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How can a ‘Fishmongers Shop’, ‘Gibraltar’, and ‘A Procession Passing Through The Cenotaph’ answer questions of how to prepare for a residency in cooking and feminist practices? How can ‘Game Keepers’, ‘System D’ and ‘The Bees’ allow us to offer up methods of altering the way that we work, in order to build sustainable practices in which not-knowing, intuition and failure allow for real experimentation? Equipped with a small box of over a hundred hand More...

In our second year of the studio programme we have begun to invite curators and programmers as well as artists, with Louise O’Kelly marking one of the first of these. Louise is the founder and director of Block Universe, an annual performance art festival based in London which is coming up to its fifth year. The conversation began with an introduction from each studio associate on their practice, which Louise expanded on by querying our intentions within our respective work. This was used to open up discussions to the whole group, covering the ethics of participation in creative practices, and the politics More...

Simeon Barclay came down from Leeds for an evening to discuss both his own practice, and talk through our current lines of inquiry in the studio. Simeon started the evening by describing his beginnings and the roots of his career. As the son of a tailor who had an early education working in metalworking and manufacturing, we talked through the importance of materiality, how the relationship between the two labour roles, of ‘worker’ and ‘artist’, is often seen as a rigid dichotomy and how this influenced his concerns as an artist. The More...

In June a panel including Alex Schady, Art Programme Director at CSM and Lottie Leedham from Acme Studios, met to select the group of 2017 and 2018 graduates to form the 2018 Associate Studio Programme and take their place in the shared studios at the Glassyard Building, Stockwell until October 2020. We are very pleased to announce the selected artists: Wes Gilpin, Micheal Taiwo, Thomas Bull, Joseph Nichol, Gillies Adamson Semple, Chi Bagas, Hannah Doucet and Yin Yi Fung.

Alicia Reyes McNamara visited the studio to meet the Associates in May 2018. As the group for this visit was quite small, the discussion was intense, inquisitive and attentive. It was structured first around the artist’s different practices, then by an artist talk. In all the visit lasting over 3 hours, and included a discussion of the Associates work. This began with the Tokyo based Youkobo exchange artist Yuuki Horiuchi, followed by Riah Charles, Jess Heritage and Joshua Waterson, each showing something of their practices. The discussion ranged from topics such as the play between humour and the seriousness of the dialogue More...

For our fourth artist visit at the Highline Building studio, we welcomed Shezad Dawood. Our discussion began with the logistics of maintaining our practice, and the significance of the mutual support the shared studio setting offers. A focal point was the necessity for mistakes to materialise in order for progress to be made within our practices. We then discussed Shezad’s monumental ‘Leviathan’ project, comprised of ten episodes to be released over an extended period. He spoke of the relationship between the volatile undercurrents of the More...

The CSM Associate Studio Programme, in partnership with Acme, opened its first studio in the Glassyard Building, in Stockwell, south west London in 2013. The tenure of the current, second, group of Associates at the Glassyard studio comes to an end in September 2018. Applications are now being invited from 2017 and 2018 graduates from CSM’s BA Fine Art for the next programme, running from October 2018-20. The CSM Associate Studio Programme provides a supportive environment without simply extending the ‘comfort zone’ of the college experience. More...

As part of our Associate Studio Programme, we were excited to have Rehana Zaman visit us for an extended conversation in April 2018. Given Rehana’s practice, and some of the conversations that were being had in the studio, we decided to step away from the normal ‘crit’ structure that had occurred in visits before Rehana, and instead have an open conversation without too much presentation of individual works. This lead to a lengthy, (3 hour) informal conversation in which Rehana More...

Ewa Axelrad visited the Stockwell studios in January. Ewa introduced us to her work by explaining her background where she began by studying photography at the Uniwersytet Artystyczny w Poznaniu in Poznan, Poland. This was followed by a MA at The Royal College of Art, where she displayed a hidden work ‘Solution’ at the degree show. Ewa explained how the work was an ironic success and that forced the viewer to not only find its whereabouts but seek the graphic historical meaning, and the relation to the Second World War in Poland. More...

For our second studio visit at the Highline Building, in January 2018, we were glad to host Patrick Goddard. The visit began with Patrick addressing some themes from his work which he had asked to flag out in advance as being of particular interest to us. He began by showing us examples from his solo exhibition at Matt’s Gallery, ‘Revolver II Part 3′ from 2014 beginning with the video, ‘Free Radicals’. We discussed the way he had managed to transform the self-critical voice he encounters in his practice, to a positive and fruitful element More...

Anne Tallentire’s visit focused on extending the notion of ‘beginnings’ to the Associates. Anne began with a reading from her book ‘Object of a Life’, considering writing as a mode of ‘starting’, and within this the wider role of drawing (which remained a constant) during the production of the text. This led to an unfolding discussion on how one might articulate the beginning of a work and how beginnings may inevitably differ both within one’s practice and in relation to others. More...

Celine Condorelli began her studio visit by introducing her practice as seeking to engage with the space of collaboration, working within the location of exchange between people. Celine spoke about ideas surrounding ‘support’ in relation to how this exchange may happen in physical space, though the development of spacial devices that relate to a history of furniture design. Through speaking about her previous studies in architecture and her interest in the way we interact with others More...

Having only just moved into the Highline Building at the end of September, the arrival of Ed Atkins in December 2017 marked the first artist’s visit for us, the ASP 4 group of Associates. To begin the evening, Ed provided a close reading of new works currently being exhibited as part of Old Food at Berlin’s Martin Gropius-Bau, a generous collection of looping videos and commissioned texts that drove a lively and extensive critical discussion. We spoke in particular about the nihilism that drives much of Ed’s work, which consequently brings More...

Rowena Harris’ visit was insightful – she began with showing a video work and reading an extract of performative writing that presented the concerns of her current practice. Through conversation this extended into outlining problems that are encountered within the studio that either positively or negatively affect ‘working’ and ‘the work’ more generally. We started to discuss what it means to be [and work] in the studio, the methodologies one might employ to navigate their practice, how the role of the studio can ultimately be understood, More...

John Seth began his visit to the Stockwell studios with a performance. This consisted of two sheets of found manuscript paper, which John had drawn music notes onto, a hammer and some nails. John used this gesture to introduce how he might understand the relationship between thinking and making work. This mode of reflection was to demonstrate how there are different ways to generate how we talk about artwork. The conversations triggered by our work in the More...

In June a panel including Alex Schady and Emma Talbot from Central Saint Martins and Lottie Leedham from Acme Studios, met to select the group of 2016 and 2017 graduates to form the 2017 programme and take their place in the shared studios at the Highline Building, Elephant and Castle until October 2019. We are very pleased to announce the selected artists: Aidan Strudwick, Daria Blum, Eleanor Strong, Jess Heritage, Josh Waterson, Isabel Alsina-Reynolds, Madi Walsh, Philip Speakman, Realf Heygate, Riah Charles, Tarryn Williams, Tuli Litvak. More...

Jane Hayes-Greenwood visited the Associate Studio in Stockwell in July 2017. Jane is an artist and curator. She studied at City & Guilds of London Art School, where she met Xabier Basterra and co-founded the project space and studios Block 336 on Brixton Road. Block 336 continues to be run by Jane Hayes Greenwood, Alex Gough, Robert Bell and Thomas Groves who formed the original group when the project was initiated. Jane presented fascinating images of works that have been shown at Block 336 since they opened in 2012. More...

Rozsa Farkas, director of gallery Arcadia Missa, visited the Associates in the Stockwell studio in June. The visit concentrated on the work of the Associates with work-in-progress presented by Alice Jacobs, Andy Wyatt, Jordan Mouzouris, Isabel Cole and Fleur Dempsey. The discussion was wide ranging but included a close consideration of the means by which work is encountered in the gallery setting, the distinct transition it makes from studio to public space, and opportunities, demands, surprises and shifts in meaning that result. More...

In June 2017, Morgan visited the studios. Morgan’s visit was split into two halves, with one half specifically dedicated to concerns around his practice, whilst the second a discussion around the Associates work. We opened with Morgan with a talk about political issues in contemporary society (homelessness, housing, disability rights). Morgan spoke at length about the position of power, the privilege it was to ‘make’ and the influence this could have in creating a ‘voice’. The marrying of poetic and aesthetic became a key theme that then More...

Nicoletta Lambertucci visited in April. The discussion amongst the Associates and Nicoletta began with her curatorial work, the show Mundus Muliebris at BASEMENT ROMA and as curator at the David Roberts Art Foundation. Nicoletta spoke at length about the concerns in her practice as a curator, the consideration of audience in her work and themes that guide her practice. Nicoletta spoke about the usefulness of creating coherent press releases and catalogues as tool for framing discussions or ideas in a show. More...

Eloise Hawser visited the Stockwell Glassyard studios in April. Eloise introduced us to her practice with fascinating and detailed reports about her research into the unknown realms of London’s infrastructure. Starting off with her investigation of recycling banks, she explained her curiosity for overlooked and redundant sites. Eloise is currently a resident artist at Somerset House and invited us to participate in her upcoming educational programme called Anabasis to Dora, a trail around London looking at functionless architectonic features. More...

The second Associate Studio to be developed out of the collaborative project between Double agents and Acme Studios opened in the Highline Building in Elephant & Castle in October 2015 and is now inviting applications for the next round; October 2017-2019. Like the first Studio in Stockwell, established in 2013, the studio operates as a ‘transitional’ space for recent graduates from the BA Fine Art course at Central Saint Martins. Again like the Stockwell Studio it’s housed in a new UAL Hall of Residence. More...

In March 2017 Rob Chavasse visited the studio Associate Studio in Stockwell. After a brief introduction to some of his recent projects; including ‘Marsh Lane Diversion’, Frieze London, 2016 and ‘Braids’ at Jupiter Woods, Vienna, Rob discussed work in progress by Associates Jordan Mouzouris, Vicky Young, Rachel Christian, Isabel Cole and Fleur Dempsey. Subjects ranged from the immediate responses and ideas raised by the work itself to the surrounding practical and professional issues of sustaining the making and exhibiting of work in the long term, the balance between time spent earning a living and time spent in the studio (particularly in London), and the pros and cons of gallery representation.

In February artist Mary Hurrell visited the studio. With a significant overlap in her sculptural, performance based practice and the related interests of a number of the Associates it was an opportunity to explore similarities and differences in approach. The relationship between the ‘event’ and the ‘exhibition’ and the practical issues raised by the need to document the work without compromising the importance of the physical encounter or translating the work into a photographic practice, were also discussed. These broader themes were then focussed into a discussion of a number of works by the Associates, including; Joe Moss, Anna Pickles-Harvey and Charles Verni.

In February 2017 artist Hannah Lees was invited to visit the Highline Studios. Hannah showed us her work using her website, starting in reverse chronological order, giving brief, sometimes playful but informed explanations about her works. Notable was her use of organic matter such as natural dyes on fabric, collected materials from beach combing set into plaster tablets, saved olive stones cast into gold and painted murals on gallery walls in discarded wine “lees”. Her works appearing primitive, metaphorical and poetic, we discussed the use in titling and how that can open up a work by presenting multiple meanings for the viewer. After Hannah’s lively presentation and subsequent discussion, we moved on to view work in progress from three of the Associate artists: Daniel Kan, Helena De Pulford and Abbi Jones. Abbi Jones

Hannah Perry visited the Highline studios in December. Hannah started the visit by showing work from two recent shows, including her latest film and a performance, exhibited in Berlin. Hannah’s presentation illuminated the material processes and ideas behind her work. She discussed how her screen prints develop from her films; the transition between analogue and digital film editing, as well as practical considerations when planning work for larger shows. The discussion then developed around themes in Hannah’s work that resonated with the groups own practices and research. The conversation covered a range of topics, including the use of mirroring, hypnosis, and sound in Hannah’s work; psychological states and hysteria; diaristic forms; intimacy, solidarity, and friendship. Helena de Pulford

In June a panel including Alex Schady and Anne Eggebert from Central Saint Martins and Lottie Leedham from Acme Studios, met to select the group of 2015 and 2016 graduates to form the 2016 programme and take their place in the shared studio at the Glassyard Building until October 2018. We are very pleased to announce the selected artists: Rachel Christian, Jessica Young, Kat Buchanan, Jean-Baptiste Lagadec, Andrew Wyatt, Jordan Mouzouris, Fleur Dempsey, Isabelle Cole.

Carolina Ongaro, curator and co-founder of Jupiter Woods, visited the Stockwell studio associates to discuss the ethics of behaviour and code of conduct in the young art world. She began her visit by asking what it means to be taking risks with how you work – as a curator, institution, gallery or project space. What if the opening of an exhibition marked the beginning of an idea and not its end? In her work with Jupiter Woods she spoke about how she strives to build a sustainable, caring and autonomous space for research and experimentation. More...

In 2013, out of their collaborative project Double agents and Acme Studios, created a ‘transitional’ studio space for recent graduates in the UAL Hall of Residence; the Glassyard Building, in Stockwell, south west London. The first group of eight CSM BA Fine Art graduates will be moving out in October 2016 and applications are now being invited from 2015 and 2016 graduates for the next programme, from October 2016-18. The CSM Associate Studio Programme provides More...

Prior to Sylwia Serafinowicz’s visit in March 2016, Sylwia wrote to the Associates asking them to prepare a small presentation of one recent artwork. She asked them to introduce their field and to say what value they added to this field. The challenge was to support this by explaining the idea behind the piece, the technique used and the components of the work. Sylwia set this task, saying it is a challenge all art professionals face when communicating their practices to other More...

The second Associate Studio Programme opened at the Highline Building, Elephant and Castle, in October 2015. A panel including Alex Schady, Mick Finch from Central Saint Martins and Heather Deedman from Acme Studios, met in June to select the first group of 2014 and 2015 graduates to form the programme and take their place in the shared studio at the Highline Building until October 2017. We are pleased to announce the selected artists: Adeeb Ashfaq, Oliver Coltman, Nina Davies, Helena de Pulford, Abbi Jones, Daniel Kan, Suzy Lawlor, Lewis Tizley, Anna Pickles Harvey, Eleanor Turnbull, Charles Verni, Joe Moss. More...

Presenting ongoing dialogue between affordable studio provider Acme Studios and London art and design college Central Saint Martins, ‘Studios for Artists’ takes a detailed look into the changing form and function of the artist’s studio in relation to contemporary art practice, as revealed through an extensive program of research, studio visits and interviews. The form, function and future of the artist’s studio is the central focus of the collaboration and of this publication. More...

This is the second Associate Studio to be developed out of the collaborative project between Double agents and Acme Studios. Like the first Studio in Stockwell, established in 2013, this operates as a ‘transitional’ studio space for recent graduates from the BA Fine Art course at Central Saint Martins. Again like the Stockwell Studio it’s housed in a new UAL Hall of Residence; the Highline Building, this one in Elephant & Castle, south east London. More...

Having been in the studio for almost a year the first Associate Studio Programme is well established. The eight Associates have maintained the open plan layout allowing each other to expand and contract their activities within the shared space as their work demands. In addition to the studio visits by artists, writers and curators, the studio has been visited by other studio providers and academics, and most recently by artist/photographer Hugo Glendinning. More...

In June artist Redmond Entwistle visited the Associate Studio Programme. He began by showing his film ‘Monuments’ prompting a discussion of both the ideas of the three artists; Smithson, Graham and Matta-Clark, and the film’s interweaving of fact and fiction through their relocation to the contemporary outskirts of New Jersey, where their works had first been made. In particular the stylistic combination of artists’ film, documentary, genre (zombie) movie and dead-pan comedy, provoked the discussion. More...

In January artist Marie Lund visited the Associate Studio Programme. Marie presented documentation of a number of works, across sculpture, installation and performance. The work raised issues regarding the shifts and tensions between the work as a thing in the studio and the work as an exhibit in a gallery – in particular Marie’s collaborative performance works ‘One Hour Long Exhibition’ in which the work, artists and audience all arrive at the gallery at the same time for the work to be unpacked, installed, dismantled and re-packed. More...

Jamie Hosegood, recipient of the first Helen Scott Lidgett Studio Award and a graduate of the MA Fine Art course at Central Saint Martins has now taken up the opportunity. The award, initiated by Acme Studios with Central Saint Martins, provides a large studio space at Acme’s Warton House studio building, shared with a 2013 graduate from the MFA Fine Art at Goldsmiths. More...

The first of the Associate Studio Programme studio visits was made by Stephen Melville in December 2013. Stephen Melville is an Art Historian and Theorist, is Professor Emeritus at Ohio State University and has published widely on contemporary art as well as on issues in contemporary theory and historiography. More...

A panel including Alex Schady, Mick Finch and Elizabeth Wright from Central Saint Martins, with Heather Deedman from Acme Studios and Kate Cooper from Auto Italia, met in June to select the first group of 2012 and 2013 graduates to form the programme and take their place in the shared studio at the Glassyard Building in Stockwell. More...

The Helen Scott Lidgett Studio Award is a new initiative developed in collaboration with Acme Studios, through the research project Double agents, exclusively for graduates of MA Fine Art, MA Art & Science and MA Photography at Central Saint Martins. This award – a partnership initiative between Acme Studios and Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design – is jointly funded by Acme and the Helen Scott Lidgett Fund. As Managing Director More...

Developed out of their collaborative project Double agents and Acme Studios have created a ‘transitional’ studio space for recent graduates in the new UAL Hall of Residence; the Glassyard Building, in Stockwell, south west London. The CSM Associate Studio Programme will provide a supportive environment without simply extending the ‘comfort zone’ of the college experience. The emphasis is on the creation of a mixed but cooperative community of emerging artists, who, at the point of More...

The collaborative project between Acme Studios and Double agents began as a series of conversations between Graham Ellard and Acme’s Chief Executive, Jonathan Harvey, about current and emergent practice in relation to the artist’s studio. This led to a successful application to undertake a pioneering, government-funded, Knowledge Transfer Partnership. The project was initiated in July 2010, and is now approaching its completion in January 2013. The KTP is examining the role, form, function and future More...

The collaborative project between Acme Studios and Double agents has now been underway for ten months. The project is examining the role, form, function and future of the artists’ studio in a context of changing art practices and economic conditions. It brings together the work of Acme Studios with that of Double agents. During this period a number of the project aims have been achieved including More...