What We Do
Cultural Futures Lab investigates global cultural innovation through four interconnected activities: research, campaigns, policy development and advocacy. Together, these services will help us understand how culture shapes societies, and how it can be reimagined to advance equity and serve those who have been marginalised.
Research
Rigorous investigation that informs action
We conduct research that helps cultural organisations, foundations and policymakers make informed, evidence-based decisions about how to advance equity and innovation. Our investigations combine multiple methodologies to ensure findings reflect both measurable outcomes and lived experience.
Mixed-method investigations: Quantitative data analysis with qualitative enquiry – using surveys, interviews, case studies and participatory methods to build comprehensive understanding
Comparative analysis: Examination of how different contexts apply to similar challenges, identifying patterns and possibilities for cross-cultural learning
Collaborative design: Partnerships with researchers, institutions and communities ensure investigations reflect diverse perspectives and avoid extractive practices
Theory of change development: Working with organisations to articulate how their activities are intended to create change
Accessible outputs: Translation of complex findings into clear, actionable insights through reports, discussion papers, data visualisations and policy briefs
Focus areas:
Japan’s cultural ecosystem: investigating how tradition, technology and social change intersect
Equitable cultural policy frameworks across diverse governance contexts
Foundation and philanthropic decision-making in cultural sectors
Technology’s role in heritage stewardship and contemporary practice
Cross-cultural dialogue methodologies and their effectiveness
Community voice in cultural innovation processes
Campaigns
Strategic initiatives that shift perspectives
Cultural innovation requires public awareness and collective action. Cultural Futures Lab creates campaigns that raise visibility around under-recognised challenges and build coalitions across sectors.
Movement-building: Convening diverse stakeholders around shared priorities, creating coalitions that amplify impact
Narrative change: Challenging dominant stories about culture, innovation and heritage that reinforce exclusion
Multi-platform engagement: Combining research publications, public events, media engagement and digital advocacy to reach decision-makers and broader public
Evidence-grounded: Campaigns rooted in rigorous research that provide credible foundations for change
Campaign themes we're exploring:
Democratising cultural decision-making: Challenging who gets to shape cultural policy and investment priorities
Technology and heritage justice: Examining how digital innovation can serve rather than displace traditional practices
Philanthropic equity: Advocating for foundation practices that centre community voice and challenge power structures
Cross-cultural learning: Building recognition that diverse cultural contexts offer valuable insights for global challenges
Policy
Evidence-based frameworks for equitable governance
Cultural policy should serve everyone, not just those with access to power. We develop practical, evidence-based recommendations that policymakers, foundations and institutions can implement to advance equity and innovation.
Framework development: Creating new models for cultural governance that centre equity and community voice
Policy analysis: Examining existing frameworks to identify gaps, inequities and opportunities for improvement
Legislative engagement: Providing evidence submissions and expert testimony to inform policy debates
Implementation guidance: Translating policy recommendations into practical tools that organisations can use
Comparative policy research: Investigating how different contexts approach similar challenges
Policy areas we address:
Cultural funding and investment: How can philanthropic and governmental support advance equity rather than reinforce existing hierarchies?
Heritage stewardship: What policy frameworks enable communities to shape how their cultural heritage is preserved and shared?
Innovation support: How can policy encourage cultural innovation whilst respecting tradition and local knowledge?
Devolved governance: What lessons can complex and multilayered governance structures offer for cultural policy development?
Cross-cultural exchange: How can policy facilitate meaningful dialogue across borders without extractive practices?
Digital cultural policy: What frameworks are needed as technology reshapes creative practice and heritage preservation?
Advocacy
Amplifying voices excluded from decision-making
Too often, cultural policy is shaped without input from those most affected by it. Cultural Futures Lab’s advocacy work will ensure that foundation leaders, policymakers and institutional decision-makers hear from communities and practitioners whose perspectives have been marginalised.
Convening dialogues: Creating structured spaces where diverse stakeholders can engage in honest, exploratory conversations
Stakeholder engagement: Facilitating connections between cultural practitioners, community representatives and decision-makers
Public events and forums: Hosting presentations, roundtables and panel discussions that raise visibility for under-recognised issues
Thought leadership: Producing accessible publications and commentary that shift how cultural innovation is understood
Direct engagement: Briefing policymakers, foundation leaders and institutional decision-makers on research findings and community priorities
Who we advocate with:
Cultural practitioners working at the intersection of tradition and innovation
Community organisations whose voices have been excluded from policy development
Artists and heritage stewards whose work challenges dominant narratives
Researchers investigating questions that matter to practice and policy
Foundation and philanthropic leaders committed to equitable investment
Work With Us
Cultural Futures Lab partners with foundations, cultural institutions, research organisations, policymakers and communities committed to cultural equity and innovation.
As an organisation established in 2025, we’re building our portfolio of investigations and partnerships. We’re particularly interested in projects that:
Advance equity and amplify marginalized voices
Investigate cultural innovation in Japan or other non-Western contexts
Explore intersections of technology, heritage, and contemporary practice
Challenge assumptions about who benefits from cultural policy
Create opportunities for cross-cultural learning
