Earlier this year we added the ‘Tiny Fun Palaces’ option to our map, so you can make a Fun Palace and be counted as part of the nationwide celebration of arts, culture and sciences – without giving your exact location away. Our Executive Producer, Orla Nicholls, gave the Tiny Fun Palace a test run, here she shares how it went – proving you don’t need a crowd or a big space to spark creativity and connection!
Why we made it Tiny
We had a family reunion in Norfolk in May, and knowing we had a bunch of talented family members who all have lots of secret skills we decided to celebrate by holding a Fun Palace (to celebrate the brilliance and culture of our family!) The Tiny Fun Palaces option on the Fun Palaces website meant we could join the national map and community, without broadcasting our location.
What is a Tiny Fun Palace?
A Tiny Fun Palace is a (low-key or private) very small or ‘at-home’ fun palace that shows up on the national map, but keeps your actual address hidden. You choose the “Tiny” option, give a title and approximate location and you’re listed – no venue or public address needed! It only takes a few minutes to set up and then you’re officially part of the nationwide celebration of creativity and community. And it means if leaving home or being part of a more public event is difficult for you – you can still join in the Fun Palaces action!
Why add your Tiny Fun Palace?
So what is the point of adding your fun palace if there’s no address? We’ve created this option because culture isn’t just what happens in galleries or theatres; it happens anywhere people gather, even if that’s round your kitchen table. Adding your Tiny Fun Palace to the map makes it visible. It tells the world that culture thrives in the everyday, the ordinary, the overlooked. Every single marker on the map is counted. That’s not just for show; those numbers are crucial when it comes to making the case for funding, support and recognition for community culture.
By adding yours, you help prove a point: that everyone really does mean everyone. You’re not waiting for the invitation from the big shiny building and you’re showing that everyone can join and have a rich cultural life, without having to travel into the nearest big city.
And yes, there’s also bunting, stickers and poster packs that we can then send you, because every Fun Palace, no matter how tiny, deserves a bit of sparkle!
So what does one actually look like?
Here’s what happened at our tiny family Fun Palace – All ages, all creative, all fun!
From toddlers to grandparents, everyone joined in. Family members brought along supplies from home (some managing a packed suitcase of materials all the way from Belfast!) and were excited to share their secret skills with each other. Together we explored geli-printing by gathering up leaves and feathers from the holiday home grounds, we created magical shadow puppets and took part in a Syrian and Ethiopian cooking class where we made different dishes in groups then all ate together.
Some of us had brought along old ripped books that were not fit to give away or read again, and we repurposed these into beautiful paper roses. We also had some tiny handmade zine-making from a piece of paper and rounded it off with a family singalong of old music‑hall tunes!
One of the highlights for one of our youngest was the shadow puppetry. My cousin told me, “The shadow puppetry was pure magic for her. She loves anything to do with stories, but being able to dream up and create the puppets led to hours of making up stories for her characters afterwards.”
“It’s lovely to just sit together and make something with your hands. We so rarely make time for anything gentle like this. And it’s a good use for an old book that would’ve ended up in the bin otherwise.”
Family member
How to make your own Tiny Fun Palace
- Head to the Fun Palaces map and select Tiny Fun Palace.
- Pick a name, set general location and pick your date.
- Write a line or two about your planned activities
- Add your nearest town or city – no venue or exact address needed.
That’s all it takes! You’re now part of something wonderful. Whether you are keen to experiment, host a private gathering or one in a small space, or just want to feel part of something bigger while staying behind your own front gate, a Tiny Fun Palace is your perfect opportunity.
