Crisis Art Exhibition Highlights Croydon Homelessness Crisis in 2026

Key Points

• Exhibition Overview: A first-of-its-kind free art exhibition titled The Big Make has opened in Croydon to highlight the local homelessness crisis and celebrate community efforts to tackle the issue.
• Organiser and Dates: Hosted by homelessness charity Crisis, the exhibition runs from Tuesday 13 October to Friday 30 October at the Croydon Urban Room in the Whitgift Centre.
• Opening Hours: The venue is open to the public from 10am to 4pm, Tuesdays to Saturdays.
• Core Exhibits: Displays feature 4,000 handmade porcelain discs representing local families and individuals facing homelessness, an audio sound installation, and 3D character sculptures celebrating local diversity.
• Community Engagement: Artworks were created by residents, people with lived experience of homelessness, local schools, businesses, and volunteers.
• Interactive Workshops: Crisis is hosting free creative workshops for adults and young people aged 14 and over from Tuesday 20 October to Thursday 22 October.
• Creative Hub: Much of the featured artwork was produced at Crisis Skylight Croydon, which provides essential support services including housing assistance, healthcare access, and employment guidance.

Croydon (South London News) October 21, 2026 – A unique community art exhibition has opened its doors to the public in Croydon, aiming to bring regional awareness to the pressing issue of homelessness while showcasing the collaborative strength of the local population.

What is The Big Make exhibition in Croydon?

The Big Make is a free public art exhibition organised by national charity Crisis, designed to share the stories of individuals experiencing homelessness across the London Borough of Croydon. Located at the Croydon Urban Room within the Whitgift Centre, the display runs from Tuesday 13 October until Friday 30 October, welcoming visitors between 10am and 4pm from Tuesdays to Saturdays. The initiative brings together artwork produced by a wide cross-section of the local community, including individuals with personal experience of housing insecurity, local school pupils, business representatives, and community volunteers.

How does the exhibition depict the scale of local homelessness?

To visually convey the magnitude of the housing challenge within the area, the exhibition incorporates a central installation comprising 4,000 individually handmade porcelain discs. Each disc symbolises an estimated family or individual who has experienced housing instability or homelessness within Croydon over the course of the preceding year.

In addition to the visual ceramic display, the venue features an immersive sound installation. This audio element allows people who have experienced homelessness to speak directly about what possessing a secure home means to them. Accompanying these auditory stories is a selection of 3D characters created to represent Croydon’s cultural diversity, resilience, and collective identity.

Where was the artwork created and what support is offered?

A significant proportion of the creative works featured throughout the gallery was developed at Crisis Skylight Croydon. The facility serves as a vital resource hub where individuals facing homelessness can access holistic support services. Beyond offering creative outlets, the centre assists members with securing safe accommodation, navigating the benefit system, accessing healthcare facilities, and identifying employment and training opportunities.

To further encourage local participation, Crisis is facilitating a series of free creative workshops at the venue from Tuesday 20 October through to Thursday 22 October. These sessions are open to adults as well as young people aged 14 and above, with advance booking options made available to the public.

What did charity leadership say about the initiative?

Speaking on the launch and purpose of the showcase, Christine Eyers, Director of Crisis Skylight Croydon, emphasised the collaborative effort behind the project:

As reported by Crisis, Christine Eyers stated that

“We’re incredibly proud of all the people who came together to shed light on homelessness in Croydon and the local action being taken to help people in the area rebuild their lives.”

Christine Eyers further noted that

“From the people who have experienced, or are currently experiencing, homelessness who bravely shared their personal stories, to the local schools, businesses, and volunteers, who generously donated their time, it’s been a privilege to witness what can happen when a community comes together through creativity.”

Highlighting the fundamental mission of the charity, Christine Eyers added that

“The Big Make is a powerful statement that homelessness should never be accepted as inevitable in our society. At Crisis, we support people with nowhere safe to live by finding them a safe place to call home, as well as help with employment, healthcare, and rebuilding their self-belief.”

Acknowledging the contribution of the surrounding borough, Christine Eyers stated that

“Working with the local community is a crucial part of this and we would like to thank everyone involved in The Big Make for playing their part in shining a light on this issue and working towards ending homelessness in Croydon for good.”

Background of the particular development

Homelessness in outer London boroughs, including Croydon, has faced heightened scrutiny in recent years due to broader economic pressures, rising costs of living, and shortage of affordable local housing options. Regional support centers such as Crisis Skylight Croydon have increasingly relied on community engagement strategies alongside traditional social services to tackle root causes of vulnerability. Initiatives such as The Big Make draw upon art therapy and public expression to bridge social gaps, reduce social stigma associated with severe housing insecurity, and build local networks capable of supporting long-term rehabilitation and housing stability.

Prediction: How this development can affect local residents, vulnerable individuals, and community groups

The launch of The Big Make exhibition is expected to have several distinct effects across different sections of the local community:

• For Individuals Experiencing Homelessness: The platform provides an opportunity for direct creative expression and self-advocacy, helping to restore confidence and self-belief. Participation via Crisis Skylight services offers a gateway to crucial practical support, including housing advice, health resources, and job opportunities.
• For the General Public and Visitors: The visual representation of 4,000 porcelain discs offers a stark, accessible benchmark of the actual scale of local housing hardship. This is likely to foster greater empathy, reduce social stigma, and deepen public understanding regarding the root causes of housing insecurity in Croydon.
• For Local Community Groups, Schools, and Businesses: The collaborative nature of the project strengthens inter-sector networks within the borough. By engaging local businesses and educational institutions in creative action, the development encourages sustained corporate social responsibility, volunteer participation, and ongoing funding support for local anti-homelessness initiatives.