Here’s a list of other community events you and your Maker team can get involved in – handily collated month by month throughout the year…
JANUARY
THE JANUARY CHALLENGE
Each year, thousands of people take part in 64 Million Artists’ 31 days of free creative challenges. The January Challenge takes place across social media and promotes creativity, peer support and wellbeing. This is a great way to start your year at work or otherwise.
FEBRUARY
LGBT HISTORY MONTH
Promoting equality and diversity for the benefit of the public. Increasing the visibility of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (“LGBT”) people, their history, lives and their experiences in the curriculum and culture of educational and other institutions, and the wider community. More info here.
MARCH
BRITISH SCIENCE WEEK
The British Science Association runs British Science Week every March, and welcomes involvement from anyone interested in science and local events. As a Fun Palace Maker, you might want to link with a local BSA branch, join in with their events and invite them to contribute to yours. The 2024 dates are 8th-17th March.
MAY
AGE OF CREATIVITY FESTIVAL
The Age of Creativity supports professionals in arts, health, culture, social care, academia, voluntary and community sectors to enable more older people to take part
creative activities and enjoy improved health, wellbeing and quality of life. Find out more here.
JUNE
THE BIG LUNCH
The Big Lunch calls on communities to take part in the UK’s annual get-together for neighbours by hosting their own Big Lunch. Organising a Big Lunch with your community is a great way to start some conversations about your Fun Palace – who knows what you can come up with over lunch? The next one takes place on 5th June 2024.
GREAT BIG GREEN WEEK
A Great Big Green Week event can also be a Fun Palace (and vice versa) if it has elements of sustainability and community skill sharing. Great Big Green Week 2024 takes place on the 8th-16th June.
SEPTEMBER
HERITAGE OPEN DAYS
HERITAGE OPEN DAYSHeritage Open Days is England’s largest festival of history and culture. Every year places across the country open their doors to celebrate their heritage, community and history. See hidden places and try out new experiences. Heritage Open Days 2024 will be 6-15th September. Check out their website to find out how you can get involved. In Scotland they have Doors Open Days, in Wales they have Open Doors and Northern Ireland has European Open Days – all take place in September.
OCTOBER
FUN PALACES WEEKEND OF CELEBRATION! (you knew that, right?)
4th – 6th October 2024 Sign up here!
SILVER SUNDAY
Silver Sunday provides an opportunity for local authorities, charities, community groups and private, voluntary and public organisations to promote what they already do to relieve social isolation and loneliness among older people. 2024 date TBC, so if you are an older person or making a Fun Palace with older people, sign your Fun Palace up to Silver Sunday too. Find out more here.
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Black History Month takes place throughout October and is an opportunity to remember the past and look to the future, joining together to renew our commitment to racial equality. As it happens annually (in the UK) during October, it’s a great opportunity to make a fuss about local history and learning in your Fun Palace. Black History Month.
NOVEMBER
HOPE WEEK – THE WILDLIFE TRUSTS
The Wildlife Trusts hold Hope Week from the 6th-10th November 2023 and have lots of online events. You can also find your local Wild Life Trust and get involved all year round on their website.
RE-ENGAGE
Re-Engage brings older people together in social groups at a time in their lives when their social circles are diminishing. Last year, nearly 8,000 older people across the UK were supported by 14,734 volunteers. Have a look at their website to see if there is a group near you – perhaps they can be part of your Fun Palace this year.
WHAT NEXT?
What Next? (WN?) is a UK-wide movement bringing people together to articulate, champion and strengthen the role of culture in our society. There are local chapters across the UK, bringing together those working in or passionate about culture, to address issues of relevance to them. WN? Chapters are a great way to meet people that may be keen to get involved with your Fun Palace, to spread the word, and importantly, to place your Fun Palace in the context of political discussions about arts and culture in your area. You can find out more here.