We’ve been speaking to some schools about their involvement in Fun Palaces, and this week had a great meeting with all the teachers of Old Bexley CE Primary School, it was brilliant to see the local library and local artists already talking with the school about what their local Fun Palace might be. We were especially struck by the way teacher Katy Salisbury really understood Joan Littlewood’s desire to “ask the kids” – their school will be starting with ‘the kids’ and making their plans from them.

Are the children or young people in your school interested in their local community? Do they care about arts and sciences? Do they get involved with making, sharing, showing, experimenting? Would you like them to? Would you like to?

We believe the 70+ Fun Palaces across the UK on the 4/5 October 2014 will not only make a clear statement about the value of culture at the heart of community, but that encouraging children and young people to take part as creators as well as participants will help them to become the cultural leaders of the future.

Honouring Joan’s work with children and young people, we welcome input from schools, youth groups, children’s organizations. We have been told that Joan always said “ask the kids” and we’d like to do just that.

Specifically – Amie Taylor is one of the local people volunteering to make Brockwell Lido Fun Palace in Herne Hill, London SE24 and is keen to speak to local children and young people about what they might like to see, contribute, create, at their local Fun Palace. Amie is an artist and workshop facilitator with 10 years experience in project planning, management and delivery on theatre projects for children and young people, she has up to date DBS and PLI. If your school is in the Brockwell Lido area and you’d like to speak to Amie about how you might get involved with the Brockwell Lido Fun Palace, get in touch with us hello@funpalaces.co.uk, marking your email attn Amie.

More generally – there are Fun Palaces signing up every day, across the UK, click on the map to see where they are. If you’d like us to put you in touch with the people making your closest Fun Palace, or if you’d like to make your own, get in touch.

There’s a lot more info throughout the rest of the website, have a look around.