Croydon young people given the chance to design sculptures for empty alcoves at Stanley Halls

A new youth arts project has been launched to inspire young people in Croydon to redesign the statues that formerly lived in the Stanley Halls alcoves.

The statues which used to decorate the house have mysteriously disappeared over the years, presumably stolen.

The winning results will be displayed in a public exhibition in the Halls at the end of June.  

Young people between seven and 18 in the borough can apply to be involved in the creative workshops to produce designs based on their own heroes. 

The workshops, organised by Heritage of London Trust’s programme Proud Places, will be supported by professional artists.

One of the artists, Neil Hedger, was a Croydon local who grew up admiring one of the last statues to survive in the alcoves, inspiring his own career as a sculptor. 

Mr Hedger said: “As a small boy, I was fascinated by the statue of  Vulcan, blacksmith to the gods, that occupied a niche outside The Stanley Halls, and the last  sculpture to be stolen from the building. 

“This led to a lifelong fascination with statues, how  they inhabit a space, how separate they are from us. I see them as a metaphor for otherness.  

“I have throughout my career as a sculptor asked the question: who could be  commemorated in such an unchanging manner today? It is exciting to think that Stanley’s  Statues and the young people of Croydon will provide answers to this question.” 

Stanley’s Statues workshops will run throughout June with the first round on June 8 and 9.

This will involve the children exploring the history of Stanley Halls, who the lost statues were and why they were celebrated. 

Rounds two and three in the following weeks will see the children selecting and making their own papier maché, clay or wire versions of their statues for presentation.

The best artworks will be exhibited later in the month.  

The project is free for all participants, and children can enter as individuals or via their  school or local youth group. 

Dr Nicola Stacey, Director of the Heritage of London Trust, said: “It’s so important that young people feel a sense of pride in where they live. But it’s rare that  they get to see a public building reflect their own stories and aspirations. 

“This is a chance for Croydon’s young people to have their say in who is important to them personally and who  inspires them. We hope this project will help them feel more connected to their local  heritage, and at the same time feed into broader discussions about who might be  commemorated in London’s public realm more widely.” 

Dr Daniel Winder, Venue Director of Stanley Halls, said:  “We are so pleased to be partners in this innovative heritage engagement project.  

“Our recently launched new identity, Stanley Arts, is focused on reimagining the purpose of  our unique building complex for the 21st century. 

“The Stanley Statues project will be a really  great way to involve the next generation in rethinking what the face of this wonderful  community arts building should be for the future.” 

For more information about Stanley’s Statues, email info@heritageoflondon.org