A new digital arts programme in Croydon hopes to inspire the next generation of Creatives to new heights in the borough and, just maybe, uncover a new star in the process.

Run by Croydon Music and Arts (CMA), free courses of the new digital arts programme offer all young people between eight and 13-years-old in the borough the chance to learn new skills from rap to theatre, while working towards a recognised qualification.

The first CMA Online activity, called ‘Your Culture, Your Croydon’, asks participants to explore their family heritage and send in a video of a creative work they’ve created in response – be it poem, song, dance or story learnt from or inspired by an older family member.

Your Local Guardian: free courses offer all young people between eight and 13-years-old the chance to learn new skills from rap to theatre. free courses offer all young people between eight and 13-years-old the chance to learn new skills from rap to theatre.

CMA will then create a digital mosaic from the submissions, celebrating Croydon’s cultural diversity. The organization plan to show the mosaic once completed in Croydon Museum as well as at libraries and events around the borough.

The Castle Hill Academy is one of the schools whose students will be taking part.

“Our school has been very pleased to be able to be part of the online blended learning programme that Croydon Music and Arts has provided,” Head of School Claire Bracher said.

“Our children have been able to explore their own creativity in a safe and knowledgeable environment. We are looking forward to this continuing to grow and we shall encourage our parents and carers to engage with the project,” she added.

Reshayne Bailey, a Croydon kid who took part in a trial of the digital arts project, said he had “loved” taking part.

“I have loved attending sessions with CMA Online during lockdown, It has helped me relax and keep my mind off the other negative things happening in the world right now,” he said.

“Drama and Spoken Word have been my favourite projects because I love writing poems but I’m also a very dramatic person so it’s good for me to bring them together,” Reshayne added.

“You can write anything you want and bring it to life in your own house...It’s great to work with real artists. They’ve always been chilled, really helpful and definitely not strict which is good because we’re not at school.”

Participants can work their way through the five levels of Star Award, a new qualification CMA are developing with the RSL Exam Board, a leading qualification board for music and arts.

“We are a borough that nurtures the arts and supports talent,” Croydon Council’s Oliver Lewis said.

For more information and to sign up, click here.