Fun Palaces Director Amie Taylor writes about how Fun Palace events are getting more accessible.
I’m writing this between two launch events, where we’re sharing all of the new things happening at Fun Palaces. It’s an absolutely jam packed week, full of brilliant people: Fun Palaces Makers new and old, partners, friends and supporters. It’s a moment of reflection, looking back over 11 years of Fun Palaces and forward to what’s next.
Fun Palaces is and has always been more horizontal than it is vertical. A small, part time HQ Team (nicknamed Support Hub) work to ensure Fun Palaces Makers have everything they need to make Fun Palace events happen and lead on local culture in their area. Fun Palaces Makers then tell us how it was, what worked, what didn’t, and what could be better. And the Support Hub listens, responds and tries to improve things based on that.
I spoke with some Makers last year who were hesitant about putting their Fun Palaces on the map because they didn’t have the money or resources to make huge Fun Palace events, attended by hundreds of local people.
I spoke to a brilliant Maker, with chronic illness, who does astounding things from her living room, as leaving the house is difficult. Fun Palace-ing from her living room would be a perfect solution to joining in the national campaign. Over the last three years 29% of lead Fun Palaces Makers declared a disability or chronic health condition. We want to ensure that the Fun Palaces campaign remains fully accessible to disabled and chronically ill Makers, including those that find it harder to leave home.
I’ve spoken with our Fun Palaces Ambassadors and looked at Dr Katy Pilcher’s research into Fun Palaces, which highlights the barriers of people getting involved in community activities. The truth is that to be visible in your community is a privilege and is much less safe for some people than others.
But Fun Palaces says, “Everyone an artist, everyone a scientist.” And when we say everyone, we mean everyone. So, we’ve enabled a new map feature.
You can still have a big, open, publicised Fun Palace for all to attend (your map pin will be red).
You can still register an online or digital Fun Palace – like the Wikicommons Fun Palace, or Minecraft Fun Palace – which people can join from wherever they are in the world (your map pin will be yellow).
AND as of today, we are adding a brand new option, which is the Tiny Fun Palace option. So, if you want to make a smaller or private Fun Palace event, with just a few neighbours or friends, if you want to make it in your living room, garden, shared balcony or driveway – you can. If you don’t have the resources to cater arts and sciences for hundreds of people but would still like to join in on a small scale, you can. If leaving home is hard for you, but you’d like to join in online, Tiny Fun Palaces means you can. However big or small your event, it will be counted as part of the movement. And connect you with thousands of others shining a light on their community and its genius, and be counted in that too.
You’ll register on the website as normal, and ensure your brilliance, Fun Palace-ing and culture gets counted as part of the national Fun Palaces movement. However, your map pin (which will be green) will drop in the nearest big village, town or city, keeping your location private.
We really hope that this new feature will ensure more Fun Palaces Makers are included in the campaign. So sign up, and join us on the first weekend of October this year (or on another date if that’s better for you)! And as always, if you have any issues email us at hello@funpalaces.co.uk or call Amie on 07747 182 865, and we will help.
Ready to make a Fun Palace?
Every year thousands of people make Fun Palaces for their own local community – sharing skills, meeting new people, creating connections.
