Lab of Fun #9: Everyday Culture: It Already Belongs to You (What culture really means - and why it's already yours)

This workshop is Part 9 of our 9-part Laboratory of Fun Summer School series for community event makers. You can attend just this session, pick and choose a few, or register for the entire two-month series.

Want to join the full summer school? Click here to choose multiple sessions and 'add to cart' so you only need to register once.

Everyday Culture: It Already Belongs to You (What culture really means - and why it's already yours)

Culture isn't something that happens in galleries and concert halls to people who know the right things to say.

It's the curry your neighbour makes from her mum's recipe. It's the bloke down the road who fixes bikes for fun. It's the singing, the storytelling, the making, the sharing... the things people already do, every day, that make a community feel like one. Led by Rachel, our producer and culture specialist, this session explores what "everyday culture" really looks like, why it matters, and what happens when you start recognising the brilliance that's already on your doorstep. And towards the end, we'll talk about what it means when communities like yours connect with each other... because it turns out your event might just be a Fun Palace after all.

What we'll cover:

- What do we actually mean by "culture" - and why the everyday stuff counts just as much as the big stuff
- Recognising the skills, passions, and knowledge already in your community
- How to celebrate what makes your area unique without it feeling forced
- What happens when communities connect: the power of being part of something bigger
- The Fun Palaces network: what support is available and what being part of it actually looks like
- How the Fun Palaces Weekend of Celebration works and why your event might already be one
- Time for any questions you might have

Access:
Zoom closed captions are available for every session. This session has a BSL interpreter live in the session. If you have any additional access needs, email hello@funpalaces.co.uk and we'll do our best to make it accessible for you to attend.

Joining a session:
You never have to speak, be on camera, or share anything you don't want to. Cameras on or off, microphone on or off - it's entirely your call throughout. Taking part by listening and reading along is taking part and it's always enough. We won't put anyone on the spot and when we invite people to contribute, it's always an invitation, never an expectation. We don't record any of the sessions. This is a space to think out loud, ask questions and change your mind - which people find easier when not being recorded.

Who it's for:
Anyone who’s ever thought “but I’m not creative” or “my community doesn’t really do culture.” You’re wrong, and this session will show you why.

About the Laboratory of Fun

The Laboratory of Fun is a free workshop series from Fun Palaces, open to anyone who wants to bring their community together. Whether you're putting on your first event or building on years of experience, each session is designed to be practical, honest, jargon-free and full of our top tips gathered from Fun Palace Makers across the UK and beyond over the last 12 years. You don't need permission, qualifications, experience, a big budget. You just need to care about your community and the people around you.

Take one session or take them all!

Why 'Laboratory of Fun'? The name is a nod to Joan Littlewood, the radical theatre director who dreamed up the original Fun Palace in the 1960s. She called it a 'laboratory of fun' and a 'university of the streets'... a space where anyone could experiment, learn and create. The building was never built, but the idea never went away. These workshops are our version of that same spirit: a place to experiment, mess about with ideas and figure things out together.

About Fun Palaces

Fun Palaces is a national movement that supports local people to create their own free community events: sharing skills, passions and interests, and celebrating the genius that already exists in every community. As we continue to be concerned by division sown amongst our communities, there has never been a stronger case to bring people together, to find joy and fun and to celebrate the unique skills and talents we each possess. Fun Palaces are about taking some time out for an hour, a day, a weekend to dream something better, collectively, for the places we live in. And to put that dreaming into action.

You can find out more about Fun Palaces at funpalaces.co.uk