News - ACAVA

News

Portrait of artist Anna Reading smiling and posing next to her artwork

Meet Anna Reading

Part of an ongoing series, members of our artist community share insights about their work, their stories and their relationship to ACAVA.

Open calls ending soon

Flat-lay photograph of a green print on white paper next to the tree cookie used to create it.

Make and Reuse Creative Workshops: callout for facilitators

Photograph of a child making a creative object from a ribbon and tree branch.

Flourish: Activate – free workshops for families this Easter

Available Studios 16 March 2023

A group of families walking in the woodlands towards a house on top of a hill.

Flourish: Breathe – free day trip to The Hannah Peschar Sculpture Garden this April

Portrait of artist Anna Reading smiling and posing next to her artwork

Meet Anna Reading

Meet our artists: Mary Hennessy Jones

Closeup photograph of Florence drawing black lines on a yellow painted canvas taped to a board, using a black oil pastel crayon.

Meet our artists: by Ohne Titel (Florence Drake del Castillo)

Available Studios 2 March 2023

Cultivate Create open day: nature and art conversation and workshops

Tinkering Sessions in March 2023

Photograph taken inside a professional ceramics studio with kilns, a presser, materials stacked on shelves.

Factory sessions in March 2023

Photograph of a creative activity happening in a stall, outdoors on a sunny day.

Hi! Stoke Festival: Reuse, recycle and repair workshops

Available Studios 16 February 2023

Detail of an artist's studio, figurative sketches on the wall, comfy chair on the corner.

Blog: Five top tips… how to apply for an art studio?

Available Studios 2 February 2023

Photograph of an artist working at a desk in their studio, shelves and cabinets stocked with utensils and art materials.

Factory sessions in February 2023

A group o people posing for a photo, relaxed, while making bug hotels in a community makers space, outdoors, in a yard.

Tinkering Sessions in February 2023

Photo of an adult and a child looking at wall-based artworks in a show, in a bright gallery space.

Flourish exhibition: Garden of Delights

Photo of two children playing in the garden with two handmade black flags.

Flourish: Reveal

Photograph of an artist working on a table in their studio

Available Studios 19 January 2023

Hyper realistic painting of the dilapidated facade of an abandoned industrial site, a black sofa among weeds and debris.

Urban Landscape Drawing Workshop with artist-in-residence Mark Lippett

Hyper realistic painting of an abandoned industrial site, in cool colours

Artist-in-residence Mark Lippett presents Abandoned Spaces exhibition

Two young girls showing the Workshop Assistant the nature they have gathered in their bag.

Freelance Social Media Producer call out

Hyper realistic painting of the inside of an abandoned industrial site, in cool colours

ACAVA prize winner Mark Lippett in residence

Available Studios 5 January 2023

Spode Works Studios communal area with sofas, ping pong table and shared gallery space.

Factory sessions in January 2023

ACAVA 2022 Countdown: Celebrating our year in numbers

Limehouse Studios

Available Studios 22 December 2022

Shedder in the Maxilla Men Shed working with tools at a bench.

Tinkering Sessions in January 2023

Photograph of Asha Fontenelle kneeling on the floor, dipping a paintbrush into a pot of ink to create a marbling paper piece, in a gallery, with a small audience.

Meet Asha, one of our new Assistant Facilitators

Jess and Rachel posing outside Hadleigh Old Fire Station

Robyn Hood Pantomime at Hadleigh Old Fire Station

Available Studios 8 December 2022

Close-up of a black peg letter board displaying the Shed's opening times in December.

Tinkering Sessions in December 2022

Phil showing a large pointy stalagmite-style sculpture to peers in his Stoke studio.

ACAVA prize winner Phil Mellanby in residence

ACAVA wins CHWA’s Collective Power Award

Available Studios 24 November 2022

Photograph of a creative person working on a laptop, behind a large wooden table in a bright artists' studio.

Factory sessions in December 2022

Exhibition view of four large colourful abstract paintings in a bright and spacious art gallery.

Meet our artists: Chloe Fremantle

An adult and a child playing together to build a magic wand out of natural forest materials, standing around a table, outdoors in a creative setting.

Flourish: Evergreen

Available Studios 10 November 2022

Image description: Abstract geometric painting of two upright squares in a harlequin pattern standing against a landscape, mimicking a kite.

Meet our artists: Peter Blegvad

Detail of a painting depicting a tropical plant in green and yellow tones

Meet our artists: Susan Clare

Spode Works Open Studios 2022

Portrait of Frankie in a ceramics studio throwing a small clay ball in the air

Ardleigh Open Studios 2022

Meet our artists: Juliet Bryson

A group of children throwing paint balls and laughing, outdoors on a sunny day.

ACAVA joins Arts Council England National Portfolio 2023-2026

Photo from the hip of people dancing in a techno event, the room is bathed in a dark blue tone.

J D Rooney: Unknown Journey

Closeup photograph of a child smiling across a table whilst working on a circular mosaic, indoors.

ACAVA shortlisted for Culture, Health & Wellbeing Alliance Award

Poster for Eco Dyeing Workshop

Eco Dyeing Workshop

Steve Barlow posing next to one of his workbenches, in his wood carpentry studio at Spode Works Studios.

Meet our artists: Steve Barlow

Meet our artists: Terry Shave

A group of people painting a kiln-shaped wooden trellis, outdoors, against a building wall.

Meet our artists: Chris Parr

Poster for The Railway Children Return

Kingsway Community Cinema presents: The Railway Children Return

Various carving and other small carpentry tools fixed to a yellow wall in a community makerspace, indoors.

Tinkering Sessions in November 2022

Flyer with info above and a photograph of a child's hands creating a magic wand out of sticks, leaves and thread.

Cultivate Create winter sessions – Join today!

Miranda Donovan sitting on a lounge chair in a spacious artist's studio, large paintings stored vertically on the left, a large window at the back.

Meet our artists: Miranda Donovan

Large artist studio in use, colourful paintings hanging on the wall

Factory sessions in Oct/Nov 2022

Portrait of Amelia Tan sitting on a sofa, indoors.

Meet Amelia, one of our new Assistant Facilitators

Spode Works Studios communal area with sofas, ping pong table and shared gallery space.

Available Studios 13 October 2022

Flat lay of various hand shaped copper bowls and utensils

Skill Up: Coppersmithing

Black History Month: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow

Portrait of Amanda Jackson wearing a black turtle neck, one of her artworks blurred in the background.

Newsletter 5 October 2022

Word 'Capture' written on top of a photograph of a dreamy forest landscape in dark green tones, the outline of a group of dandelions occupying the foreground landscape.

Resident artist Evie Davis presents photography exhibition

Evie Davis posing next to her winning piece 'Trentham Haze', on top.

ACAVA prize winner Evie Davis in residence

Remembering Marisa Rueda

Artist's studio with colourful abstract watercolours on the wall, art materials in use on small tables.

Hythe Road Open Studios 2022

Painting by Amanda Jackson, Hadleigh Old Fire Station Studios

Meet our artists: Amanda Jackson

Close up of hands working together on a wooden DIY project, in a makerspace, indoors.

Tinkering Sessions in October 2022

Photograph of a creative activity taking place on top of a tree, outdoors

Flourish: Belong

Available Studios 29 September 2022

Close up of a busy artist's work table

Hadleigh Old Fire Station Open Studios 2022

Movie poster for an Elvis biopic

Kingsway Community Cinema presents: Elvis

Four children standing on a small foot bridge across a stream, poking sticks into the water.

Flourish: Breathe – free day trip to Wysing Arts Centre this October

Artist Ian Gouldstone working on small electronics on a table in his studio, lights off, his face illuminated by a table lamp and, behind him, colourful geometric light forms move around the walls illuminating the darkened studio.

Newsletter 21 September 2022

Photograph of a group of performers moving on stage, wearing contrasting black and white geometric patterned clothes, against a monochromatic backdrop in the same style

Meet our artists: Peut-Porter

Meet our artists: Ian Gouldstone

Eco Fair at Hadleigh Old Fire Station Studios

Produce displayed at a harvest festival

Heritage Open Day at Hadleigh Old Fire Station

Close-up photograph of a group o people showing the camera their individually hand-carved spoons

Skill Up: Spoon Carving

Photograph of Douglas Atkinson creating clothes in an artist's studio, sitting and smiling at the camera.

Newsletter 7 September 2022

Photograph of a modern textile/fashion artists studio

Borthwick Street Open Studios: Deptford Eggs

Close-up of Mattie smiling at a child, outdoors in a bright green space

Meet Mattie, one of our new Assistant Facilitators

Street view of an old vicarage on a quiet British road

Available Studios Newsletter: 1 September 2022

A group of children hold cucumbers freshly picked from a garden bed in an urban garden

Cultivate Create: free drop-in event

Spray-painted wooden flowers laid out on a work bench in the workshop.

Tinkering Sessions in September 2022

Artwork depicting two black and white posters with the title 'Blues' at the top, and verses by poet Philip Larkin below, in a contrasting layout.

Newsletter 24 August 2022

Photograph on aluminium depicting an eerie forest landscape in dark green tones, the outline of a group of dandelions occupying the foreground.

Newsletter 10 August 2022

Close up of a person using a backstrap loom to work on an orange and yellow tapestry piece, indoors

Skill Up: Weaving

Hyper realistic painting of an abandoned industrial site, in cool colours

Winners of Keele Uni/ACAVA’s artist prize announced

Photograph of an artwork composed of a vintage boombox leaning against a wall, the tape from the cassette deck leaking onto the floor.

Newsletter 27 July 2022

Men's Shed red LED sign

Tinkering Sessions in August 2022

New: Available Studios

Closeup of a glass jar containing naturally dyed pieces of pink cloth, held by a person, outdoors in a green space.

Newsletter 13 July 2022

Child holding a paintbrush and painting a green stripe on a collaborative wall painting.

Flourish: Echo! – collaborative art workshops this Summer

Print by Michael Ward, showing print against wooden block used to create the piece

Skill Up: Printmaking

Bird's eye view of a group of people working together on a petal-shaped mosaic artwork, around a table, indoors

ACAVA Shoots exhibition and talk at The Photographers’ Gallery

Artist Talk: In Conversation with J D Rooney

Closeup of a table by a window in a quiet artist's studio, the window overlooking onto a green residential street.

New: Available Studios

Group of Flourish families walking through the forest at Holland Park Ecology Centre.

Flourish: Breathe – free day trip out of London this August

Shedder in the Maxilla Men Shed working with tools at a bench.

Tinkering Sessions in July 2022

Photograph taken from above looking over an event outdoors, adults and children sitting and standing around tables with food, and live music.

Blechynden Street Open Studios 2022

Bird's eye view of a group of people working together on a petal-shaped mosaic artwork, around a table, indoors

Newsletter 29 June 2022

Photograph of a bright artists studio, a large window at the back

New: Available Studios

Person wood carving on a large table, in a studio, indoors

Skill Up: Introduction to Wood Carving

Photograph of a group of people walking peacefully, holding green hearts and banners, on a road flanked by large tall trees

Piece Together: Talk

Grid view of 9 mosaic slabs

Newsletter 15 June 2022

Young Artists 2022

ACAVA and Friends Factory Social

Bird's eye view of a group of people working together on a petal-shaped mosaic artwork, around a table, indoors

Piece Together: Documenting Grenfell Memorial Mosaic

A group of people attending an event in an art gallery

ACAVA Studios Artist Development Prize

5 years after Grenfell: public artwork and exhibition

Close up photograph of a child's hands modelling clay, indoors

Young Artists Taster Session

Flat lay of various wax carving tools on a cutting mat

Skill Up: Silverwork and Wax Carving

Two three-legged stools against a canary yellow background.

Skill Up: Woodworking

Flat lay depicting various materials and tools used in upholstery

Skill up: Upholstery for beginners

Photograph of a long corridor into artists studios, artwork hung on the walls during Essex Open Studios

Essex Open Studios 2022

Programme participants gathered around a raised bed and planting seeds.

Cultivate Create

Photograph of 2 children holding handmade prints and looking at the camera smiling, outdoors

Hi! Stoke Presents

Award for Civic Arts Organisations event

Photograph of an adult and child hanging hand-dyed cloth on a string, outdoors.

Flourish: Elevate! – creative fun this Spring holiday

Programme participants gathered around a raised bed and planting seeds.

Cultivate Create – Taster Session

Meet J D Rooney, our Studio 13 Resident

Photograph of two people using a circular saw on a workbench outdoors, a wooden fence behind them

Skill Up: Open call for makers and creative facilitators

hotograph of a child playing a scavenger hunt, in the woods, outdoors.

Free creative fun for families this half-term

Four children in school uniform pose holding a large mosaic leaf, behind them the hoarding at the base of Grenfell Tower.

ACAVA shortlisted for the Award for Civic Arts Organisations

Photograph of Saskia Dakin working a small clay piece on a table, smiling, indoors.

Saskia Dakin is ACAVA’s new Programme Coordinator

Photograph of Andreia Sofia taking a photograph in a bright space, indoors.

Andreia Sofia joins Young Photographers

Photograph of a long corridor into artists studios, artwork hung on the walls during Essex Open Studios

Ardleigh Open Studios 2021

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© 2023 ACAVA
Registered Charity number 287894
Limited Company number 1749730
54 Blechynden Street, London W10 6RJ
hello@acava.org

© All website photographs created by ACAVA Shoots unless otherwise stated

© 2022 ACAVA
Registered Charity number 287894
Limited Company number 1749730
54 Blechynden Street, London W10 6RJ
hello@acava.org

© All website photographs created by ACAVA Shoots unless otherwise stated