Share what you do for fun with your community
Invite your friends, neighbours or people from your area – that’s a Fun Palace. Sign up to make your own Fun Palace now.
A Fun Palace is a free event made by local people for their own community. At Fun Palaces people come together to share their skills, passions and interests, and to show the world just how brilliant and packed full of genius their community is!
Click here to find out more about what a Fun Palace is (and what it is not).
Absolutely anyone can make a Fun Palace (yes – that means you!). No experience needed. (Promise)
They can happen anywhere! Fun Palaces have previously happened in libraries, theatres, community centres, gardens, swimming pools, sports centres, allotments, museums, town centres and National Trust properties. Our finding a venue toolkit can help if you need to find a venue to host your Fun Palace.
What happens at a Fun Palace?
Whatever you want! There is no right or wrong way for a Fun Palace to happen. Fun Palaces are packed with arts, sciences, history, heritage, tech, sports and more. Past activities have included origami, photography, edible sculpting, gardening, recipe sharing, science and ecology talks, kayaking, chapati making, forensic investigation, cheerleading and battle rap, to name but a few.
When can they happen?
You can make your Fun Palace whenever you want! It can last for fifteen minutes or three days. On the first weekend of October there is the annual Weekend of Celebration. A lot of people choose to make their Fun Palace on this date as they like to be part of something big happening all at once across the country. However if this doesn’t work for you, then hold it at a time that does.
Why do people make Fun Palaces?
People make Fun Palaces for all kinds of reasons. Some people want to feel more connected to their local community. Some people already feel connected, but want the chance to do something fun together. Some people are already doing Fun Palace type activity, but want to join the nationwide campaign and do it the same time as everyone else; when we all do it together, when we all stand up and show the brilliance that exists in our communities, it can often feel more powerful.
How do I get started?
Great question. The first thing to do is to get yourself on the map. Even if you don’t quite know what you’re doing. Then head to the getting started toolkit for more ideas.
Maker Stories
Handing Over Our Library Space to the Community
We have had some fabulous heart-wrenching, scary, wonderful moments being part of Fun Palaces. And a big part of that was letting go and handing over our library space to the community and saying it’s yours, what would you like to do?
“Generous, radical creativity in action …”
The “Fun Palace Maker” hat is really helpful as it’s a conversation starter and there is enormous strength in being part of an ever-growing international movement.
WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR?
Who We Are
Fun Palaces are made by local people for their own communities. We have a small central team and Ambassadors across the UK.