Through Acme’s partnership with the Australia Council, visual arts professionals (including artists, curators, and arts writers) are offered a six-month residency at Acme’s east London Fire Station residency space.
Founded in 1972, Acme Studios is a London-based charity that provides affordable studio space and residencies and awards for non-commercial fine artists. Acme supports over 800 individual artists across 8 boroughs in Greater London, offering a wide range of high-quality, long-term, and professionally managed artist studio spaces, including permanent new-build studios.
In addition to affordable studio space, Acme operates a Residency & Awards programme which is one of the most supportive and extensive in the UK. Acme’s programme of artist support aims to intervene at pivotal moments in artists’ careers. Working with a range of international and UK-based partners and donors, the programme supports professional development for artists at all stages of their careers through residencies, bursaries, mentoring and exhibition opportunities. Over 700 artists have benefitted from the programme since its foundation in 1987.
Acme makes every effort to assist visiting artists with the practical, cultural, and social aspects of their stay. In addition to managing the studio live/workspace, Acme works actively with visiting artists to assist with their networking, practical and research needs and allowing them to develop relationships and focus on their work in a supported environment. Acme staff are available to artists for residency pre-planning, local orientation and for assistance and advice throughout the residency.
The overall aim of Acme’s Residencies & Awards Programme is to offer artists a supported environment and real professional development throughout the residency period. As every artist and their needs are different, Acme representatives are flexible about how they work with artists to achieve their goals.
During the residency period, Acme provide resident artists with opportunities including:
– connecting with UK and international artists through Acme’s networks via Acme-organised events including networking drinks, gallery visits and artist dinners
– bespoke one-to-one studio critiques or mentor meetings with UK-based arts professionals, organised by Acme
– opportunity to work in collaboration with Acme staff to hold artist talks, or develop or participate in group discussions, critiques or events in the new Acme Pavilion Space
– one-to-one ongoing support and discussion with Acme staff
– ongoing notifications and invitations to private views, lectures and events in London
Duration of residency
six-month
Accommodation
This residency is housed in a former LCC Fire Brigade Station that was built in 1910 in east London.Acme’s east London studio complex features 12 work/live units on the upper four floors of the building, with six large non-residential studio spaces on the ground floor.
Disciplines, work equipment and assistance
visual artists, curators, and arts writers
Studio / Workspace
Each residency unit is 50 sqm large, with the studio element measuring 32 sqm, and features a separate bedroom, private bathroom, and basic kitchen area. The units are electrically heated, and all the windows have secondary glazing to reduce traffic noise and prevent heat loss.The studio is simply furnished and has a telephone, answering machine, printer, and broadband internet connection. Artists are responsible for providing their own art materials and computer.
Fees and support
$20,000
Expectations towards the artist
Applicants must address the following assessment criteria:
- Artistic merit
- suitability of your practice to the residency program and its artistic environment/offer
- quality of work previously produced, and public and peer response to your work.
- Viability
- suitability of your proposal to the residency program
- the skills and artistic ability of your collaborators and their relevance to the proposed activity
- realistic and achievable planning, resource use and evaluation.
- Impact on career
- how the proposed activity strengthens your artistic practice
- the relevance and timeliness of the proposed activity
- how the proposed activity strengthens your capacity as an arts professional, particularly in relation to international development and collaboration.
Application information
Who can apply
- only individuals may apply to this category
- you must be a practicing artist and an Australian citizen or an Australian permanent resident.
Who can’t apply? You can’t apply if:
- you received a grant, or administered a grant, from the Australia Council in the past and that grant has not been satisfactorily acquitted
- you owe money to the Australia Council
- we will not accept applications from legally constituted organisations.
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