Yesterday lunchtime, I popped by the Clocktower to see the Museum of Croydon’s latest exhibition, Art & Joy. The exhibition showcases work by people affected by dementia, which was created at a series of workshops earlier this year. In the workshops the participants were inspired by artworks from the museum’s collection, and in the exhibition some of these collection items sit side by side with the new art.

I found Art & Joy a charming and welcoming exhibition to visit. Starting in the Clocktower’s atrium, the exhibition continues in the Museum’s ground floor gallery space, taking the visitor through art grouped in various themes of what brings us joy – from nature, animals and food to music, hobbies and holidays – on a backdrop of soothing colours and flowing shapes.

Some of the newly created art is highly Instagrammable, from the beautiful Art & Joy mosaic at the start of the exhibition to the plasticine lollipops, cup of tea screenprint and floral linocuts. It’s art that makes me smile, and I felt that the artists must have been smiling creating it too.

What was particularly lovely about Art & Joy were the interactive elements – visitors are invited to touch (yes touch!) some of the art, as well as create their own masterpieces inspired by music. There’s even a very chilled dedicated Spotify playlist you can listen to on your way around.

The exhibition is also a great chance to see some of the museum’s collection, and from a new perspective too – juxtaposing old art and new. The aim ‘to evoke happiness and highlight the importance of art to wellbeing’ is definitely achieved in Art & Joy, so why not pop down in your lunch hour to find your joy in art.

The exhibition runs until the end of November, and you can visit Wednesday–Saturday between 11am and 4pm. You can find out more on the museum’s website and Instagram.

Photos courtesy of the Museum of Croydon from the exhibition launch, by Glenn Foster.

Posted by Julia