Art & Joy
What is Art and Joy?
As part of the project ‘Dementia, Art and Joy’; Art and Joy is a series of fortnightly sessions for people living with dementia and their carers. The group offers the opportunity to take part in creative activities in a fun, welcoming and supportive environment.
We welcome family members, partners, carers or friends to come along and join in! All sessions are FREE!
Art and Joy will:
Provide experienced facilitators who will create a fun and celebratory environment and Museum staff who can chat to participants more about the art and artists we look at.
Explore the Museum of Croydon’s art collection and choose pieces to go in an exhibition in May 2025.
Offer a range of arts activities to get involved in, to create our own art as part of the exhibition – no experience necessary!
Offer a unique experience for attendees to spend time together and have new shared experiences.
Organise standalone sessions where attendance at every session is not required. Come to one, come to them all or dip in and out in a way that works for you.
Follow current Dementia Friendly guidance to ensure the sessions and the Museum’s services are accessible and welcoming.
Want to know more about the benefits of Art & Joy to those living with dementia? Want to get the latest update on our project? Check out our blogs here.
FAQS
Find answers to frequently asked questions here and more information.
Email us if there is anything else your would like to know.
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Use our 'Sign Up' form to be placed on our email list. Staff will be in touch via email to invite you to upcoming sessions.
All bookings will be taken via the email address: artandjoy@goodwolfpeople.co.uk
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Location: Museum of Croydon, Activities Space on Level 0 (as you enter building, the library will be in front of you and the café to your right. Turn left and follow signage)
Address: Croydon Clocktower, Katharine Street, Croydon, CR9 1ET
Dates: Fortnightly sessions, launching 25th September 2024
Time: Wednesdays,10.30am to 12:00pm
Duration: 90 minutes
Once you have signed up you will receive more information on future dates, additional sessions or changes, if any.
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Location and transport
Croydon Clocktower is centrally located in Katharine Street in Croydon's town centre with excellent transport links.
Tram
The nearest stops are George Street and Wellesley Road.
Bus
Bus stops for all the major bus routes are on Katharine Street, Park Street and on Park Lane by the Nestlé Building and across the road by Fairfield Halls. West Croydon bus station and the bus interchange at East Croydon station are within walking distance.
Train
East and West Croydon rail stations are within walking distance (15+ mins). There are regular services from/to London Victoria, London Bridge, Thameslink stations, Gatwick Airport and south coast destinations.
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The Museum does not have parking facilities.
The nearest multi-storey car parks are Fairfield in Barclay Road and Surrey Street in Charles Street. You can search more options here.
For blue badge holders.
All car parks have dedicated bays for blue badge holders. There is also on-street parking for blue badge holders on Fell Road, by St George's Walk. Fell Road is next to the Croydon Clocktower Building.
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Entry to the building
You will be able to enter the building via main doors from 9am. The front of the building has ramped access and it is step free to the Activities Space (where sessions will be held).
Public lifts give access to rest of building such as upstairs galleries, David Lean Cinema and Town Hall.
Toilets
Toilets including wheelchair accessible toilets are located on Level 0 and 1. Toilets are close by to the session space.
Quiet space
If you would like to leave the session at any point, staff can direct you to a quieter space.
Cloakroom
We have a coat rack and lockers outside the Activities Space.
Food and Drink
Teas, coffees and light snacks will be provided during the session.
The Clocktower Café will be open (9am-4pm) there is a selection of hot and cold food and drinks which can be purchased.
You are able to bring your own food and drink for medical reasons, if you prefer.
Guide Dogs and Hearing Dogs
Guide and Hearing Dogs are welcome at the Croydon Clocktower.
British Sign Language (BSL) Interpreter
If you require BSL interpretation please get in touch with us at least one month’s notice prior to the session. We will do our best to accommodate all requests and will be in touch to confirm.
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For booking, general session enquiries please contact:
artandjoy@goodwolfpeople.co.uk
For other types of enquiry or you need to contact us urgently on the day please email or phone us:
email: museum@croydon.gov.uk
telephone: 020 8604 7501 / 020 8253 1022
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No, the sessions and refreshments are all Free. This project is fully funded as part of Croydon Council's Creative Wellbeing programme.
Please make sure to book your place on the session(s) as spaces are limited.
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Yes, the Museum has also launched a 'Hands on heritage' project which includes outreach. Not only for schools, the project includes facilitators taking handling objects into care homes/memory cafes. Contact us at museum@croydon.gov.uk for more information.
Yes, also in the Clocktower - The David Lean Cinema offers regular Dementia Friendly Film Screenings in the Clocktower. See here for Sept - Dec screenings.
Interested in attending Art and Joy sessions at the Museum of Croydon? Join us at any time by clicking on the ‘Sign Up’ button below:
Inspire
Be inspired by the Croydon Art Collection, from the artists themselves to their technique, style, colour and subject. Our sessions aim to inspire and evoke joy! They will include artworks from museum storage; selected fortnightly in response to participant’s interests.
The collection began in the 1890s when many works were given as gifts to council. In the 1960s work by artists from the Croydon School of Art was acquired by the borough’s education department. Further donations over the years has resulted in an incredible art collection of over 2,000 works, including paintings, prints and sketches from the 17th Century to significant pieces by contemporary artists including Bridget Riley.
Create
Enjoy a cuppa and a chat together while creating art!
Art has a unique ability to tap in to a wide range of emotions, including joy, and can provide great comfort. Each session will include an art making activity, inspired by the Croydon Art Collection and previous sessions. Art activities aim to be casual and fun - we welcome all levels of experience! Sessions are uniquely aimed at both carers AND those they care for who are living with dementia. We want to create a welcoming space to make conversation and bring joy - project staff and volunteers are there to support.
Exhibit
Co-curate together an exhibition full of all of our favourite artworks and new creations!
Launching in Dementia Awareness week May 2025, the exhibition will evolve during each session with our feedback and feelings interpreting the Museum’s art collections and new art. The exhibition hopes to not only evoke joy for the viewer but a greater understanding of the importance the arts has for those living with Dementia and their carers.
Exhibition will be open May to November 2025 (Dates TBC)
Meet the Team
Johnny Handscombe
Johnny runs community arts sessions in Croydon and across London and also makes theatre.
Jessica Woolf
Jess is the museum’s Collections Officer, with experience in curation and collections care.
Andrea Gillie
Andrea is a community arts facilitator, with a background in theatre.
Anita Cottle
Anita is a Community Producer for the Museum where she delivers community outreach programmes for children, young people and adults.
Art Pack Creator
Good Wolf are actively seeking an arts pack creator, packs inspired by our sessions for use in care homes. More information coming soon!
Kelly Ng
Kelly is a community producer and evaluator, with a background in youth work. Kelly will be the evaluator on this project.
Katherine Dewar
Katherine is a collections volunteer for the Museum, focussing on exhibitions, research and most recently the art collection.
Guest Artists
Our art sessions may feature local guest artists! More information coming soon!
Interested in attending art and joy sessions at the Museum of Croydon? Join us at any time by signing up below:
Inspired by the sessions you are participating in, the legacy of this project will continue long after May 2025 with the release of ‘Art & Joy’ packs for care homes and further activities.
Funded as part of Croydon Council's Creative Wellbeing programme
Special thanks to the estate of Richard Allen for permission to use Diacrosse by Richard Allen (1933-1999) in our marketing.