workshops have been designed to provide the facilities needed for the traditional processes of sculpture namely modeling and carving.

It is the intention of the workshop to have a mixed balance of sculptors to foster debate across a range of disciplines and backgrounds. There is usually one international sculptor.

In 2010 Berllanderi Sculpture Workshop is preparing for an international symposium in July. This symposium will be a specialist workshop dedicated to sand moulding in preparation for the International Conference of Cast Iron Sculpture at Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire.
www.berllanderi.freeserve.co.uk/scultpure.htm

Bow Arts Trust

Bow Arts Trust provides over 100 affordable studios, and around fifty affordable live/work flats, for artists in Bow and Poplar, East London. The area has for years been one of the poorest areas in the UK but is rapidly transforming with the help of the arts into London? Artist Quarter. Bow Arts Trust is at the centre of what is a very exciting period of community regeneration.

Bow Arts Trust is unique in its mix of support for artists and communities; providing studio space, employment for artists, successful community partnerships, a gallery programme, and the UK's largest and most successful programme of artists working within schools. There is a focus on supporting emerging artists, and creating opportunities for both artists and local residents. A recent public art project by artist Emily Allchurch, saw the production of the largest work of art in East London, engaged with local school children at over 200m long it can now be seen surrounding the development of the new St Pauls Way Community School.

The Trust is entering a period of expansion, and is opening a new studio site in December, which is the result of a partnership with East Thames, a large Housing Association, utilising planning gain to create affordable studio space and provide direct public benefit back into the local community through income generated from the studios.
www.bowarts.com

Wimbledon Art Studios

Established in 1993, Wimbledon Art Studios, based in South West London, is the largest single site art studio complex in Europe. Formerly a paper warehouse the original building now consists of over 100 studio spaces with another sixty studios in a new purpose built art complex on the same site. Studio artists work across almost every discipline including painting, ceramics, weaving, photography, furniture making, textile design and sculpture - with over 50% of them working professionally full time.

The bi-annual Open Studio Shows are the only time that the doors are open to the public to see the work of artists ranging from 'emerging' to well established. The last show attracted over 4,000 visitors. In the reception marquee a selection of small painting? are sold, these pieces are produced especially for the show by each individual artist and are on sale for £49 each. The next Open Studio Shows take place 26-29 November 2009.
www.wimbledonartstudios.co.uk

Print Club

Set up in 2007 by Fred Higginson and Rose Stallard and joined by Kate Newbold in 2008, Dalston-based Print Club aims to revive screenprinting by providing a laid back yet productive affordable environment, enabling designers and illustrators to "go from laptop to inky hands". Print Club operates as a members' water based screenprinting club to produce posters, t-shirts, art prints, record covers, flyers... just about anything you can screen print on to paper, card or fabric. They only use solvent free water based inks.

Open twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year, Print Club have six screen beds, two t-shirt carousels, t-shirt dryer, Mac computers, storage facilities, washout room and "the mother of all exposure units". £90 a month gives members unlimited access to the studio and nine hours pre-booking time per week. Print Club supplies the facilities and members supply ink, paper, emulsion, and screens. They also run a one-day beginners' workshop teaching the basics of screen printing and also offer 'Pull a sicky', a workshop for company days out and a bit of team bonding.
www.printclublondon.com

The National Federation of Artists' Studio Providers

"How do we go about setting up studio space? What sort of structure do we need to have? Should we apply to be a charity? Do we have to pay business rates? How do we make the case for affordable studios in our area?"

These are some of the questions most frequently asked by National Federation of Artists' Studio Providers (NFASP) member studio groups and by artists' groups looking to establish collective space.

NFASP aims to help studio groups establish themselves and become more secure and sustainable by providing a range of support services and drawing on the extensive knowledge and experience of its members. Services and resources include: one-to-one advice; guidance on health and safety issues, guidance on using temporary space - including empty shops - as artists' studios and conferences and other events that encourage networking and discussion, where studio groups can connect and share with each other.

Future Proof is a one-day NFASP member event this autumn (Toynbee Studios, London, 19 November). This day of networking, discussions and workshops will address questions about setting up studio space as well as broader issues of securing the future for studio groups and organizations.

For more information about NFASP membership and about how to attend Future Proof see www.nfasp.org.uk

Sculpture House, Kingston upon Thames

Set up as a charity in 1982, Sculpture House aimed to provide long term studio space for artists as an alternative to the nomadic existence most had at that time (three month rolling leases were then the norm). The gentrification of the City and East End of London in the nineties forced Sculpture House to 'go west'.

Located at 130 Acre Road for eight years (with thirteen years still to go on the lease) Sculpture House is home to a wide variety of artists with a range of ages and backgrounds. There's Royal College of Art people like George Foster and his son Marcus, who is the youngest at 23, Chelsea post graduates like Paul Wood, a painter, and Sarah Heyhoe who makes stained glass panels, self taught painters like Geoffrey Ryall, artists with an international background like Mary Bogue (the oldest member in her 70's) and the portrait painter Keith Robinson, who, for the last two years has been shown at the National Portrait Gallery's Portrait Gala. More information on these and other artists can be found at www.georgefoster.info

The group hosts an exhibition and open studios on 28 - 29 November (12 - 4pm). For details of available studio spaces at Sculpture House see www.georgefoster.info

a-n

First published: a-n Magazine November 2009