The launch event for ‘This Is Croydon’, hosted by The BRIT School students Zach and Ame, drew over 200 guests and featured welcome speeches from Justine Simons OBE, Deputy Mayor for Culture and Creative Industries, and Jason Perry, Executive Mayor of Croydon, as well as performances from Vogue Ballroom Dancers, London Mozart Players in collaboration with Subrang Arts, students from The BRIT School, and BirdGang.
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This is Croydon is unique in that it is truly community-led, developed by our amazing local cultural organisations working in partnership with the council, creating opportunities for residents of all ages, from our borough and beyond. We look forward to welcoming you to Croydon.
This is Croydon will feature a variety of events with a mix of international headliners and emerging home-grown talent, as well as over 20 projects funded by This Is Croydon’s Ignite Fund and hundreds of grassroots activities led by organisations from across the borough.
The schedule includes:
- Oratorio of Hope: A new commission led by the London Mozart Players and Grammy-nominated and Croydon-educated Tarik O’Regan, showcasing the best of Croydon’s young talent through music
- Music Heritage Trail and exhibition which has been funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund
- The first ever play about Croydon’s pioneering Black British composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor
- Ukraine National Symphony Orchestra, performing in the UK for the first time in 20 years
- London’s well-loved Pollock’s Toy Museum popping up in the Whitgift Centre
- Croydon Stands Tall: A 10-week free art trail featuring 30 eight-foot-tall sculptures decorated by local and regional artists
- Liberty Festival held in September, kicks off a season of cutting-edge events and new work directed by and involving D/deaf and disabled people, including SoDaDa’s cabaret, ZooCo’s The Nightshift, and Savvy Theatre’s Stepping Stones performance
This is Croydon will be a spectacular celebration of the borough’s unique identity, heritage and character, bringing together communities and giving grassroots creativity the chance to shine.
This is Croydon offers numerous opportunities for businesses, residents, and visitors to get involved. Visit This Is Croydon for more information.
