Palatset will offer children and adults alike unforgettable world-class experiences in film, music and the performing arts as well as world-class opportunities for developing their own creative skills in the magical old National Archives building at Riddarholmen in Stockholm.

The Old National Archive.

Sweden has a rich tradition of children’s culture. That is something of which to be proud. In 2011 it will receive its own national arena in the form of Palatset, an inspiring place for young people to meet culture — a meeting place for The Most Important of the Nation’s Most Important Things.

In 50 rooms spread over eight floors and 5000 square meters, we’re preparing for creative and artistic experiences of every sort: Cinema, Theatre, Concerts, TV and Radio Studios, Poetry, Literature, Comic Strips, Acting, Special Effects, Storytelling, Directing, Makeup for Movies, Stunt Shows, Circuses, Musicals, Open Stage, Stand-Up Comedy, Dance, Art, Sculpture, Ceramics, Laser Grafitti, Photography, Animation, Chroma Keying, Journalism, Interactive Rooms, Cultural Action, Rock, Opera, Music Studio, Sound Experimentation, Photoshop Art, Performance, Poetry Slam …

Our vision is for the young to make Palatset their own. To offer them a project they will truly want. But also to serve as an infrastructure for children’s culture.  Palatset will enable cooperation among creators of children’s culture that has previously not been possible. Cooperation with industry creates a cost-effective, long-term economic security that serves to enhance the quality of children’s culture.

A palace for everyone.

A creative cooperation with technology corporations produces technological innovations and solutions for Palatset. This enhances and strengthens the cultural experiences, increases interaction with visitors and binds together the physical visit to Palatset with its virtual presence on the Internet: palatset.se

To ensure that children will have real power and influence in creating and forming Palatset, we have built-in structures that will make them participants from the very beginning. Children and young adults are educated in culture and democracy and participate in different project groups related to the form and content of Palatset. They are participants in every stage of the process, from ideas to decision-making to evaluation.

A palace for everyone: We will create a palace of culture that is truly for everyone, regardless of age, gender, social class, ethnicity or functional differences. Approximately 18% of the Swedish population has some form of disability. Over 20% trace their family origins to other countries than Sweden. These are important target groups for us to include. Palatset is to be a trademark that is associated with openness towards everyone.

For children and parents: Palatset will be more than just a guide through available children’s culture. Palatset will be a place where children and parents may reach across generational borders and share experiences. Palatset will offer high-quality children’s and youth culture for everyone, regardless of age.

For teenagers: Palatset will offer weekend evenings filled with film, music, performing arts and opportunities for participating in artistic creativity.  For the price of a movie ticket, they will receive a full evening of art and artistic creativity. Music becomes an increasingly important part of life in the teen years, but opportunities to attend concerts are few, as are good stages available for teen bands. The availability of culturally meaningful spare time activities for this group is highly limited in Stockholm.

Soon the doors will be open.

For schools: There will be much culture for the money. By offering educational and eventful packages and culture days, Palatset will make it easier for schools to offer culture that will really mean something for children and young adults.  We want to see unique meetings take place at Palatset, meetings that involve both the latest technology and professional creators. Provincial schools will be offered the opportunity to stay overnight Palatset. A visit to Palatset thus becomes more than just a visit; it can mean both preparatory and supplementary work for students and teacher.

Palatset in the world: We hope to serve as an inspiration for similar projects outside the Swedish borders. It is our ambition to foster cooperation and to build networks with cultural workers internationally. Our vision is a world full of new Palaces by 2025.

Recycling on several levels: We are building a new national stage almost entirely through recycling. Not only do we recycle bookshelves and office furniture, but also advertising campaigns, knowledge and experience.

VIPP – Very Important Palatset People

VIPP is a club for those who want to become a little more involved in Palatset and help influence what Palatset should look like and what it ought to include. In VIPP, you can see, experience and create your own culture, meet artists of different kinds and help decide what events will be held at Palatset. In cooperation with our VIPPs, we are creating a palace of culture without precedent in the world!
VIPP is free of charge and open for anyone between ages 6 and 18.