Fun Palaces

A close up photo of a n inflatable door. Above the door is some text reading: Stellar Portal

Photo taken from inside the planetarium. Image shows a group of people looking up at Saturn and stars.

A photo of the pop-up planetarium taken at a wide angle. It is situated outside in a green space. There is a small crowd of people of all ages huddled around the entrance.

AN image of three painted pebbles. They all say 'Fun Palaces' on them.

Ware's the Fun Palace went intergalactic for #FunPalaces weekend with an out-of-this-world pop-up planetarium! 🌍🚀🌌

This is what community-led culture looks like: playful, curious, and full of stars — both in the sky and among the Makers. 🌟

🎉 Happy Birthday, Joan Littlewood! 🎉

Today we celebrate the incredible legacy of Joan Littlewood: radical theatre-maker, cultural trailblazer, and the original visionary behind the idea of #FunPalaces.

Here’s to Joan, the mother of modern theatre and the spark behind it all.

Photo shows group of people (range of ages) on a dance floor mid routine.

Photo taken from the back showing a group of people dancing. In the middle of the photo are two men wearing vibrant kilts and matching shirts - one blue and one bright yellow.

Group of morris dancers mid routine

Woman in the dance floor by herself - wearing a bright purple dress. She is doing a traditional dance.

Who says you can't have an evening #FunPalace? 🌙💃

Last night we visited Margate for the Ark Cliftonville Ceilidh — and what a night it was! So much energy, joy, and connection in one room. A true celebration of community and creativity!

Wishing all makers a wonderful #FunPalaces Sunday.

A person hula hooping in a mirrored room with wooden floors, surrounded by children and scattered items like chairs, bags, and toys.

A group of people seated around a table with a colourful patterned cloth, engaged in crafting activities using yarn and other materials.

Close-up of two pairs of hands working on a crochet project, with balls of yarn, needles, and supplies spread across the table.

Three people in matching white "Fun Palaces" t-shirts stand behind a snack table with fruit, crisps, and bottled drinks; a vending machine is visible in the background.

Phew - what a Saturday!

Lloads going on across the country - from hula hooping and community tapestries to morris dancing and community cafes - makers everywhere are sharing their skills and passion with their local communities.

Find a #FunPalace near you: funpalaces.co.uk/find-a-fun-p...

Graphic with red and white triangles as the background. text reads 3-5 octane fun palaces. # Fun Palaces Fun Palaces . co . uk. There's a picture of three people: one white person holding a chicken, one brown woman in a blue hijab, and one black man talking with his hands open and gesturing.

Fun Palaces Weekend 2025 is here! 🎉🎪

However big or small, your Fun Palace is already a success - in the ideas, laughter, and connections. ❤️

📍Find one near you: funpalaces.co.uk/find-a-fun-palace

Tag us & use #FunPalaces to share the joy! Have a brilliant weekend!

Selfie of the 5 HQ team in the office sitting round the table. in the background is a map of Cornwall and lots of cardboard.

Nearly there!!! Good luck to all you amazing Fun Palace Makers this weekend.

From our small (and cardboard-filled) HQ, we’re sending love + luck your way ✨

You’re brilliant for saying YES - we’re cheering you on every step of the way!

Have a fabulous weekend,
Amie, Orla, Ria, Rachel & Chama

Graphic with white, orange, yellow and red triangles forming the background. Text reads fun palaces logo 3-5 oct 2025 1 day to go... # Fun Palaces fun palaces . co . uk. Picture of someone Bollywood dancing.

TOMORROW the Fun Palaces Weekend begins! 🎉🎪❤️

From singing to science, storytelling to sewing, Fun Palaces Weekend 2025 is nearly here and they’re everywhere!

Wherever you are, you’re part of something joyful, local and national.

💥 Let's do this!
 🔗 funpalaces.co.uk

Graphic with white, pink, green and red triangles forming the background. Text reads fun palaces logo 3-5 oct 2025 2 days to go... # Fun Palaces fun palaces . co . uk. Picture of two people making electrical circuits using fruit.

2 days to go until Fun Palaces Weekend 3-5 October 2025! 🎪

We’re nearly there and the buzz is real! 🎉

Fun Palaces are all about you sharing your skills, connecting with others, and celebrating what’s already great in your community

📍 Find one near you and drop in: funpalaces.co.uk/find-a-fun-p...

🎨 Junk Modelling in Egham
💃🏽 Salsa dancing in Sydenham
🖌️ Painting a door in Redruth
🧶 Learn to Knit in Lynton
➗ 3D maths and crystal growing in Lancaster
💬 Spoken word in Blackburn
🎬 Community films in Hartlepool
🫖 Tea leaf collages in Swansea

It's never too late to join in: check out our website ❤️

Map of the UK with red pins all across. At the top white text on a blue background reads Fun Palaces across the UK. At the bottom left is a red triangle with text reading 3-5 October 2025, and to the top right is the fun palaces logo.

The Fun Palaces Weekend 2025 is THIS weekend: 3-5 October, and what wonderful Fun Palaces there are across the UK and beyond!

📍 Take a look at the map and visit a Fun Palace near you: funpalaces.co.uk/find-a-fun-p...

There's plenty of activities for everyone...👇🏽

Graphic with white, yellow, blue and red triangles forming the background. Text reads fun palaces logo 3-5 oct 2025 3 days to go... # Fun Palaces fun palaces . co . uk. Picture of three people chatting in a group.

Only 3 days to go until Fun Palaces Weekend! 🎉🎪

The countdown is on and the map is filling up fast ❤️

On the map there’s already community films, local history talks, a ceilidh, rushworking, a pop-up planetarium and so much more!

🔗 There’s still time to take part: funpalaces.co.uk

📸 Helen Murray

Screenshot of a Zoom meeting with the HQ team and Makers, smiling and holding up red items.

What an amazing Weekend Kick-Off Party!! 🎉🎈

Thank you to everyone who came along. We had an awesome time hearing about what's happening at YOUR Fun Palaces ❤️

Whatever happens on the day, you've already made the Fun Palace: it's the cups of tea, conversations and planning. Best of luck! 🎪

White graphic with text reading Bringing Communities Together. Amie Taylor. Photo of people making around a table. Credit: Roswitha Chesher. Fun Palaces logo at the top in the middle and blue, red and yellow triangles along the bottom.

"Creating opportunities for us to come together, and be in person are one part of the puzzle in countering this polarisation." 💬

Our latest blog explores how Fun Palaces bridge divides & spark joy. It’s not too late to join in! 🎉

🔗 funpalaces.co.uk/bringing-com...

Graphic with white, pink, black and red triangles forming the background. Text reads fun palaces logo 3-5 oct 2025 4 days to go... # Fun Palaces fun palaces . co . uk. Picture of two people in a yellow hand-built model car.

4 days to go until Fun Palaces Weekend 3-5 Oct 2025! 🎉🎪✨

From small spaces to big venues, Fun Palaces are being made across the UK, and the creativity is amazing! ❤️

There's still time to join in:
📍 Add your pin
🎨 Use the Toolkit
🤝 Celebrate local skills

🔗 funpalaces.co.uk

Graphic with white, blue, orange and green triangles forming the background. Text reads fun palaces logo 3-5 oct 2025 10 days to go... # Fun Palaces fun palaces . co . uk. Picture of a brown woman in a hijab holding a crafted hanging paper mobile.

Picture from above of people in a chatting and eating pizza in a foyer.

Picture of a woman with red nails holding up puppets that are in focus in the foreground.

Picture of a white man and a black woman in conversation whilst crafting. In the foreground are blurry buckets with fabric pieces in.

Now just 5 days to go until the Fun Palaces Weekend 3-5 Oct 2025!!!

It’s so wonderful seeing all the Fun Palaces popping up across the UK!

But it’s not too late to create a Fun Palace in your local area - why not make a Tiny Fun Palace?

🔗 funpalaces.co.uk

📸 Roswitha Chesher

Post with text reading Creative Voices, Activist Voices on a red triangle. Exhibition Open 16 Sept - 5 Oct. Logos of fun palaces, the bureau blackburn, Aston university, centre for cultural values, UKRI Economic and Social Research Council.

Poster with text reading Placard Making Saturday 4 October, 1-4pm free drop-in. There's a picture of a child's hand painting a poster with a bee, currently reading save. logos of fun palaces, the bureau blackburn, Aston university, centre for cultural values, UKRI Economic and Social Research Council.

Creative Voices, Activist Voices in Blackburn! ❤️
📍 The Bureau Centre, Blackburn | 16 Sept–5 Oct | FREE

Discover how creativity fuels social change through stories & objects from UK communities.

✊ Join us Sat 4 Oct, 1-4pm for placard-making. Come create & share your call for justice!

Graphic with white, yellow, blue and red triangles forming the background. Text reads fun palaces logo 3-5 oct 2025 10 days to go... # Fun Palaces fun palaces . co . uk. Picture of two people crouching and smiling - one is holding a chicken and the other is holding a cup.

1 week to go until Fun Palaces Weekend 3-5 October 2025 🎉🎪

There’s still time to get involved!

📍 Stick your pin on the map
👫 Connect with people near you
✨ Make a Tiny Fun Palace!

Explore the Fun Palaces Makers Toolkit and join a movement of connection, creativity & culture. ❤️

📸 Roswitha Chesher

The pre-weekend party is around the corner, but you’ve still got time to join in! 👇🏽 🎉 ❤️

🗓️ Tues 30 Sept | 🕐 1:00 - 1:35 PM | 💻 On Zoom

Map of Cornwall with three red pins. Red labels highlighting the Fun Palaces: Big Door, Bright Ideas Fun Palace, Organised Atoms Fun Palace, and Community Colouring For All. Fun Palace. At the top white text on a blue background reads Cornwall's Fun Palaces. At the bottom left is a red triangle with text reading 3-5 October 2025, and to the right is the fun palaces logo.

Picture of a blue door with fading paint.

Picture of a hand holding a rock in front of a board with an electrical circuit.

Photo of a woman in the Cornish Life Museum holding an artefact demonstrating embroidered fabric which is framed.

🎉 #FunPalaces are popping up across #Cornwall!

🎨 Big Door, Bright Ideas: Help reimagine their door with colour and #creativity
🎶 Organised Atoms: Turn minerals into music
🖍️ Community Colouring For All: Add to a giant sheet

This is what Fun Palaces are all about: local people coming together ❤️

If you're in #Sydenham, you have a wonderful #FunPalace at Sydenham Centre on Saturday 4th October! 👇🏽

Graphic with white, yellow, green and red triangles forming the background. Text reads fun palaces logo 3-5 oct 2025 10 days to go... # Fun Palaces fun palaces . co . uk

10 days until the #FunPalaces Weekend 3 - 5 October 2025!! 🎉

All you need is a time and a place where you can share what you love with your local community - along with thousands of others across the UK. ❤️

Put your Fun Palace on the map now: funpalaces.co.uk/create

Photo credit: Helen Murray

Screenshot of Fun Palaces map no our website, centring the a red pin on the Isle gf Dogs

Picture of someone painting a vibrant print in orange, green and yellow, celebrating Alpona, a traditional Bangladeshi art form.

Did you know one of the original sites for Joan & Cedric’s 1960s Fun Palace was on the Isle of Dogs? 🎪

This year, Trapped in Zone One, brings a Fun Palace nearby!! Join their Alpona workshop, celebrating a traditional Bangladeshi art form. They have patterns to guide you, and space to create.

White graphic with text reading Tiny is mighty...It's not too late to make a Fun Palace. Orla Nicholls. Photo of people making around a table. Credit: Sean Pollock. Fun Palaces logo at the top in the middle and blue, red and yellow triangles along the bottom.

✨ Tiny is mighty! ✨

Thinking about making a #FunPalace but not sure where to start - or wondering if it's too late? Spoiler: it's not!

💡 Get inspired and find out how easy it is to get involved in the latest blog:
 funpalaces.co.uk/tiny-is-migh...

❤️ Make a Fun Palace: funpalaces.co.uk/create

Graphic with white, yellow, orange and red triangles forming the background. Text reads fun palaces logo 3-5 oct 2025 2 weeks to go... # Fun Palaces fun palaces . co . uk

In just 2 weeks, the #FunPalaces Weekend 3-5 October 2025 will be here! 🎉

Join our movement. Create your own Fun Palace and connect with people in your area.

💻 Make a Fun Palace - it's not too late: funpalaces.co.uk/create

📸 Renoir Saulter at Manor Park Library Fun Palace with Iroko Theatre

Fun Palaces are all about community, arts, sciences, and play - and Worksop Library Fun Palace is bringing all that and more on Saturday 4th October 2025, from 10am to 3pm! 🧪🎨

🔗 Find out more: funpalaces.co.uk/fun-palace/w...

📍 Put your Fun Palace on the map: funpalaces.co.uk/create/

Graphic with a white background. Red text reads Let's start the spalaces weekend early... Black text reads Weekend Celebration: Kick-Off Party. Tuesday 30 September. 1:00 - 1:35 PM. On Zoom. At the bottom in the centre is a digital drawing of a white man and a black woman djing. In each corner are splats and shapes, like squares and stars, in Fun Palace colours of blue, red, pink, green and yellow.

🎉 Let’s kick off Fun Palaces weekend 2025 early...
Join our Kick-Off Party:
🗓️ Tues 30 Sept | 🕐 1-1:35 PM | 💻 Zoom

If your Fun Palace is on the map, this celebration is for you! 💫
🎟️ www.tickettailor.com/events/funpa...

🗺️ Still planning your Fun Palace?
 Add it to the map: funpalaces.co.uk/create

Picture of people talking with the exhibition materials in the background

🎉 Creative Voices, Activist Voices is now at The Bureau, Blackburn!

📍 5 Exchange St, BB1 7JN
📅 16 Sept – 5 Oct
🎟️ Free Entry

Discover how culture creates change, through stories, photos & objects from Fun Palaces Makers across the UK: funpalaces.co.uk/about-fun-pa...

📸 Roswitha Chesher

It is (just under) 3 Weeks to go until the Fun Palaces Weekend! How’s it going? Who’s excited? Fun Palaces have been popping up on the map over the weekend. Is yours on there yet?

If you’d like to create some positive ripples in your community this October, it’s by no means too late to join in!

If you're in #Swansea, you have a fabulous #FunPalace at Oxfam Castle Street on the 4th October. (And they have some other great stuff happening for #FairtradeFortnight - check it out!)

Map of East London with lots of red pins. In the centre is Newham with 10 red pins. At the top white text on a blue background reads Newham Libraries' Fun Palaces. At the bottom left is a red triangle with text reading 3-5 October 2025, and to the right is the fun palaces logo.

Newham Libraries Fun Palaces are back! 🎉

From eco crafts to henna, macramé, chess & stories, all libraries across Newham will be buzzing with creativity.

Join the fun 3–5 Oct - create, connect, celebrate!

📍 Put your Fun Palace on the map & find your nearest one: funpalaces.co.uk