Rowse Close: 25 years of artist studios

In February 2026, after 25 years, we returned the keys for both Rowse Close buildings to Newham Council, marking the end of a long-standing chapter.

Between 1985 and 2000, Acme managed what was then the largest studio building in Europe: the former Yardley’s Factory on Carpenters Road. After the site was reclaimed for regeneration, Acme took on two Newham Council-owned buildings on Rowse Close, within the nearby Carpenters Estate. Over the following 25 years, they became home to more than 50 artists at any one time.

To honour this history, we commissioned artist and former Rowse Close tenant Laura Higgins to document the buildings in the final weeks and reflect on them ahead of their return to the Council.

Read Laura's reflections and view the documentation below.

Moving Away: Documenting Acme studio sites 1 & 3A Rowse Close by Laura Higgins

"Feelings of calm anticipation bubbled when entering 1 or 3A Rowse Close for a studio day. The general area and the buildings were oddly serene; it was easy to enter into a type of meditative state when working there.

Moving through the buildings, down the corridors at the time of their use, conjured mixed feelings. It felt eerie sometimes when traversing corridors and spaces of varying expanses, with assortments of migrating objects held in place. Still, it was comforting to know others were coming and going when all sorts of sounds would echo from corners of the buildings.

At times I had an underlying sense of curiosity around what would go on behind the many closed doors. The same curiosity you might get if there was a locked door in your childhood home, which you were forbidden to enter."

"Some studios were used frequently, facilitating both lively and cumbersome studio days, others may have been unvisited for many months, leaving dust to build up around the tools and forgotten works in situ.

Brief interactions in passing with residing artists led to exchanges of menial speculations about occurrences and uses of the studios. Histories and anecdotes of fellow artists were carried through the grape vine, painting a colourful picture of all the goings on that took place under the studio roofs."

"By the start of 2026, 1 and 3A Rowse Close were emptied of possessions and all exhibits of happenings. The buildings were left gutted, only the noise and reverberations of the trains running past filled the buildings.

Feelings of apathy and awkwardness brewed when walking through the site, now derelict. I was reminded of the peculiar mix of emotions that come with the loss of some place, something, or someone.

The odd reminder of various creative experiments was left on the concrete floors and MDF walls, testaments that confirm the significance of the building to many creative practices. 1 & 3A Rowse Close buildings were beyond integral, without access to the site so many practices would have not been able to grow into what they are today."

"It is bittersweet to know that no one will fully understand or experience all the artworks, practices and interactions that took place in both studio buildings. It would be impossible to bring together all the stories that took place at Rowse Close. Rather than all of the voices being brought together, one can be assured that scattered around London and beyond are the people and creatives who hold these memories."