The Develop Croydon team was provided the opportunity to interview Stanley Arts’ Dan Winder, CEO and Moa Strand, Learning and Engagement Manager about Croydon’s year as the London Borough of Culture 2023/2024, highlighting their perspective on its impact.

Here is what they shared:

1. Croydon being chosen as the London Borough of Culture…

Croydon sometimes gets a bad deal in both national and local press. It was really wonderful to see it being highlighted for a positive reasons for once. Our borough has a unique history of music, culture and performance. It is one of London’s greenest and youngest borough and so richly deserved this accolade.

2. What makes Croydon unique?

A DIY approach is key to Croydon enduring success as a hotbed for cultural innovation. From music to visuals arts the energy and creativity of the street is always on show.

Croydon also has a lot of great homegrown talent in the dance field with companies like SLiDE, Beeja and Birdgang Ltd all at the top of their game. We also have a real strength in queer arts representation across Croydon.

3. Which was your favourite ‘This is Croydon’ event?

‘The Carnival of Invention’ on Station Road in South Norwood was a real local favourite with handmade go-carts racing down the sunlit street.

Stanley Arts’ ‘Journey of a Refugee’ presented by Theatre Rites in collaboration with Agudo Dance was a particularly interesting site-specific exploration of the UK immigration system from the inside.

4. How do you think Croydon has grown over the year?

I think the cultural sector as a whole is much more integrated. Before LBoC, there was lots of fantastic work but we all tended to work in our own silos. After this wonderful year of collaboration, and with the formation of Culture Croydon, a new independent voice for culture in the borough, we hope to work a lot more closely together in the future.

5. What would the programme’s legacy be?

We are seeing a growing confidence in the sector to try new things! We will continue to deepen and broaden the reach our work. It is also observed that beyond our borough, the rest of London, people are beginning to reassess its opinion of Croydon as a creative hub.

6. Your (Stanley Art’s) proudest moment?

An important moment for us, this year, was the completion of our first phase of capital works – we opened a brand new café, gallery and co-working space plus a beautiful new frontage which reinstated railings that had been last seen over 70 years ago. After decades of neglect, we were proud to take the first step in making our beautiful old building ready for the new century to come.

7. What would be your big ask from the council/government?

Funding is always of value. Beyond this, the council and government still control and manage large numbers of buildings across our public realm. Including the cultural sector in any discussions about the future of these spaces would be a huge help for us, and we have a lot of expertise to offer to these deliberations.

8. What’s coming up at Stanley Arts?

At the end of May we have our annual dance festival, which is bigger than ever. From hip hop, to classical Indian dance, from urban line dancing to dance on film this local celebration has something for everyone.