Our Purpose
Culture made by everyone, everywhere – and valued for what it is.
Aims and objectives
A year-round campaign for culture made by, with and for everyone
Fun Palaces works towards a world where everyone has a say in what counts as culture, where it happens, who makes it and who experiences it.
It happens all year round – and every October, thousands of Makers across the UK and beyond shout about it together.
How it works
Three ways the campaign comes to life
Everything we do comes back to one idea: the brilliance is already in every community. Our job is to help it be seen, shared and valued.
01
Fun Palaces, made by you
Fun, free, locally-led events made by Makers – friends, neighbours, groups and venues sharing their secret skills. Public venues can hand their space over to their community, so local people make the Fun Palace themselves.
02
The Weekend of Action
On the first weekend of October every year, thousands of Makers run their Fun Palaces at the same time – and we celebrate similar events all year round. It’s a chance to shout about the brilliance in every community with one united voice. Next up: 1-3 October 2027.
03
Workshops
Our workshops help communities create by and for themselves: building local networks, linking people and organisations, helping venues co-create with local people and helping small groups show their value as grassroots community activists.
Digital portraits at Newham Library Fun Palace, 2022 – photo by Renoir Saulter (left). A Fun Palaces workshop (right).
Our vision
A world where communities have an active role in culture, where everyone’s brilliance is recognised and valued, where people create, connect, learn and have fun – and where communities have what they need to be active and equal leaders and collaborators.
“The campaign believes in the genius in everybody, that everyone’s creativity is equally valued and that communities working together can do amazing things.”
Fun Palace Maker, Eltham, London, 2020
Our aims
What we want to change
01
To change how we all see and fund culture, so that the culture made and enjoyed by all communities counts.
02
To make the most of all talents, spaces, local and national strengths and assets, so that we live in a culturally richer and fairer world.
03
To encourage creativity and connection, so that we have vibrant, confident and strong communities.
“It doesn’t make arts and science something we read or watch but something we make and do. It’s collaborative and inclusive, bond-building and boundary-smashing.”
Fun Palace Maker, Whitstable, 2015
Our objectives
How we get there
Four things guide the work we do with Makers, venues and partners.
01 · Celebrate
Celebrate local culture
To celebrate, value and amplify the culture in local communities, through year-round campaign work and the Weekend of Action.
02 · Share
Hand over the keys
To support venues and institutions to hand decision-making to communities, and to share resources such as spaces and funds – working with hosts, ambassadors and venues on community-led takeovers, with workshops and toolkits to help.
03 · Connect
Connect people and places
To connect people, venues and places so they can share learning and collaborate – through our ambassadors programme, workshops, networking and action research.
04 · Inspire
Inspire communities to lead
To inspire, equip and support communities to create, explore and take the lead – through our case studies, toolkits, workshops and network.
“The Fun Palace enabled the community to feel empowered by taking ownership of the centre.”
Fun Palace Maker, Radio Chinatown, Liverpool, 2014
Where it began
A laboratory of fun. A university of the streets.
In the early 1960s, theatre-maker Joan Littlewood and architect Cedric Price dreamed up the Fun Palace: a local building, home to the arts and sciences, open and welcoming to all. For many reasons it was never built.
But the idea of a space open to everyone, led by and for local people, was too good to lose. Since 2013 it has grown into the Weekend of Action and the year-round Fun Palaces campaign.
Everyone an artist.
Everyone a scientist.
Joan Littlewood’s founding idea – and still the heart of every Fun Palace.
“Over a decade ago, I felt that Fun Palaces were what we need in the world; in 2024 I feel it more strongly than ever.”
Fun Palace Maker, Lancaster Fun Palace, 2024
Be part of it
Make a Fun Palace, find one near you, or get in touch – we’d love to hear from you.