A new programme of free events will bring circus, art and cultural celebrations to Croydon, as reported by our sister title London Now.
The borough is set for a season of creativity as it launches the next phase of The National Gallery’s Art On Your Doorstep initiative.
Running from March through July, the programme features a series of activities aimed at enlivening the town centre and engaging the local community, London Now reports, where further details of the events can be found.
Running until June 20, the Croydon Art Collection: Matching Masterpieces exhibition at The Museum of Croydon presents over 30 rarely seen works from the borough’s 2,000-strong collection.
Families can also join the Whistlejacket Workshops during the Easter holidays, where children can create horse masks and poetry inspired by Stubbs’ famous painting.
April will see an early evening talks programme offering insights into the stories behind some of the nation’s best-loved paintings and painters.
The talks will cover a range of topics including Turner’s relationship with the slave trade, and Degas’ Miss La La at the Cirque Fernando.
In May, the town centre will host Surprised!, a celebration of East, Central, and South Asian culture and community.
The programme includes dance curated by Anusha Subramanyam and Beeja Dance Company, live music curated by Shri Sriram and Drum the Base, outdoor arts, craft workshops, a daytime disco for adults, and a selection of food stalls.
In June, the Whitgift Shopping Centre transforms for Art On Our Doorstep, a three-day contemporary art fair showcasing Croydon’s home-grown artists.
The event includes the public unveiling of the Croydon Masterpiece, a large-scale artwork created with community participation under the guidance of artist Rachel Gadsden.
In July, an outdoor circus weekend, For Miss La La, will take over Croydon’s town centre.
Led by Upswing and Artistic Director Vicki Dela Amedume MBE, the event celebrates the life of Miss La La, the mixed-heritage African-German aerialist immortalised by Degas.
The programme features contemporary circus performances, walkabout acts and creative activities supported by the Black Women’s Circus Network.
Further details & listings
Croydon Art Collection: Matching Masterpieces (until June 20)
The Museum of Croydon’s exhibition, Croydon Art Collection: Matching Masterpieces, runs until June 20.
The display brings together over 30 rarely seen works, including paintings, drawings, and mixed-media creations.
Whistlejacket Workshops: Stallions and Sonnets (April 10)
Creative Easter holiday workshops designed for families with children aged five and over.
Participants will make their own cardboard horse mask and decorate it using a range of recycled materials.
Then, they will join a poetry session to create a poem about their horse.
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Talks programme (April 14–29)
An early evening talks programme will reveal fascinating histories behind some of the nation’s best-loved paintings and painters.
Talks are free but should be booked in advance.
All talks start at 6.30pm and will be held at The Mayor’s Reception, Croydon Town Hall.
Surprised! (May 16 & 17)
This free weekend will celebrate East, Central, and South Asian culture and community.
The celebration will take place at the Whitgift Centre and Croydon North End.
Art On Our Doorstep (June 12–14)
The shopping centre becomes a gallery for a long weekend exhibiting arts of all genres.
Croydon will host a contemporary art fair to showcase the excellence of the ‘home-grown art’ that’s on our doorstep all year round.
This will be complemented by the reveal of the Croydon Masterpiece, a new artwork created with community participation by Rachel Gadsden.
For Miss La La (July 4 & 5)
Leading contemporary circus company Upswing, led by Artistic Director Vicki Dela Amedume MBE, curates and presents a weekend of outdoor circus celebrating the legacy of 19th-century aerialist Miss La La.
The programme brings bold contemporary circus to the heart of Croydon, featuring performances, walkabout acts, and opportunities for audiences of all ages to try activities such as hula-hooping, beginner acrobatics, and creative craft sessions.
Further information about all events can be found on www.culturecroydon.com.
