The Big Make 2026

The Big Make is an ambitious arts for wellbeing project, bringing communities of local people together to create group art, in a series of making workshops at our Skylight building, in Croydon’s iconic Surrey Street Market.

The Big Make workshops in sewing, ceramics, and 3D sculpture are being led by our professional artist tutors, and we are inviting local homelessness sector services; community partners; businesses; supporters and individuals who care about ending homelessness in Croydon to join us around the art table between May and June 2026. There will also be time to socialise, swap contact details and chat after each workshop.

The group artwork we make will be shared in an event to mark World Homelessness Day, in October 2026, and will be accompanied by an audio installation of voices captured during The Big Make workshops. The event in October 2026 will also launch our ambition to work together to amplify the voices of everyone affected by homelessness in Croydon, and globally, and to acknowledge the importance of local communities in affecting positive social change where we live and work.  

Places on The Big Make workshops are limited so please look and book as soon as you can.

We know art alone can’t end homelessness in Croydon, but it can open dialogue, nurture connection and trust; it can build self-confidence ; it can create diverse communities who are working towards a shared purpose; it can spark compassion and empathy and increase positive feelings of self and belonging. It can bring hope, light, colour, and form to experiences that can be too overwhelming to put into words.

We hope you can join us in this summer 2026 for The Big Make workshops!

The Workshops

Come as you are! No previous experience is needed, all levels welcome and a good chance to network too!

Sewing Workshop

In the sewing workshops you will design and create a piece of original textile art with artist and CSC sewing for wellbeing tutor, Zoe Hutchison. Your piece will be added to a fabric collage as a powerful symbol of diverse local communities coming together to support the ending of homelessness in Croydon. The work will be shared alongside ceramics, art and a sound installation, in a public event to mark World Homelessness Day in October 2026.

We will work with three basic stitches (running/back and cross) for applique; and a mixture of fabrics including repurposed tote bags; fabric pieces and cut outs; plus a range of surface decoration materials (threads; beads; and bling)

This is a hand sewing project. We will not be using sewing machines in The Big Make sewing workshops.

Some packs of materials are available for schools who want to take part.

Dates: Tuesdays - 5, 12 & 19 May and 9, 16 & 23 June    

Time: 1.30 – 3.30pm (plus an additional 30 minutes socialising)

Venue: Crisis Skylight Croydon

Ceramics Workshop

The Big Make ceramics workshops will use art and making as tools for connection, reflection and community engagement. In the ceramic workshops you will be helping to create 4000 small handmade paper-porcelain discs, each representing an individual in Croydon who is either currently in temporary accommodation or rough sleeping in the borough, according to the most recent figures from Croydon Council. Whilst large in number, the figure of 4000 people living in Croydon without permanent suitable housing is likely to be an underestimate.

The idea for the ceramic part of the The Big Make project was developed by Agata Nowak, ceramic artist and our arts for wellbeing facilitator. Agata’s practice brings narratives of fostering dialogue and empathy. Workshop dates are planned to coincide with World Refugee Week 15– 21 June 2026.

Dates: Fridays - 12,19 & 26 June 

Time: 10 – 12midday (plus an additional 30 minutes socialising)

Venue: Crisis Skylight Croydon

3D Art Workshops

The 3D art workshops with artist and sound producer, Matt Catlow, you will design and create a community of local people showing their support for the ending of homelessness in Croydon. Our Croydon community will be 3D paper mache figures of all shapes and sizes, constructed with wire, newspaper and masking tape. The figures will be painted and dressed in an array of colours and patterns, celebrating their individuality and shared purpose! 

Due to drying times, you might start your figure and then leave it for someone else to continue working on it, or if you prefer, paint and embellish someone else’s figure!

Dates: Thursdays - 7, 14, 21 & 28 May and 11 & 18 June

Time: 10:30 – 12:30 midday (plus an additional 30 minutes socialising)

Venue: Crisis Skylight Croydon

For more information about The Big Make, as well as how to register, please contact Denise at denise.keane@crisis.org.uk