The Croydon Performing Arts Festival, which was formed in 1913, was, in 1925, one of the Founding Festivals of the British & International Federation of Festivals, our parent body.

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In our Music section we have, since 2018, had a simple structure of classes based upon ability levels and not dependent upon age or choice of repertoire. At all levels we offer non-competitive workshop formats – which have proved very popular with students, teachers, and audience alike – as well as competitive recital classes where the performer is encouraged to fill the allocated time and possibly perform their examination repertoire in one structured recital.

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However, the emphasis is focused solely upon the performance experience and the educational rather than any narrow and purely competitive element. Cash Awards for noteworthy performances may also be awarded. Our main prize is awarded to the winning performance of music by Croydon’s own great composer, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor.​

We offer classes across a wide range of instruments, vocal and choral, for Western music. In addition, our South Asian music classes are structured in the same workshop and recital format for performers of all standards. ​

We offer classes across a wide range of instruments, vocal and choral,

for Western music, with specialist adjudicators. We also have a large South Asian Music section which is structured according to experience level at all ages performing in a recital format for performers from beginners to advanced. 

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Our enthusiastic, and ever-growing, section of Speech & Drama retains its mildly competitive structure from previous years, with top-quality feedback from expert adjudicators, and cash prizes. Despite the more traditional format the emphasis is similarly upon the development of self-esteem rather than the winning.​

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 ​Our popular, and somewhat unique, syllabus for South Asian dancers has been refocused and still occurs during the January/February main festival slot. We are extremely pleased to announce that, after a 7-year absence, the main Dance section will resume during the late May holiday week and will be run on alternate years – i.e. 2025, 2027 etc - as a valuable qualifying festival for All England Dance.

Audience admission remains free, and programmes are free, for the January/February events, so we encourage all performers to bring as large an audience as possible to make the occasion memorable for all, be they beginners or advanced level performers.​ 

We are extremely fortunate that Royal Russell School, with its amazing facilities and relaxing environment continues to generously host most of the festival. Thanks are due to the Head of Royal Russell and his staff for their tireless support and endorsement of our work.