ACAVA

ACAVA is a leading arts education charity that evolved from artist-led initiatives in the early 1970s. For 50 years we have been amongst the UK’s most progressive affordable studio and workspace providers. With a portfolio of 15 studio buildings, exhibition spaces and workshops across eight London boroughs, one building in Essex and an industrial heritage site in Stoke-on-Trent we support a community of over 400 creative practitioners, cultural organisations and creative SMEs. A pioneer of delivering arts in health and wellbeing settings for over 30 years, we bring professional artists together with local communities in co-created programmes that explore art and creativity and deliver creative, social and economic value.

Our approach
We aim to enable and celebrate the cultural and social value of creative practice – informed by a philosophy of co-creation and inclusion.

Supporting artists and makers
We provide affordable workspace, CPD, peer networks, exhibition opportunities, sector information and signpost career pathways to the creative industries.

Co-creation
Our programmes are made with, by and for communities in collaboration with professional artists and makers.

Health and wellbeing
We deliver high-quality creative opportunities with demonstrable transformational impacts on people’s wellbeing.

Collaboration
From artists and funders to the NHS and local authorities, working in partnership is central to our ethos.

Creative placemaking
We advocate for the social value of creativity to communities and society. ACAVA has considerable experience delivering culture-led regeneration and placemaking strategies and long-term projects that are socially inclusive.

All photographs by ACAVA Shoots