Crème Fraîche is an incubator programme, modelled on programmes in the tech industry, that aims to be a springboard for artists between art school and a successful and sustainable practice. The first year is the ‘incubator’ year, and the second year is an ‘accelerator’ year. The programme is run across our two sites in central London - a painting studio in Westbourne Grove that doubles as a temporary gallery space, and our by-appointment Viewing Rooms in Bloomsbury that allow us to showcase artists on a permanent basis.
The overriding purpose of Crème Fraîche is to introduce artists to galleries, curators, and collectors: those with a broader reach than we might have, and who will be able to offer opportunities to our artists in the years (and decades) after they leave the programme.
The programme seeks to achieve this through two strands: exposure and mentoring.
EXposure
In the first year of the programme, all artists are offered a solo salon show - a more informal opportunity to introduce their work to the Crème Fraîche community. Salon shows take place between our Studio and Viewing Rooms spaces.
In the second year, where we place a greater focus on introductions to the art world, artists are offered a public solo presentation in an external space chosen to best platform their practice.
All of our exhibitions are accompanied by a printed catalogue and a series of private viewings, dinners, and artist talks, where members of our community and the wider art world can be introduced to the artist and their practice.
We also create opportunities beyond our main program. Our artists' work reaches new audiences through commissions and partnerships - from a major installation at Villa Chamoun in Lebanon to collaborations with Palefire and Studio Ashby. We've also arranged art loans to The Africa Centre and several corporate spaces.
mentoring
Our mentoring programme allows us to plug some of the gaps in commercial understanding left by an art school education, and to continue the creative development of the artist’s practice.
We run a programme of masterclasses with invited experts, on everything from pricing and taxes and to branding and social media. Additionally, we spend a considerable amount of time individually with artists, and are able to provide whatever tailored ad hoc advice they need.
We also run a programme of studio crits, with panels of invited art world professionals, collectors, and other artists.