Community

Stanley Arts is a home for arts and community activity. We have a growing programme of different community activities for people to get involved with. From the three year Inventing South Norwood culture programme, to one-off arts workshops, to our Croydon Emerging Writers Programme, we have lots of free activities for you to get involved in. This part of the website hosts all the current and past programmes in one place.

Proud Places & Stanley Arts Presents: Stanley’s Statues!

We challenge you, the local young people of South East London to inspire a new and exciting figure for Stanley Arts!

Six manga type cartoon figures of young people moving. One is in a wheelchair and another is on a skateboard. They are all brightly dressed and the word Gadgeteers is in a big font made up of cogs above them.

Summer Invention Challenge

Calling all Gadgeteers aged 4 – 11! We challenge you to create a brand new invention this summer and become the next mastermind of South Norwood! Did you know, South Norwood is the birthplace of many unique and interesting inventions?

Photo of two women lying on the floor, scattered with postcards and orange slices. A a glowing, orange ball is between them and they're smiling at each other

QUEER JOY exhibition call out

Bold Mellon are looking for submissions of artwork that truly expresses the raw, uninterrupted feeling of QUEER JOY. Think euphoric, think powerful. Beautiful emotion caught in a moment of zero-gravity. Bold Mellon are all about providing a platform for underrepresented queer voices.

Three men laughing in the Stanley Arts gallery as they look at a photography exhibition

New heritage engagement programme!

We’re pleased to announce that we have launched a heritage engagement programme at Stanley Arts, generously funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The programme celebrates the people, past and present, who have shaped South Norwood as we approach our 120th anniversary at Stanley Arts.

Text in red on a white background saying, Tell us what you thought!

Exhibition and heritage event feedback

Have you recently attended an event at Stanley Arts with a focus on local history and heritage? Your feedback helps us to shape our future projects and understand what you think of heritage in and around South Norwood High Street.

Group of women dancing with their hands raised in a dark studio

Rejoice badhayaan! Jubilee dance workshops

Join our Community Dance Project over 4 evenings to create a piece of South Asian […]

When Spring Smiles Again On This High Favoured Town

As part of Inventing South Norwood, this exhibition in the Social Café explores how the […]

Invention Point: Making Mosaics

The Inventing South Norwood Team are back with a brand new Inventor who will be […]

Become a Herb Garden Volunteer!

Become a herb garden volunteer! We’re looking for volunteers to shape a heritage herb kitchen, […]

As a registered charity, Stanley Arts relies on your support to lift up talented young artists and foreground marginalised voices. With your help we will continue to provide a vital cultural home for local communities and the Stanley Artistic Family. Now more than ever, we need your help.