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Recommended age: 5-18 years
Place: On the site the project focused on
Time required: 3-4 hours for the event
Purpose: The children showcase their visions and visitors get to try and see the visions.
Where in the process: At the end of a long process.
A Street Party is used as a conclusion to a longer design process and as a showcase of children and young people’s visions of a place.
By using a process with a clear end destination – the street party, we can create a motivation among children and young people based on short-term engagement with realistic expectations and low risks. With the possibility of big rewards in terms of real change. It is the process that is emphasised – the value of engaging and collaborating with others for something bigger than oneself, taking initiative and expressing oneself – rather than a result that will be good enough to be made permanent by the city. If it turns out that the municipality takes up ideas and chooses to implement them, it will be a welcome consequence rather than a result.
The method is good because it allows children to demonstrate and argue their ideas to the public, officials and politicians. A positive side effect is that the party can also be an opportunity for local people to get to know each other and those behind the project.
A street party requires a lot of planning and rowing but can be enjoyed by many. You can set the ambition at the level you can manage. The important thing is to let the children tell you what they have in mind. Start by working out a vision for the Street Party with the children and then plan in detail accordingly. If you are going to bring in external actors such as food trucks, entertainment etc. check what it will cost – is everything you want to do within your budget or do you have to apply for a grant? Organising an event in a public place requires a permit, which can take a long time to obtain, so contact the municipality well in advance.
More under Things to consider.
Budget, planning and staff
Do you have a budget you can use? If not, are there grants you can apply for? Check with the municipality or external donors and funds. For example, the municipality may have event or cultural grants available.
A big party requires a lot of staff to answer questions, keep an eye on security and help out where needed. If you don’t have enough hands, check with parents of participating children and/or volunteers.
Children and young people’s wishes and participation
Ask children how they want to showcase their ideas. Do they want to have shows and/or competitions? Do they want to organise their own activities such as face-painting, fish pond, coffee shop? Does anyone want to give a speech or talk about their idea?
Partnerships
You can’t do everything yourself, so collaborating with local organisations and associations is a good idea. Are there local cultural associations that can provide entertainment such as music or theatre? A local café or restaurant that can sell food and refreshments? Or why not book a food truck? We would like to recommend the Fritidsbank, where you can borrow play and sports equipment for free!
Authorisation/ Legal permissions
(For Sweden) If the party is to be held on municipal land, you will need permits such as a land licence and a police permit. Contact your municipality to find out what permits are required. If you book for example food trucks, they too require a licence. (Check your local municipality and police for local regulations.)
Invite people
If you want to invite municipal officials and politicians, be sure to invite them well in advance, but remember to remind them just before the party. The public can be invited via social media, the local newspaper or through posters. Don’t forget to invite the participants’ family.
You cannot use street parties as a stand-alone method, as street parties are the end of a longer process.
Do an inventory of the neighbourhood for actors to collaborate with.
More photos from Gatulabbas street parties can be found in the Gallery
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