Fun Palaces support local people to put culture at the heart of community and community at the heart of culture.

Arts Award is a range of unique qualifications that support anyone up to 25 to grow as artists and arts leaders, inspiring them to connect with and take part in the wider arts world through taking challenges in an art form – from fashion to digital art, po- etry to pottery.

Both organisations believe that everyone has creative ability and potential, and that they should be offered opportunities to find and develop it – Arts Award concentrates on those under 25, Fun Palaces on all ages – and we welcome working together as an opportunity for more youth-led and intergenerational activity.

In 2020 Fun Palaces weekend of action is on 4 and 5 October, with each Fun Palace lasting anywhere from two hours to two days.

Here’s a video from Sage Gateshead about the young people from Whickham School and their Fun Palace/Arts Award activities in 2019.

Are you a Fun Palace Maker?

Places running Arts Award, known as centres, include arts and cultural organisations of all sizes, community organisations and schools. They have someone trained as an Arts Award adviser who supports young people to complete their award.

If you are looking for young people in your area to be involved in your Fun Palace get in touch with local Arts Award centres – you can find them on the centres map.

Anyone doing Arts Award is developing their creative skills and for Bronze level young people have to share their skills with other people: Fun Palaces offer a great opportunity to do this.

Do you need extra help organising your Fun Palace? For Silver and Gold Arts Award young people get involved in managing arts projects and becoming a Fun Palaces Maker gives them real life experience.

Are you an Arts Award adviser?

Fun Palaces are run by Makers, local people, often volunteers, who organise and run their community Fun Palace, at which community members share their cultural skills and passions in arts, science, craft, tech, digital, heritage and sports. You can find your local Fun Palace on the map.

All Fun Palaces welcome people of all ages to share their creative skills with their local community, perfect for Bronze Part D. Skills sharing sessions can take place several times during the Fun Palace, allowing young people to learn as they go or for everyone in a group to share their skill.

Makers may need help organising their Fun Palace, giving arts project management opportunities for young people doing Gold and Silver Arts Award.