Croydon is set for an exciting season of free circus, contemporary art, cultural celebrations and family activities as the borough announces a new programme of events supporting The National Gallery: Art On Your Doorstep. The major outdoor exhibition opened in February and continues across the borough until 5 July, with these new activities expanding the experience for residents and visitors.
Running from March through July, the programme showcases Croydon’s creativity at its most diverse and dynamic. Croydon Art Collection: Matching Masterpieces exhibition is already open at The Museum of Croydon, bringing together over 30 rarely seen works from the borough’s 2,000‑strong collection. Families can also enjoy hands‑on Whistlejacket Workshops during the Easter holidays, where children can create their own horse masks and poetry inspired by Stubbs’ famous painting.
In April, an early evening Talks Programme invites audiences to explore the stories behind some of the nation’s best loved paintings and painters. Speakers include Hon Prof Sam Smiles on Turner’s relationship with the slave trade, Melissa Baksh and Vicki Dela Amedume MBE on Degas’ Miss La La at the Cirque Fernando, and a discussion of Whistlejacket and the Croydon Races with local historian Carole Roberts.
In May, Surprised! brings a joyful weekend celebration of East, Central and South Asian culture and community to the town centre. 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 vibrant selection of food stalls.
In June, the Whitgift Shopping Centre becomes a gallery for Art On Our Doorstep, a three‑day contemporary art fair showcasing the excellence of Croydon’s home‑grown artists. The event includes the public reveal of the Croydon Masterpiece, a large‑scale artwork created with community participation under the guidance of artist Rachel Gadsden.
In July, a spectacular 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 extraordinary life of Miss La La, the mixed‑heritage African‑German aerialist immortalised by Degas. Across two days, the programme features contemporary circus performances, walkabout acts and creative activities supported by the Black Women’s Circus Network, continuing the borough’s celebration of the painting currently on display as part of Art On Your Doorstep.
