Following a summer of fun in 2023 where 4,500 people took part in play activities, 80 people shared their memories of play, and 450 new ‘playlaws’ were suggested, the Cambridge Playlaws team is now installing the final playlaws in locations across the city. 

The playlaws are a set of rules that will be displayed as plaques around the city centre to encourage passersby to connect with their playful selves: to do something playful, silly or fanciful; to recall memories of playing out in the past; or to reimagine public spaces as more playful places.

People may start to spot some of the final, co-created playlaws as they are installed across the city from this week, with the official launch at a two-day play event on 4 and 5 October at Cambridge Leisure Park. Anyone who sees one of the new playlaws in situ will be able to follow a QR code on the plaque to find out more about the story behind the playlaw.

Like the play events that were held over five weekends last summer, the launch event on 4 and 5 October will be hosted in the ‘Playbox’ – a 20-foot shipping container full of fun activities for people of all ages and sensibilities. Everyone is welcome to drop in at any time between 12 and 4pm on the Friday or Saturday to enjoy free play activities and to be among the first in the city to have fun with the new playlaws.

There will be 10.6 plaques installed: 10 complete plaques and 0.6 of a plaque that will be just over half legible. The 10.6 is a nod to the way the project has been funded, through ‘Section 106’ developer contributions. These developer contributions are secured by the council through the planning process, with the funding having to be used specifically on public art projects that benefit communities living near development sites. There are Section 106 contributions sought for other types of project, but those are separate agreements and don’t impact on the funding made available for public art.

The Cambridge Playlaws is a Cambridge City Council public art commission, with Cambridge Junction, social enterprise Playful Anywhere, and artist Pippa Hale. As well as running last summer’s Playbox events, the team hosted workshops at local junior schools, and sought playlaw suggestions and memories of play via the Cambridge Playlaws website.

Cllr Rachel Wade, Executive Councillor for Communities, said: “This project has been so uplifting, with people of all ages benefitting from opportunities to play and reminisce about play. Being playful is so important for our wellbeing – and not just for young people, but for older folk too. By listening to our inner child we can reduce stress and recapture that child-like joy again.

“During the summer people of all ages told us that they wanted the opportunity to be involved, to have time and space to live in the moment and forget the daily tensions and worries that we carry as adults. The playlaws will attempt to change that, giving us that prompt and permission to be playful in public spaces, even if just for a brief moment while passing through.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing the final playlaws and having a bit of fun when they are unveiled. Please come along to enjoy the free Playbox activities in October and be among the first to see the new playlaws unveiled!”

Matt Burman, Cambridge Junction’s CEO, said: “Cambridge Junction have been delighted to be a partner in this properly playful project. We're excited to see the playlaw plaques installed around the city, and how these might change the way we all engage with public space bringing moments of pure play to the lives of the city's citizens and visitors.

“A big thank you to artist Pippa Hale, Emma Bearman of Playful Anywhere, to all the local artists and practitioners and to all the people and families who engaged so brilliantly playfully and who contributed massively to the huge success of this project."