This is Croydon marks a year of celebrations from April 2023 until March 2024 putting Croydon’s unique identity, diverse communities, heritage, culture and creativity front and centre. Created, directed and presented by the people of the borough through a grassroots up model, This is Croydon, hopes to enable positive change and inspire people from all communities to take part in a rich and inclusive programme of events. Reflecting Croydon’s youthful vitality and creative spirit, 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 fore.
This is Croydon is being delivered through a unique collaboration between the cultural organisations and people of the borough in partnership with Croydon Council. The London Borough of Culture programme is a flagship cultural policy from the Mayor of London, and is supported with further funds from Arts Council England and The National Lottery Heritage Fund. This is Croydon will offer excellence through multiple art forms - from classical music to hip-hop, from dance to spoken word, from original stage productions to street festivals, to which everyone, and every Londoner, is invited.
Opening event
This is Croydon opens on 1 April 2023 with Oratorio of Hope at Fairfield Halls, a brand-new commission led by world-acclaimed chamber orchestra London Mozart Players. Involving over 250 of the borough’s young singers and instrumentalists, the composition is led by Grammy nominated and Croydon educated Tarik O’Regan, recently commissioned by His Majesty The King to compose new pieces of music for the Coronation. Croydon’s poet laureate Shaniqua Benjamin takes a lead on the poetry and spoken word to share stories of hope for the future, while the choreography is led by Agudo Dance Company, alongside Subrang Arts and local young people. (Fairfield Halls, 1-2 April 2023).