More Than a Venue
We were recently treated to a member of our community sharing a poem written about us. Hear more from Lauren about her poetry and why she believes we are more than just a venue.
I had only ever shared a little of my poetry with friends and family. It felt safer that way. So when the founder of The Phoenix Cultural Centre gently encouraged me to read at The Fiery Bird open mic night, I was terrified. But I had been going to those nights for a few years and I knew how welcoming the room was. I knew the audience listened properly and I knew there was kindness there.
The poem I chose to read was one I had written after a solo trip to the seaside on my Nan’s birthday, the first one without her here. It was a quiet, personal piece, and reading it aloud helped me process the feelings it held. Speaking those words out into a room full of people felt daunting, but it also felt strangely healing.
The response I received was so lovely and so generous that I put my name down to do it again.
Not long after that, The Phoenix Cultural Centre received the devastating news that it was facing closure. It felt heartbreaking. This place that had given so many of us a voice and a sense of belonging suddenly felt vulnerable. Again. The Phoenix Cultural Centre has faced countless challenges over the years but this time felt like it really was coming to an end.
As a result, I wrote the poem “More Than A Venue.” I wanted it to reflect everything the centre does for our community, not just the Fiery Bird open mic nights that many people know it for. I wanted to capture the conversations, the friendships, the quiet encouragement, the opportunities for people to try something new. I also wanted to express my frustration toward the many powers that have claimed to want to support this important community initiative, yet have made decisions that threaten its existence and investments that contradict those words.
For me, The Phoenix Cultural Centre is an important part of Woking’s community. It truly is open to everyone. There is no hidden agenda. There is no judgement. It is a place of friendly faces and open minds. A space where anyone can walk in and simply be.
If you have never visited, I would genuinely encourage you to find out more. Attend an event, sit in the audience, have a drink and see what it feels like to be in a room that welcomes creativity in all its forms. You do not have to perform. You do not have to be anything other than yourself.
You might just find that it becomes more than a venue to you too.
We are so grateful to everyone who shares their voice, whether that is on stage, behind the scenes, or simply by being in the room and listening. The Phoenix Cultural Centre exists because of its community.
If you have been thinking about coming along to any of our events, volunteering, collaborating, or sharing something of your own, we would love to welcome you.