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Cambridge City Council

Cambridge Playlaws: Share your memories and ideas for play or visit the Playbox this summer

2 June 2023

Cambridge-based people are being invited to co-create a series of Playlaws which will be publicly displayed as plaques to prompt moments of reflection, fun and joy through play.  

Yellow sign saying 'Come play!'

The Cambridge City Council public art commission with Cambridge Junction brings together social enterprise Playful Anywhere and artist Pippa Hale who will co-create the final Cambridge Playlaws with local children and adults of all ages.

Following on from playful workshops in local primary schools, the team is now inviting local people to:

  • Share memories and suggest new ideas for play, pinning memories or ideas to a location in Cambridge on a digital map
  • Visit the Playbox! Visit the 20-foot Playbox shipping container to enjoy free play activities for all ages, from modelling memories of play using recycled materials to making secret Play Agent identities and disguises, and much more. From 11am to 4pm, just drop in at:
    • Cambridge Leisure Park, Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 June
    • The green space behind the Clayton Hotel, Friday 23 to Sunday 25 June
    • Coleridge Recreation Ground, Friday 30 June to Sunday 2 July
    • Parker’s Piece, from Friday 7 to Sunday 9 July
  • Nominate a fifth location for the Playbox to visit. Where else should the Playbox touch down, on Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 July?
  • Volunteer as a Play Agent – become part of a network of local Play Agents to help inspire people to be more playful.

Find out more or get involved: www.cambridgeplaylaws.fun 

Playbox shipping container with lots of colourful games with beanbags, hoops, cones etc.

Cllr Mairéad Healy, Executive Councillor for Communities, said: “Most of us need a reminder every now and then to stop rushing around, to take a break, and to make time to have some fun and find some joy. But sadly, in schools and in society, people are finding it less and less easy to find the time to access cultural and fun activities that can enrich our lives. That’s why public art projects play an important role in widening people’s access.

“We’ve already seen some lovely play memories being shared, with reflections reaching back many decades – but we want lots more. We also want to hear ideas about new games to play so that the final Playlaws can represent the whole community. Come along to one of the Playbox events this summer, or pin your memories and ideas to the online map.”

The funding for Playlaws comes from a Section 106 developer agreement, and can only be spent on a public art project within a 1-kilometre circular zone around Warren Close, in Petersfield ward. Once created, the Playlaws will be displayed as aluminium plaques in public places within the Warren Close circular zone.