Deptford Foundry Studios

A new long term community for creative practice

Deptford Foundry is a new home for a growing community of local artists, craft makers and designers.

Many artists working in London end up in draughty warehouses on very short leases. By contrast, Deptford Foundry provides secure, affordable, comfortable long term studio provision. Over eighty brand new studio spaces have been built: that’s 30,000 square feet of workspace for up to 160 creative people. The exceptionally long lease of 250 years negotiated by SFSA means that a true creative community can develop in and around the studios.

Beep Studio is delighted to have worked with Second Floor Studios and Arts (SFSA) on the fit-out and delivery (RIBA stages 4-7) of this £1.2m project. The Studio worked closely with both client and contractors Uplands - this approach enabled the team to maximise value and achieve a high build quality in a very limited time. The studios take up ground and first floor of two residential blocks, which were being completed as fit-out progressed, meaning on site interactions had to be managed carefully in order for construction to continue in tandem.

This is the third project on which the Studio has worked with SFSA - both client and architect now occupy studio units on site.
The project saw its official launch on Wednesday 15 May 2019, with Deputy Mayor for Culture Justine Simons.

The Deptford area is already home to a depth of creative business including bronze casting, galleries, studio workspaces, dance studios and jewellery makers, all supported by the presence and investment from Goldsmith’s College at New Cross. The new creative spaces will attract further diversity and individuality to the area providing a social and cultural value to the new residential development.

Practices represented include:

Architecture
Bookbinding
Ceramics
Clockmaking
Drawing
Fashion

Accessories
Fine Art
Glass Fusion
Graphic Design
Illustration
Installation

Interior design
Jewellery & Silversmithing
Leatherwork
Millinery
Moving Image
Painting

Fine Art Photography Printmaking
Sculpture
Soft Furnishings,
Textiles
Costume

‘Green Man’ sculpture by London Bronze Casting at the entrance to Deptford Foundry

SFSA has the core aim of creating long-term security of tenure and sustainable studio workspace for its members.
The studios at Deptford Foundry are the first phase in a new 20-year strategy for the arts organisation, whose capital investment programme in a portfolio of building assets will create studio provision for generations of artists and makers to come.

“ Artists have long been part of Deptford’s thriving, creative and diverse community. The provision of the studio and workspaces at Deptford Foundry will continue that tradition within the area, encouraging creative use of space by artists for many years to come.

We are looking forward to continuing our work to widen participation in the borough, by developing and delivering a programme of community engagement projects and exhibitions specifically for Deptford Foundry Studios, its members, local residents and wider communities.”

— SFSA Founding Director Matthew Wood

“Working with the local authority and local community, the shared vision for Deptford Foundry was sustainable mixed use development. We have always wanted to ensure Deptford Foundry would contribute positively to the local neighbourhood and provide much needed employment space and new homes.

“We are really pleased to be creating this affordable employment space to help with this demand and for the talent of the future to use to support their works. We are excited to see the different types of artists flourish during their use of the studio space at our Deptford Foundry development.”

— Adam Gaymer - Executive Director, Anthology London

Project Data

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