PHOTO COURTESY THE CULTURE EXPERIENCE
Founders Haley Williams and Alice Ivy-Wilson share a laugh at their premiere event, Caviar & Conversations, which sought to demystify the myths around caviar and encourage guests to step outside their comfort zones. Williams said it was about redefining luxury in a way that felt accessible, joyful and unapologetically new.
The Culture Experience was founded two years ago by the mother-daughter duo of Alice Ivy-Wilson and Haley Williams as an initiative that invites you to connect with others and embark on a journey that demystifies cultural experiences. Earlier this year, TCE entered into a residency contract with the Pasfield House in Springfield, a historic venue owned by Molly Frey, that now hosts TCE events.
One of the first events organized by The Culture Experience was a caviar tasting. Williams explained that this choice was intentional, as many professionals may find themselves invited to corporate events featuring caviar – an offering that can be intimidating for some. You might hesitate to try it for a couple of reasons: first, it’s fish eggs, which can be off-putting; and second, there are many different accompaniments to choose from that can enhance the tasting experience. One might not know where to begin.
“There is sour cream, a little sprig of dill. You don’t know what to do with all that,” exclaimed Williams. “It’s intimidating. So, I want someone to feel like I went to a cultural experience; I know how to stack this and this, eat my cracker and have a good time with everybody else.”
The overarching goal of The Culture Experience is to create environments in which attendees feel a sense of belonging and comfort. “We want people to feel like they are allowed to learn something without feeling like they are being judged for not knowing what to do,” Williams said.
Additionally, TCE represents Williams’ response to the ongoing discussions around segregation in Springfield. Articles from publications such as Governing and Illinois Times have highlighted these issues, often concluding without proposed solutions.
Williams expressed her frustration, stating, “In my mind, I’m thinking, I’m born and raised in Springfield. I love Springfield, but it can’t be that there is no solution in sight. That sounds crazy. There’s no solution to a problem?” This prompted Williams to have conversations with her mother about potential solutions they could explore.
Both Williams and her mom enjoy trying new activities, such as participating in murder mysteries and going axe throwing. She said that often, when they engage in these experiences, they find that they are the only people of color in the room, which can make these spaces feel awkward and unwelcoming.
Williams’ approach is to embrace awkwardness and lean into it. “A thousand percent, I feel unwelcome, but I get this from my mom: I handle awkwardness by making it more awkward,” she says. By being the one to break the ice, she finds that it often creates a more relaxed atmosphere. Williams explained that her mom is of mixed race and will often navigate spaces where she might not fully fit in with the crowd.
As a result, Williams and her mom have turned these experiences into a business. With their deep roots and strong relationships in the Springfield community, they have built trust among people from diverse backgrounds. Now, they are working to bridge the gap in cultural experiences, ensuring that when people attend a TCE event, they understand it’s all about enjoying the experience together rather than pushing an agenda about culture.
“They know that it’s just for an experience, not because we want to hammer them with culture. It’s not about saying, ‘Here’s culture, and you’re uncultured. Here’s what you need to learn about culture,'” said Williams.
Looking ahead, Williams and her mother will host A Midsummer Dream: A Brunch Social at noon on Saturday, June 28, at the Pasfield House. Williams wants this event to encourage genuine social networking – moving away from social media and the practice of simply attending events to spend time only posting outfit pictures.
“I admit it; I’ve worn an outfit somewhere, knowing that I’m going to be taking my heels off within an hour or even 30 minutes of being there – let me take a picture of me in my outfit with these heels on, but then I’m going to take them off,” said Williams.
She and her mom are designing the event to focus on reconnecting through face-to-face interactions, building community and fostering connections.
“We want people to come and to talk to each other. Learn about what other people are doing. Learn about what is going on in your community to really help strengthen community bonds,” Williams said. With this brunch, she wants to move people away from conversations that can make them defensive and stop listening because they feel attacked. Instead, she hopes people will come together and find common ground.
“It’s brunch – we’re eating food. We’ve got shrimp and grits in a tiny martini glass. Let’s talk about it,” said Williams. The brunch social will showcase sophisticated small bites, including chicken and waffles on skewers, prepared by L.T.E. Catering by Marissa. This emerging caterer has recently secured commercial kitchen space at The Railyard and is promoting a fresh take on soul food.
Tickets are now on sale for A Midsummer Dream: A Brunch Social at thecultureexperience.com. Don’t wait too long, though – these events tend to sell out quickly.