Forma is a leading contemporary arts organisation based at FormaHQ in Bermondsey, London. Since 2001, Forma has been at the forefront of commissioning groundbreaking, socially conscious art. With a mission to foster creativity and community, they empower artists in the realisation of new work through; commissioning and production services, artist studio provision, mentorship, production facilities, and public programming.
Forma have carved out a reputation for being a contemporary arts commissioner that is artist-driven. Through a highly discursive process, they nurture artists’ ambition in creation of career-defining projects. At every stage their team provides the necessary support to make this happen; from research and development to fundraising, stakeholder management, budgeting, multidisciplinary production, installation, exhibition touring, marketing, and publishing.
Forma looks to foster a creative community across several London sites; FormaHQ and Forma Bermondsey Square in Bermondsey and 127 Stanstead Road artist studios in Forest Hill. Together they provide a space for national and international residencies, a rooftop garden and a bookshop cafe, Presse Books, live events venue and a public art space where their team of curators oversee the public programme which ties the many aspects of the building together and creates different entry points to contemporary art and community.
FormaHQ typically hosts around 25 events each year (between 2-3 a month), programmed on an ad hoc basis meaning that the central events space can be sporadically quite busy; perhaps a talk for up to 50 people, a 2-week installation of a film that plays on loop throughout the day or a screening event and bar with up to 150 people.
Recent events in the public programme have included:
- Educastration by M Lissoni, a work-in-progress screening on 23 January 2025
- Publication Launch of ‘Heavy Metals / Silk Cut’ with Alice Channer, Jes Fernie & Daisy Hildyard on 5 December 2024
- don’t worry i won’t forget you, an interactive library, exhibition and public programme curated by Êvar Hussayni and Sarah Hamed, 14 June - 10 August 2024.
