Spare Time

The Art of Life Exhibition is currently on display at Croydon Clocktower it shows some of the work created by students from Croydon Adult Learning and Training (CALAT).

It includes work in ceramics, embroidery, enamelling, photography, stained glass, flower arranging and many more.

Nicky Partridge, CALAT

Nicky Partridge is CALAT’s Creative Arts Director.

“People really wanted their work to be seen … it’s fine doing it, but it’s great if it can be seen … it never ceases to amaze me how good people are … it’s a fantastic standard”, explains Nicky

Anyone can take up training.  CALAT has around 100 different courses available.

“We’ve got people from every background.  We range in age from about 17 to, I think the oldest – nearly 100 yrs and this is [the exhibition] representative of some of the fantastic work they produce”,

new skill

Emma Calvert is a student at Kingston University she said she wanted to learn a skill which she could use to make some extra money so; she took up stained glass making.

Emma shows off work

“I've learnt a skill I couldn't learn at my Uni. … it’s always good to find something new to learn.”

Whilst, architect John Rex Speller took up painting.  Looking at one of his painting, he explained how satisfying he found the experience: 

“I certainly gained [satisfaction] as I set out to do certain things and I've gone some of the way towards achieving it”.

Well, the exhibition will be on until mid June and visitors can sample a range of practical demonstrations in areas like stained glass, flower arranging, embroidery or even woodcarving.

To find out more, log onto CALAT’s or Croydon Clocktower websites.