This weekend, celebrations for This is Croydon will begin after Croydon was named the London Borough of Culture 2023.

This is Croydon will showcase diverse and dynamic local talent with the aim of putting Croydon’s unique identity, diverse communities, heritage, culture and creativity front and centre.

On Tuesday, March 14 2023, This is Croydon unveiled highlights of the striking and surprising projects that are going to showcase the very best of Croydon’s diverse and dynamic home-grown talent in its year as The Mayor of London’s London Borough of Culture.

This is Croydon marks a year of celebrations from April 2023 until March 2024.

Created, directed and presented by the people of the borough, This is Croydon hopes to enable positive change and inspire people from all communities to take part in an exciting programme of events. 

As one of London’s youngest boroughs, Croydon’s young people will have the chance to take part and lead in new projects, while a rich heritage programme brings stories of Croydon’s communities to the forefront.

This weekend at Fairfield Halls on April 1 and 2, all things Croydon will be celebrated with the Oratorio of Hope – a brand new commission from London Mozart Players which will put the Croydon community at the heart of the performance.

This event showcases Croydon’s talent through music, spoken word, song, dance, film and visual art.

The exciting piece ha been created in collaboration with artists from across Croydon.

It is inspired by a poem by Shaniqua Benjamin, Croydon’s first poet laureate, and feature artists from different traditions including Silvastone and Subrang Arts, as the reflect on what Croydon means to them.

The grand finale will include over 250 school children from around the borough coming together on stage.

Other events will also take place over the next few months in celebration of Croydon’s culture:

Citizen UK: Caribbean influencers is an exhibition that will be at the Museum of Croydon from April 14 – June 18.

A spokesperson for the event said: “Caribbean Influencers, delivered by Museum of Croydon in partnership with the National Portrait Gallery is a new exhibition focusing on the lives of Croydon residents who have shaped Croydon through their Caribbean roots but are often uncredited or underrepresented.”

Commons: A dance festival by Stanley Arts will take place from May 21 – June 3.

Stanley Arts continues its commitment to showcasing dance for everyone with a joyful two-week programme of workshops, performances and parties; all celebrating the glorious diversity of dance from vogue ballroom to Bharatanatyam.

The Battle of Red Canyon Slings is a brand new play that will be on from June  9 – 10.

It has been written by a first-time playwright Jack Harman, and developed as part of the Centre Stage Theatre Creation programme working with d/ Deaf and disabled artists.