ACME SECURES ACME PROPELLER FACTORY IN DEPTFORD

Acme Co-Founder and Chair of the Board David Panton in front of Acme Propeller Factory, January 2026 © Hydar Dewachi, courtesy of The Acme Archive

Acme has completed the purchase of Acme Propeller Factory (APF) in Deptford, securing “in perpetuity” what it describes as the largest affordable artist studio building of its kind in London — a major win at a moment when artists’ workspace across the capital is increasingly threatened by rising rents, redevelopment pressure, and short-term leases.

“One of the wondrous things about Acme is that it was an idea that just grew, ‘self-propelled’ if you wish,” said David Panton OBE, Acme’s Co-Founder and Co-Director, as the organisation confirmed the acquisition. “It is the compelling initiative of artists that drives everything forward. We provide the back-up, but everyone has a role to play. Our artist community is at the heart of everything we do, and we look forward to entering this next chapter and face new challenges together.”

Housed in a former 1920s ship propeller foundry, the 70,492 sq ft building currently provides studio space for 180 working artists. Acme says more than 650 artists have worked in the building over the past 35 years, with APF functioning as both a major production site and an anchor institution within Lewisham’s cultural ecology.

Acme Propeller Factory open studios, July 2024 © Hydar Dewachi, courtesy of The Acme Archive

APF also contains The Acme Archive — a community resource documenting the organisation’s support for artists since 1972 — as well as a dedicated engagement hub for workshops, exhibitions, and events. Acme’s 2024 survey of APF tenants found that 58.5% of resident artists would not have been able to continue their practice if the building had closed, underscoring how directly affordable workspace is tied to artistic survival and output.

The acquisition concludes a two-year public campaign and was funded through a combination of major grants, bank borrowing, and support from artists, friends, and local communities. Acme cites key funding from The Julia Rausing Trust, the Garfield Weston Foundation, and the Sylvia Waddilove Foundation UK, alongside support from the Mayor of London. APF sits within the Mayor’s Lewisham Creative Enterprise Zone, a designation intended to strengthen and protect cultural infrastructure under pressure from development.

With the purchase secured, Acme says it will now focus on conserving the building’s heritage while improving accessibility and reducing environmental impact — framing the next phase not only as protection, but as a longer-term programme of care and upgrade.

The news also marks a leadership transition. Panton is stepping away from his executive role to focus on his duties as Chair of the Board, marking five decades of leadership. He co-founded Acme in 1972 with the late Jonathan Harvey OBE (1949–2023), helping grow the organisation from a grassroots initiative into a major force in studio provision. Acme credits Panton and Harvey with pioneering the use of Section 106 planning agreements to embed affordable artist studios into regeneration frameworks.

Acme notes that the wider need remains acute: more than 1,300 artists are currently on its waiting list, including 110 Lewisham residents.

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Emma Lee is an arts news journalist. She has written for Vogue and specialises in art news and art market analysis.