Tucked away on the edge of the Blackwall Tunnel, the old Poplar fire station provides a striking image of the transitions the East End has gone through over the decades.

Disused for a long period up until the 1990s, the Grade II listed building on Gillender Street marks it centenary this month with a brand new lease of life.

Since arts charity Acme bought the building in 1997 it has housed more than 50 artists, Turner Prize winners included.

The organisation is the only one of its kind in the country to provide highly subsidised live/work spaces for struggling young talents.

This weekend it will open its doors so the public can peruse the twelve artists’ work and get involved in exhibitions and performances.

Jonathan Harvey, Acme’s chief executive, said: “The building has always been intended to be a live/work space. Instead of laying empty, it has provided a perfect use for emerging artists.

“Living in London is expensive enough but renting a studio is a real problem for many.”

With a waiting list of 800, places are hard to come by and the artists on one of the five-year placements know how lucky they are.

Emma Smith, in performance art, said: “Artists generally are paid below the minimum wage. The statistics show there are enough empty buildings to house all the homeless people in London.”

Ms Smith, said it took her five years after graduating from Goldsmith’s to be able to earn a living from her trade.

Briony Anderson, a painter, said: “This has given me a means to continue to live and work in London. It’s also motivational being around other artists.

“I hope the open days are interesting for people to see how pieces go from start to finish.”

The old fire station will be open to the public on Saturday and Sunday (May 21 and 22).

Briony will be showing her landscape paintings while Emma is declaring her home a space for the ‘Non Emergency Services’ and will lead performance art centred on quiet contemplation.

Former fireman and MP for Poplar and Limehouse Jim Fitzpatrick will unveil a plaque by former fire station artist Ben Cove.