Queer Britain, the first LGBTQ+ museum in Britain, has joined a nationwide movement with a mission to celebrate culture and creativity in communities. The Queerest Fun Palace in Britain will welcome the public on Sunday, 2 October, as part of Fun Palaces’ annual Weekend of Celebration.
At Queer Britain, Granary Square, London, visitors of all ages can learn about LGBTQ+ heritage and culture in a family-friendly environment and get creative with drawing, painting and clay workshops.
The Queerest Fun Palace in Britain is coordinated by Dan Vo, Head of Learning and Engagement at Queer Britain, with workshops to be run by children’s author and illustrator Olly Pike and founder of Pop’n’Olly along with support from the LGBTQ+ young people’s charity Just Like Us.
Just Like Us works with schools and young people across the UK to help improve the lives of LGBTQ+ young people. They provide LGBTQ+ inclusive educational resources to help make schools safer, happier and more welcoming places for all young people.
Pop’n’Olly is an LGBTQ+ equality education resource for children, parents, carers and teachers. Its videos and books are used in primary schools across the UK and beyond to teach equality, diversity and acceptance.
Dan is a pioneer of queer representation and inclusion in the arts and culture sector and has led LGBTQ+ programmes at museums across the UK.
Dan said: “What I love about Fun Palaces is you give your space to the community, and they will tell you precisely what is wanted and needed from you. As a new museum, it’s a brilliant opportunity to connect with and listen to our community while having fun.
“It will help set the tone for future community engagement. I am delighted Olly Pike and Just Like Us will join us as they are excellent champions of diversity, equality and inclusion.”
The Fun Palaces campaign says ‘All Culture Counts’, so whether you love to dance, tattoo or crochet, perform beat poetry or explore local history, a Fun Palace is a place to share it all.
Fun Palaces Co-Director Makala Cheung said: “Fun Palaces frees us by saying we don’t need access to culture; we have it right here, in us – we create it! It might not look like what you’d typically expect.
“We welcome every cultural expression, from the scientific to the creative, the artistic to technological, heritage to innovation, the mainstream to the alternative – you decide! Where some people might feel excluded from traditional arts venues, they can embrace their own culture by coming to or even making their very own Fun Palace.”
Communities across the UK have embraced this ethos by creating 75 Fun Palaces events as part of a Weekend of Celebration, which runs from Friday, 30 September – Sunday, 2 October. Free events are happening across the UK, from Sterling in Scotland to Redruth in Cornwall, with a range of activities on offer.
Fun Palaces provide a free and inclusive way of getting creative, learning new things, getting to know your neighbours and having fun. As well as the annual Fun Palace event, Makers can create Fun Palaces in their communities at any time of year.
Click here to book a place at the Queerest Fun Palace in Britain.
Find your nearest Fun Palace events at funpalaces.co.uk.
If you do come along to an event, make sure you share your stories on social media #AllCultureCounts #FunPalaces
