Imagine the Future of London & the UK

Join Future Assembly and Ovalhouse for a workshop for TEENS and OVER 60s to imagine the future of London and the UK, and help bring a positive voice to the post-Referendum debate.

Free and open to the public
September 10: from 10:00-17:00
September 11: from 10:00-17:00
Ovalhouse Theatre, London
Future Assembly and Ovalhouse are hosting a two-day public workshop on the future of London and the UK in the next 10 years. WIRED Creative Fellow Annette Mees will lead a collaborative and interactive session. The stories we tell about the future impact our actions in the present. What do you imagine for the year 2026?

Future Assembly brings together everyday people to create and share extraordinary ideas about the future.

After Brexit, a group  came together committed to using the arts to create inclusive dialogue. The result is a project bringing together teenagers and over-60s in London, Exeter, Ipswich, Liverpool and Newcastle to co-create visions of the future of the country.

To start the debate, they are holding 5 ‘Future Assemblies’ across the country, bringing teens and over-60s together at creative workshops to share ideas, hopes and aspirations. In a two-day intensive Future/Change Lab they will use various tools to co-create a vision of the kind of the futures we want to happen 10 years from now.

The ideas will be turned into artworks, videos, GIFs and a book, to help explore how we can transform our world over the next 10 years and co-create the best possible nation for all.

Thy are also looking for a broad mix of views. We are looking to create as much diversity as possible within each of the Labs – socio-economical, political, gender, 1st, 2nd and 3rd generation immigrants and those whose families have been on this island for longer.

What kind of UK do we want to hand over to 2026?

FAQs
Who is leading The Future Assembly?
The project has been initiated by Annette Mees, Creative Fellow for Wired / The Space and Abby Nocon, Creative Futurist. It is based on a cross continent project in development called the Almanac of the Future, where they brings together 15 year olds with 65 year olds to imagine the future 50 years. They will be joined by a local artist.

What kind of people are you looking for?
We are not looking for any particular ‘type’ of people. The people who take part will be the right people. If you are interested in making the future then we are looking for you!
We are looking for a roughly equal mix of teenagers and over 60s.
We are looking for a broad mix of views. We are looking to create as much diversity as possible within each of the Labs – socio-economical, political, gender, 1st, 2nd and 3rd generation immigrants and those whose families have been on this island for longer.

Do I have to be available for both days?
Preference will be given to people who are able to commit to the workshop for both days, but let us know and we’ll see what we can do!

Will I have a good time?
Yes! You’ll get to do lots of talking and be creative. We’ll provide lunch on both days and make sure there is plenty of tea, coffee and soft drinks. Here are some quotes from our Liverpool Assembly:
Maya: “Truly an unique and stimulating experience. It was incredible to be pioneers of project and I was so inspired by the people who collaborated and worked on the project and the participants I met at the Unity Liverpool /Future Assembly. It was a fantastic way to get to know people. Thank you for the opportunity.”
Anna: “It was amazing and made me think long and hard about the past, the now and the future! Lovely people generous with their time and energy. Thanks to all who made it such an entertaining and rewarding two days.”

How much will it cost me?
This is a free event. It won’t cost you anything!

What happens to my input afterwards?
Your ideas will be turned into artworks, videos and GIFs, to help us explore how we can transform our world over the next 10 years and co-create the best possible nation for all.  The findings will also be collected in a book.

And finally – here are some quotes which are inspiring the Future Assembly project:
“We have to free our mind, imagine what has never happened before and write social fiction. We need to imagine things to make them happen. If you don’t imagine, it will never happen” – Muhammad Yunus
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” – Margaret Mead