Fun Palaces

Who we are

Fun Palaces

“Fun Palaces is not an organisation. It is a campaign or - better - an idea. The idea is that people create culture because it is essential to their being in the world. When it comes to our culture and our needs, each of us is a world expert. Fun Palaces helps us make more of who we are and what we already have.”  François Matarasso, Community Artist and Writer, 2020

• Fun Palaces is a national and international campaign for cultural democracy that began in March 2014.
• The first weekend of October every year is the Fun Palaces weekend of action. 
• Fun Palaces include arts, craft, science, tech, digital, heritage and sports activities, all led by local people - Fun Palaces Makers, sharing skills, hobbies and encouraging active participation from everyone. 
• The weekend is a catalyst for change at a local and grassroots level. 
• Our workshops and our Ambassadors Programme support our work.

Our Objectives

• To shine a light on and value everyone’s existing creative skills and activities. 
• To reclaim local and regional public spaces for all. 
• To connect people (and organisations) to collaborate for change in their communities.
• To make the most of local, regional and national strengths and assets, including individuals’ abilities. 
• To shift the perception of culture to one that embraces and values everyone’s cultural participation and production, and for resources to be apportioned accordingly.

Our Manifesto

We believe in the genius in everyone, in everyone an artist and everyone a scientist, and that creativity in community can change the world for the better. We believe we can do this together, locally, with radical fun - and that anyone, anywhere, can make a Fun Palace.