You think a mere pandemic will stop Fun Palaces from happening? Online and in-person, this festival of local creativity rolls on

From Fun Palace’s Tiny Revolutions

Fun Palaces have been on our radar since the start of A/UK - and it’s very pleasing to see that a festival of local creativity, so reliant on space and relationships, is responding in a virtual and vigorous way to these pandemic conditions. It’s happening from tomorrow (Friday) and right through the weekend.

Stella Duffy, Fun Palace’s instigator, tells this year’s story:

There are, astonishingly, 312 Fun Palaces on the map for this weekend - despite it all!

That's 312 local communities in all 4 UK nations, refugee families & kids group in Athens, Spanish language playing from Phnom Penh and SO MANY local groups and smaller venues and organisations sharing their skills, arts, crafts and passions locally - including venues giving over their Zoom accounts to local people to connect in the local lockdown places.

While so much has been incredibly difficult this year, what has also been very obvious is the strength of our local communities, the passion people have for taking care of and supporting their neighbours, and the impressive creativity with which they have handled the difficulties of the pandemic. 

We have been told stories of personal loss, deep connection, important commemoration and vital celebration, and we know they will all be part of the work made by local people this weekend.

This year more than ever we are moved by the commitment of 'ordinary' people to make extraordinary efforts to connect, safely, kindly and care-fully

The easiest way to join in with a Fun Palace in your area is to search for your town here. And here’s what they mean when they talk about Tiny Revolutions - a vast list of transformative actions, sent in by FP groups from all over the country. (One is the image at the top of this piece).