Studio enquiry form

What’s the studio enquiry form?
The studio enquiry form is the first step in the studio allocation process. We will use your answers to check whether you will be a good fit for one of our studios. Use this form to request a viewing of a specific available studio, not for general enquiries. To contact us, use this form instead.

Can I view the form in its entirety before starting the application?
Yes, you can download the entire form in a PDF format or as a Word file.

What happens after I get offered a studio?
If you are offered an ACAVA studio, you will need to pay a deposit equal to two months’ license fees, one month of license fees pro-rata, a key deposit, and a £100 administration fee. We aim for new joiners to start at the beginning of the month. Read our complete studio FAQs here.

Sign up to our available studios newsletter here.

About you

Equality and diversity

ACAVA is committed to equal opportunities, diversity and inclusion and we are keen to address imbalances in our communities. We encourage applications from all races, religions, genders, countries of origin and sexual orientations.

We particularly encourage applications from disabled people and those from ethnic minorities backgrounds as these groups are underrepresented.

Your preferences

We have studios in Essex, London and Stoke-on-Trent. Please choose a maximum of three buildings from the list below. If you choose more than three, only the first three choices will be considered for this application. Learn more about our various buildings here.

We're interested in knowing when you plan to use the studio (although we appreciate this might change or you might not know exactly).

Your practice

Studio application criteria

We love having a diverse range of practices in our studios and we welcome applications from all kinds of artists and makers, creatives and creative businesses; such as painters, printmakers, photographers, sculptors, illustrators, filmmakers, fashion designers, theatre designers, graphic designers and more.

When we review your application, we’ll prioritise those that can demonstrate combinations of the following (please note this is an alphabetical list):

  • Artists working professionally
    Whether self-employed, employed, freelance; full or part-time.
  • Commitment to practice
    Regularly showing work, for example: taking part in exhibitions or other public-facing projects, technical skill, continued professional development.
  • Creative businesses
    We welcome applications from creative businesses and cultural enterprises.
  • Emerging practitioners
    We welcome applications from early-career artists.
  • Participation in the arts and/or creative sector
    For example, through open studios, exhibitions, education (of self or others).
  • Social engagement
    Having a socially engaged artistic practice or creative business, for example: working with the public as part of your practice, being involved with creative work in an education setting, delivering work in the public realm, running workshops, having an environmentally sustainable practice or ethos, having a charitable purpose or working with 3rd sector organisations.
  • Supporting the professional development of artists
    For example, through teaching, networking, facilitation or running workshops.
  • Underrepresented groups
    We welcome applications from creatives from all underrepresented groups, including but not limited to: artists of colour, LGBTQI+ artists, and artists with disabilities. We understand there are other underrepresented groups not listed here and we encourage applications from all who wish to apply.

Please note: applicants will be shortlisted and invited to viewings based on the above criteria. The existing community of artists and types of creative practices in a studio building, alongside the local context, are also taken into consideration. The studio application criteria are regularly reviewed.

Workshops

Last step