Croydon Stands Tall

•        From 21 August to 27 October, Croydon Town Centre will be transformed into an enchanting open-air art gallery, taken over by 30 spectacular Giraffe sculptures. 
•        Croydon Business Improvement District (BID), in collaboration with creative producers Wild in Art, presents Croydon Stands Tall, a magnificent large-scale public art trail set to grace the streets of Croydon this Summer as part of London Borough of Culture. 
•        The artistically designed giraffes, adorned with unique designs crafted by artists and communities, will captivate the imagination of residents and visitors alike. 
•        The 10-week art trail invites art (and animal!) enthusiasts of all ages to explore and revel in the cultural richness and vibrancy that defines the borough.

As a showcase event for This is Croydon, London Borough of Culture 2023 , Croydon Stands Tall will celebrate the diversity and creative spirit of Croydon while raising funds for Crisis, the national charity working to end homelessness, which has 11 Skylight centres across Great Britain, one of which is in the heart of Croydon. 

Joining the majestic giants, a delightful herd of baby giraffe sculptures will join the trail, decorated by local schools and community groups. These smaller sculptures will be strategically placed across the town's civic centre and spaces, libraries, and shops, adding unexpected experiences to people’s daily lives.  

To enhance the experience for locals and visitors, a free dedicated trail map and app will be available that will unveil the colourful creatures at every turn, providing exciting rewards and fact-finding missions along the way.

To end the trail, Croydon will host a special farewell weekend, where all the giraffe sculptures will be displayed together in one final giraffe spectacular. 

Following the impressive gathering, Croydon Stands Tall will host a finale event where all large sculptures will be auctioned off in aid of national charity Crisis, raising vital funds for the charity’s Croydon Skylight which offers vital help with housing, jobs, health, and wellbeing to help people leave homelessness behind for good. 

Matthew Sims, Chief Executive of Croydon Town Centre Business Improvement District Ltd, said: 

"Croydon, a place defined by its people who stand tall at all times, is home to such a rich and diverse culture. Through our artistic partnership with Wild in Art, the Croydon Stands Tall trail, will bring art and culture to the people enhancing this year’s London Borough of Culture, This is Croydon. This August, our streets will come alive with 60 magnificent uniquely designed giraffe sculptures, ranging from small to towering, creating a vibrant and spectacular experience.” 

“This free event will unite our community, inviting everyone in Croydon—residents, workers, and visitors—to partake in the joy and celebration of our exceptional town on a massive scale. As well as creating a fun experience for all this summer, we are fundraising for Crisis Skylight Croydon who are working hard to eliminate homelessness in our community at a time of great need. We’re excited to see you all there!”

Jason Perry, Executive Mayor of Croydon, said: 

“This is Croydon, London Borough of Culture is about restoring pride in our great borough, bringing people together and celebrating our communities, and that’s what Croydon Stands Tall is all about. Croydon Stands Tall is a great example of culture forging new partnerships between Croydon’s business, cultural and education communities, to create something fun and free for residents and visitors of all ages to enjoy. Get involved and follow the Giraffe Trail through Croydon this summer and beyond!”    

Christine Eyers, Director of Crisis Skylight Croydon, said: 

“We’re so excited to see the trail launch this summer and to see all the giraffes, and their amazing artwork, dotted around Croydon.  

“It is a real honour for Crisis to be the charity partner for such a unique event. The auction at the end will help us to continue our work, supporting people across the borough who are facing the devastating reality of homelessness. Through our frontline services we help people take the steps they need to rebuild their lives and leave homelessness behind for good.”

Simon Comins, Chief Commercial Officer at Superdrug said:

“We are proud to be part of Croydon Stands Tall and are looking forward to seeing all the giraffes as part of the trail this summer. To be able to sponsor the initiative with Croydon BID, knowing the donations will go to a great cause and help support those within the Croydon community is an honour. We’ve got a long heritage in the area, with our head office and several stores located in the heart of the town
centre and we look forward to the launch in August.”

ENDS 

For further media information, images, interviews please contact: 

CroydonStandsTall@Kallaway.com / 07867 335242 

The London Borough of Culture is the flagship cultural policy from the Mayor of London and is supported by Arts Council England and The National Lottery Heritage Fund. For more information about Croydon Stands Tall, the participating artists, and the art trail, please visit https://www.croydonstandstall.co.uk 

Notes to editors

London Borough of Culture 

The Mayor’s London Borough of Culture award brings Londoners together. It puts culture at the heart of local communities, where it belongs, illuminating the character and diversity of London’s boroughs and showing culture is for everyone. Launched in 

2017, there have been two rounds of London Borough of Culture so far. The programme for London Borough of Culture 2023, This Is Croydon, will be a celebration of everything Croydon has to offer – created, directed and presented by the people of the borough. From major events with internationally renowned artists performing alongside home-grown talent, to dozens of cultural activities from Croydon’s diverse creative communities, the programme will showcase the very best of Croydon to London and the world. 

Find out more about the programme for This is Croydon at culturecroydon.com and follow @culturecroydon on social media.

About Croydon Stands Tall:

Croydon Stands Tall is a captivating large-scale public art trail presented by Croydon Business Improvement District (BID) in collaboration with Wild in Art. The event will feature over 30 8ft Giraffe sculptures uniquely decorated by local artists and communities. Celebrating the vibrancy and creativity of Croydon, the 10-week art trail supports Crisis, a national charity working locally to end homelessness.

About Croydon Business Improvement District (BID):

Croydon BID has been an integral part of Croydon town centre for the past 15 years, prioritising the interests and needs of the local business community. Representing over 500 organisations in the retail, commercial, leisure, hospitality, and public sectors, Croydon BID is dedicated to making a tangible difference in the town centre. By introducing innovative initiatives and essential services, Croydon BID aims to transform Croydon into one of the most sustainable, welcoming, vibrant, and culturally diverse locations in south London for businesses, residents, and visitors. For more information, please visit www.croydonbid.com.

About Crisis:  

Crisis is the national charity for people facing homelessness across Wales, Scotland and England. We know that homelessness is not inevitable, and we know that together, we can end it. We provide services directly to people experiencing homelessness, carry out research into the causes and consequences of homelessness, and campaign for the changes needed to end it. You can contact the Crisis media team on 020 7426 3880, media@crisis.org.uk, or 07973 372587 (out of hours) 

About Superdrug: 

Superdrug offers the best in trending beauty brands, everyday personal care and essential health products. With over 780 stores across the UK and Ireland, Superdrug brings the best in accessible beauty and health to the high street and online. 

Superdrug shoppers can locate their nearest store by visiting the store finder on superdrug.com. For further information please contact the Superdrug press office at Mind+Matter on 01273 712000 or email superdrug-mindplusmatter@ashfieldhealth.com.