MOSS Artists & David Blandy
This is a document of our Croydon, of places in this area that we love and creatures that we can imagine living here.
Croydon has quietly built a reputation as a working hub for artists, designers, and creative freelancers.
If you’re a local artist, which Croydon studio provider should you choose?
We’ve put together a straightforward look at a few of the main Croydon art studio options, along with what they offer and our views on who they tend to suit – based on our knowledge of having been operating artist studios in the borough for over 10 years!
turf-projects.com/turf-studio-membership/
We should start here, since you are reading this on our blog.
Turf operates as a hybrid space. Turf is part gallery, part studio provider, part community space.
Price: Turf offers the cheapest option for art studios in Croydon, ranging from £85-300 per month, bills inclusive.
Open plan / enclosed? The majority of Turf’s studios are semi-open plan – walls, but not enclosed with doors.
Specification level: If you’re after particular specifications for your studio, Turf isn’t the most polished high-spec option as we are ‘making do’ in temporary space – however, this also helps us keep studio prices low.
Organisational structure: Turf is registered as a charity.
Very communal and collaborative but not overly managed. You will likely get to know your fellow studio members well, who support each other with everything from accountability clubs to production recommendations.
Turf is locally rooted and led, so ideal if you’d like to be embedded in a local community. Some of our studio spaces are based within our shopping centre location which also includes our public-facing gallery, project space and workshop space.
The Turf team is very involved & available, based within one of the studio locations.
No formal judgement-based application processes, though there is a waiting list and studios are prioritised for artists who are local and/or on low incomes.
Turf is currently operating in meanwhile use (temporary) spaces, so we’re not the best option if stability is your highest priority.
However, Turf’s team and studio members are currently actively working to create a permanent home in Croydon.
At-cost use of our print, photography and ceramics facilities.
A studio community with a strong self-organised mutual support focus.
Free use of project spaces and workspaces for studio members.
Turf’s programme focuses on themes of space, place and belonging – people who work with us often have backgrounds in architecture & community work, with ‘non-arts’ backgrounds common too.
Turf’s studio provision tends to support early career artists, artists on low incomes or community-focused artists, who benefit from being embedded within a wider supportive, place-focused community.
ascstudios.co.uk/spaces/grafton-road
ASC is one of London’s largest studio providers with around a dozen studio locations.
The Grafton Road site is one of the sites ASC owns outright.
Price: High spec and so a more expensive option. A 204sqft studio is £323 per month plus £51 per month service charge.
Open plan / enclosed? Studios are enclosed.
Specification level: High spec compared to most Croydon options – floor to ceiling windows & underfloor heating. This can present a professional feel for those who need their studio for client-facing work.
Organisational structure: ASC is registered as a charity.
As the only provider offering mostly enclosed space they are a great option if you need privacy, but less desirable if you want a strong studio community day-to-day.
There’s less of an organised public facing programme compared to artist led spaces, though they do have a project space for use by artists.
Management are less visible as overseeing many studio locations across London, and likewise less place-based involvement.
Application-based, and typically through waiting lists. Less emphasis on profile or critical selection.
High – ASC owns the space.
On-site project space for resident artists.
Part of a wider London studio network.
Offer larger scale studios if you need something big!
ASC Grafton offers space with long-term stability ideal for artists with a larger budget seeking privacy, stability, high spec spaces or spaces presenting an impression to clients. This does come with higher cost and a larger organisational structure with less emphasis on an embedded local community.
Conditions runs a structured programme that combines studio provision with mentoring and critical / peer dialogue over annual periods.
Price: £295 per month for the Studio Programme bills included.
Open plan / enclosed? The majority of Conditions spaces are semi open plan.
Specification level: Studios are primarily geared toward working practice rather than high spec.
Organisational structure: Conditions is a private limited company.
Conditions has an artist development structure that can be highly valuable, but studio members are expected to engage, contribute, and be present. If you’re looking for somewhere to quietly get on with your work, this may feel demanding. On the other hand, if you want structure, critical feedback and a network that actively engages with your practice, it offers something distinct in Croydon.
Conditions’ team are involved & available.
A critical selection basis annually based on an application & interview, undertaken by directors plus current studio members.
Conditions’ own their buildings, so studio positions are stable.
Studios are framed as annual and tied to the annual recruitment / programme cycle.
Conditions have been known to collaborate with industry professionals and bodies, such as the ICA.
Conditions also have some in-house shared equipment e.g 3D printers.
Conditions offers a defined period of focused development and is a great environment for artists who want structure, critical engagement and peer dialogue.
Aurelia Art Studios sits somewhere between a traditional studio provider, a community space, and a hireable venue. It operates from a converted print works on Aurelia Road.
Price: Flexible and relatively low-cost depending on use. Aurelia works primarily through pay-as-you-go or short-term hire rather than permanent monthly studio rental.
Open plan / enclosed? Open-plan and reconfigurable depending on activity.
Specification level: The focus is on adaptability and accessibility rather than high-spec finish.
Organisational structure: Aurelia is a private limited company.
Open, informal, and community-oriented. The space supports a mixture of individual making, workshops, exhibitions, writing groups, and small events.
No formal selection or application process. Space is arranged through booking and availability.
Low. Aurelia is not designed around long-term permanent studio occupation.
Aurelia has a particular focus on spoken word & performance work, hosting POW! Play on Words
Aurelia works well for artists needing flexible, low-commitment space or performance and events-based community rather than a permanent studio base.
Going the independent route is a valid option too – Turf was originally set up as we were young locals who needed space and opportunities, and so we decided to set up our own.
Many artists instead work from independent rented units, shared commercial premises, garages, spare rooms etc!
While this can mean sacrificing some ‘built-in’ community structure, we also have many artists who work like this who we still consider to be very much part of the Turf community, getting involved through workshops, projects, making facilities and other opportunities.
Croydon offers a range of artist studio models – an artist looking for long-term stability and high spec may lean toward ASC, while someone seeking structured development may find Conditions a good fit for them. That variety of types of spaces is incredibly important, making it possible for more artists, with different practices and different resources, to find a way of sustaining a creative practice locally.
Turf’s approach sits closest to the community-led realm of things. As a locally led charity, affordability, mutual support, local involvement, and accessibility are central to how we operate, though that sometimes comes with less ‘polish’ or long-term certainty than larger organisations can offer.
If that sounds like your kind of environment, you already know where we are! Find out more about our Croydon artist studios here.
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