Together we’ll make art and joy!

Join us every fortnight for free art sessions for people living with dementia and their carers- explore the Croydon Art Collection, create and experience joy together.

How do you book a place?

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: museum@croydon.gov.uk

Learn more about the Dementia, Art and Joy programme here.

Join the Curator and the Borough Archivist on a guided tour of our stores and rarely-seen collections.

Free. Booking advised. Part of the 2026 Open House Festival

Learn more and book. (Please note bookings open on the 19th August).

Join the Curator and the Borough Archivist on a guided tour of our stores and rarely-seen collections.

Free. Booking advised. Part of the 2026 Open House Festival

Learn more and book. (Please note bookings open on the 19th August).

Storytime is a night for story-tellers, writers, poets, musicians and all manner of lovely folk to share their stories.

We are London's storytelling collective and are delighted to be making our way to Croydon for the very first time for a very special event.

Grayson Perry's Essex House Tapestries: The Life of Julie Cope are now on display at the Museum of Croydon. The tapestries represent the trials, tribulations, celebrations and mistakes of an average life. They are an incredible distillation of the beauty and mundanity of living.

In celebration, we will be running an evening of storytelling and music inspired by the tapestries in collaboration with the Museum of Croydon.

We will have stories from a splendid line-up from our collective and the night will be hosted by Storytime members Kofi Achina & Adam RW.

The open mic will run through the night with names pulled from the hat as always. There will be 1 open mic slot in the first half and 1 in the second half. You will have 8 minutes if your name is pulled out.

Booking required. Tickets £11.36.Book your place via Dice here.

Join us after hours for free creative workshops inspired by Grayson Perry’s ‘Essex House Tapestries: The Life of Julie Cope’

Lineup:

Music with Bonnie Diver

Tarot with Palencar

Fashion Portraits with Zoe Parker

Comic Drawing with Ruffle

& more to be announced!

Free, no booking required.

Together we’ll make art and joy!

Join us every fortnight for free art sessions for people living with dementia and their carers- explore the Croydon Art Collection, create and experience joy together.

How do you book a place?

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: museum@croydon.gov.uk

Learn more about the Dementia, Art and Joy programme here.

Join the Curator and the Borough Archivist on a guided tour of our stores and rarely-seen collections.

Free. Booking advised. Part of the 2026 Open House Festival

Learn more and book. (Please note bookings open on the 19th August).

As part of Croydon's Open House, explore all that Croydon Central Library’s new Digital Zone has to offer. Drop in for screenings of archival footage (12pm-4pm), an introduction to the podcast suite (2-3pm) and a demonstration of how to use the archive computers (3-4pm)!

Free, no booking required. Croydon Central Library, Level 1, Croydon Clocktower.

Join the Curator and the Borough Archivist on a guided tour of our stores and rarely-seen collections.

Free. Booking advised. Part of the 2026 Open House Festival

Learn more and book. (Please note bookings open on the 19th August).

As part of Croydon's Open House, explore all that Croydon Central Library’s new Digital Zone has to offer. Drop in for screenings of archival footage (12pm-4pm), an introduction to the podcast suite (2-3pm) and a demonstration of how to use the archive computers (3-4pm)!

Free, no booking required.

Join the Curator and the Borough Archivist on a guided tour of our stores and rarely-seen collections.

Free. Booking advised. Part of the 2026 Open House Festival

Learn more and book. (Please note bookings open on the 19th August).

Join us every month in the Clocktower Café for a relaxed, friendly discussion on an art-related book as part of a programme of events around our current exhibition: The Essex House Tapestries.

For our next session, we will be reading something a little bit different - Olivia Laing’s The Lonely City: Adventures in the Art of Being Alone.

Join the Whatsapp Community or simply turn up.

About the book:

When Olivia Laing moved to New York City in her mid-thirties, she found herself inhabiting loneliness on a daily basis.

Increasingly fascinated by this most shameful of experiences, she began to explore the lonely city by way of art. Moving fluidly between the works and lives of some of the city's most compelling artists, Laing conducts an electric, dazzling investigation into what it means to be alone, illuminating not only the causes of loneliness but also how it might be resisted and redeemed.

Join us for an evening with local historian Lindsay Ould exploring shopping, entertainment, and the home economics movement.

Access to Grayson Perry’s Essex House Tapestries: The Life of Julie Cope exhibition from 18:30. The talk starts at 19:00 in Croydon Central Library with a Q&A session following.  

General Admission: £5 (including a drink)
Please note this event is 18+.

Book via Eventbrite here

Join us after hours for a relaxed and inclusive introduction to bobbin lace making from the Croydon Lacemakers. Each month will cover a new, beginner-friendly technique and all materials will be provided.

After the workshops, if you would like to continue learning please enquire about getting involved with the Croydon Lacemakers by contacting Sharon Lidbury.

Tickets £10 (individual) or £15 (for two) including light refreshments. Booking required.

Taking place every second Wednesday of the month until March 2027.

Book your tickets here.

Together we’ll make art and joy!

Join us every fortnight for free art sessions for people living with dementia and their carers- explore the Croydon Art Collection, create and experience joy together.

How do you book a place?

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: museum@croydon.gov.uk

Learn more about the Dementia, Art and Joy programme here.

Join us every week for a new creating craft inspired by the Museum of Croydon & Croydon Archive collections! Taking place every Wednesday afternoon and Friday morning for the duration of the summer holidays.

Please note we have a limited capacity and all activities will be first-come-first served. No booking required, all materials provided. Please note that all children under 14 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. We recommend activities for ages 5+, but if you believe your child is able to participate they are welcome to.

Join us every week for a new creating craft inspired by the Museum of Croydon & Croydon Archive collections! Taking place every Wednesday afternoon and Friday morning for the duration of the summer holidays.

Please note we have a limited capacity and all activities will be first-come-first served. No booking required, all materials provided. Please note that all children under 14 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. We recommend activities for ages 5+, but if you believe your child is able to participate they are welcome to.

Join us every week for a new creating craft inspired by the Museum of Croydon & Croydon Archive collections! Taking place every Wednesday afternoon and Friday morning for the duration of the summer holidays.

Please note we have a limited capacity and all activities will be first-come-first served. No booking required, all materials provided. Please note that all children under 14 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. We recommend activities for ages 5+, but if you believe your child is able to participate they are welcome to.

Join us every week for a new creating craft inspired by the Museum of Croydon & Croydon Archive collections! Taking place every Wednesday afternoon and Friday morning for the duration of the summer holidays.

Please note we have a limited capacity and all activities will be first-come-first served. No booking required, all materials provided. Please note that all children under 14 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. We recommend activities for ages 5+, but if you believe your child is able to participate they are welcome to.

Together we’ll make art and joy!

Join us every fortnight for free art sessions for people living with dementia and their carers- explore the Croydon Art Collection, create and experience joy together.

How do you book a place?

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: museum@croydon.gov.uk

Learn more about the Dementia, Art and Joy programme here.

Learn to tell stories through comics art with local artist Ruffle!

We’ll cover basic techniques and storyboarding in this relaxed afternoon workshop.

Part of Grayson Perry's 'Essex House Tapestries: The Life of Julie Cope' exhibition event series.

Tickets £7 (or 2 for £10). Book your place via Eventbrite.

Postponed due to the heatwave! A new date will be announced soon.

Storytime is a night for story-tellers, writers, poets, musicians and all manner of lovely folk to share their stories.

We are London's storytelling collective and are delighted to be making our way to Croydon for the very first time for a very special event.

Grayson Perry's Essex House Tapestries: The Life of Julie Cope are now on display at the Museum of Croydon. The tapestries represent the trials, tribulations, celebrations and mistakes of an average life. They are an incredible distillation of the beauty and mundanity of living.

In celebration, we will be running an evening of storytelling and music inspired by the tapestries in collaboration with the Museum of Croydon.

We will have stories from a splendid line-up from our collective and the night will be hosted by Storytime members Kofi Achina & Adam RW.

The open mic will run through the night with names pulled from the hat as always. There will be 1 open mic slot in the first half and 1 in the second half. You will have 8 minutes if your name is pulled out.

Booking required. Tickets £11.36.Book your place via Dice here.

Join us after hours for a relaxed and inclusive introduction to bobbin lace making from the Croydon Lacemakers. Each month will cover a new, beginner-friendly technique so you can come for all the workshops or just one!

Taking place every second Wednesday of the month until September.

Tickets £10 (individual) or £15 (for two) including light refreshments. Booking required.

Book your tickets here.

Come and explore Creative Health for yourself with a family-friendly afternoon of fun.

Visit the Creative Health exhibition at Museum of Croydon and then join local artists to try your hand at a range of activities supporting health and wellbeing across the borough. From singing to drama or arts & crafts, there's something for everyone.

Activities

All activities are free, all resources are provided and no experience is needed to take part. Please refer to the activity descriptions for information about suitable age ranges.

Each activity will repeat 3 times across the afternoon, so you can try out a range of different artforms across the afternoon. Capacity for each workshop is on a first-come first-served basis, with opportunities to join activities in the middle of sessions if space allows.

• 13:00-13:45: Activity Workshops – Session 1

• 14:00-14:45: Activity Workshops – Session 2

• 15:00-15:45: Activity Workshops – Session 3

Thrive Singalong
Join professional musicians from Music Relief Foundation for a fun, no-pressure singalong inspired by their Thrive Choir programme in Thornton Heath. You’ll be guided through a range of songs both new and old, including fan favourites as well as some lesser-known gems. All ages welcome. Ear plugs will be provided but please bring ear defenders if you prefer to avoid loud noises.

Clocktower Atrium, out front of Museum of Croydon

Clay & Play

Join ceramicist Agata Nowak and try your hand at forming clay birds or making exquisite leaf pressings. All ages welcome, spaces limited to 20 seats per session. Handwashing available in Clocktower toilets and plastic gloves will be provided for those not wishing to touch clay.

Clocktower Atrium, out front of Children’s Library

No Drama

Join professional drama practitioners from Good Wolf People for an introduction to theatre, and take part in a wide range of drama games and activities perfect to get even the shyest members of the family expressing themselves. Activities are best suited for ages 7+, though audiences of all ages are welcome.

Children’s Library, ground floor Central Library

Toys and Games Handling Collection

Get the chance to touch, hold and play with some of the Museum of Croydon’s collection and learn all about games and toys enjoyed in years past in Croydon. All ages welcome.

Museum of Croydon, Level 1

Creative Writing & Joy

Create your own poems, lyrics, short stories or other words exploring the theme of Joy with members of the New Addington Community Creative Writing Group. Guided by a set of prompts, you’ll write and share (if desired!) new creations about creativity and joy. Writing activities are best suited for ages 8+, though younger children are welcome to join in and draw their responses if desired.

Central Library Meeting Room 1 (Level 1)

‘The Feeling Factory’: Join local creative therapists for a mix of music and visual art activities helping young people to explore and express their emotions in fun, no-pressure ways. Aimed at ages 4-11, though older and younger siblings or young-at-heart adults welcome.

Central Library Meeting Room 2 (Level 1)

A ‘chill out’ space in the Riesco Gallery (ground floor, next to Museum of Croydon) with an optional rag weaving activity is available throughout the afternoon. Drop in and enjoy lower lighting levels, relaxed seating and reduced noise levels.

Join us every month in the Clocktower Café for a relaxed, friendly discussion on an art-related book as part of our Croydon Art Collection: Matching Masterpieces Exhibition.

For our next session, we will be reading Bell Hooks Art On My Mind

Join the Whatsapp Community or simply turn up.

About the book:

'There must be a revolution in the way we see, the way we look'

In a collection of essays, critiques and interviews, bell hooks responds to the ongoing dialogues about producing, exhibiting and criticizing art and aesthetics in a world increasingly concerned with identity politics. hooks shares her own experience of the transformative power of art whilst exploring topics ranging from art in education and the home to the politics of space and imagination as a revolutionary tool. She positions her writings on visual politics within the ever-present question of how art can be empowering within the Black community.

Speaking with artists such as Carrie Mae Weems and Alison Saar, and examining the work of Jean-Michel Basquiat and Felix Gonzalez-Torres, Art on My Mind is a generous and expansive body of work that has become increasingly relevant since it was first published in 1995. Here is an essential tool for understanding the contemporary moment, and a fundamental text for any reader concerned with making and sustaining a democratic artistic culture.

Together we’ll make art and joy!

Join us every fortnight for free art sessions for people living with dementia and their carers- explore the Croydon Art Collection, create and experience joy together.

How do you book a place?

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: museum@croydon.gov.uk

Learn more about the Dementia, Art and Joy programme here.

‍Play for Progress presents The Roots with Dramatherapists!

We invite you to come together to connect with yourself, others, nature and that which roots us through playing games,
movement, breathwork, art and story making. Bring water, comfortable clothes you don’t mind getting messy, a mat or pillow to sit on.

About this Event
This workshop is part of Forever We Can Be Full, an exhibition at the Museum of Croydon celebrating 10 years of Play for Progress. You can drop in to see the exhibition at any time during museum opening hours between the 28th of May & 31st August. During the exhibition, visitors will also be invited to take part in four workshops designed to offer a taste of Play for Progress’ creative programmes.

Love clothes? Love dressing up? Join us after hours for a fun and friendly fashion drawing workshop!

Do you love clothes and dressing up? Maybe you haven't played at dressing up since you were a child! Do you love art and fashion and would love to learn how to combine the two?

This workshop creates joy and laughter as participants have fun learning basic fashion illustration skills - whilst dressing up in outrageous outfits. It's a feelgood event where you get to be an artist, a fashionista and a model too.

Mixed media materials and clothing is provided. All garments are easy to slip on top of your own. There is absolutely no pressure to perform!

Tickets are £10 (or £15 for two) including light refreshments - book your place via Eventbrite.

Join us every week for a new creating craft inspired by the Museum of Croydon & Croydon Archive collections! Taking place every Wednesday afternoon and Friday morning for the duration of the summer holidays.

Please note we have a limited capacity and all activities will be first-come-first served. No booking required, all materials provided. Please note that all children under 14 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. We recommend activities for ages 5+, but if you believe your child is able to participate they are welcome to.

Love clothes? Love dressing up? Join us after hours for a fun and friendly fashion drawing workshop!

Do you love clothes and dressing up? Maybe you haven't played at dressing up since you were a child! Do you love art and fashion and would love to learn how to combine the two?

This workshop creates joy and laughter as participants have fun learning basic fashion illustration skills - whilst dressing up in outrageous outfits. It's a feelgood event where you get to be an artist, a fashionista and a model too.

Mixed media materials and clothing is provided. All garments are easy to slip on top of your own. There is absolutely no pressure to perform!

Tickets are £10 (or £15 for two) including light refreshments - book your place via Eventbrite.