Investigating global cultural innovation for a more equitable future
Cultural Futures Lab is a Brussels-based think tank dedicated to understanding how culture, creativity and heritage shape societies across the world. We investigate the intersections of contemporary art, technology, social stewardship and cultural policy to advance equity and amplify voices that have historically been excluded from decision-making. Through rigorous research and collaborative dialogue, Cultural Futures Lab hopes to build new frameworks for cultural innovation that truly serve the communities they are embedded in.
Mission
To investigate and advance global cultural innovation through rigorous research, dialogue and policy development that centres equity, cultural voice and the transformative potential of creativity across societies.
Vision
A world where cultural innovation drives equitable social change, diverse voices shape policy and creative practices are recognised as essential to addressing global challenges.
Advancing cultural equity through investigation and dialogue
Culture sits at the heart of how societies innovate, adapt, grow and thrive. Yet too often, cultural policy is shaped without the voices of those most affected by it nor those who have actionable insight. As such, innovation happens without consideration for equity or heritage.
Cultural Futures Lab was established in 2025 to address this gap. Based in Brussels, we investigate how foundation leaders, philanthropists, civic thinkers and cultural practitioners are reimagining the role of culture in addressing pressing global challenges. We examine what happens when traditional values meet technological change, when heritage stewardship intersects with contemporary practice, and when one’s cultural voice becomes a tool for social transformation.
Our approach is collaborative and forward-looking. We don’t claim to have all the answers. Instead, we create spaces for enquiry where diverse perspectives can shape the questions we ask and the policies we develop.
Our Focus Areas
Cultural Innovation & Technology
We investigate how technological advancement and cultural heritage can coexist and enrich one another. Research strands to include expansion of digital preservation techniques, AI’s impact on creative practice and more – cultivating thought around innovation that respects tradition whilst embracing possibility.
Equitable Policy Development
Cultural policy should serve everyone, not just those with access to power. We develop evidence-based recommendations that centre equity, amplify marginalised voices and create pathways for more inclusive decision-making.
Cross-Cultural Dialogue & Partnership
The most meaningful insights and perspectives emerge through collaboration across borders and disciplines. We convene foundation leaders, policymakers, artists and communities to tackle questions that don’t yet have definitive answers.
Cultural Futures Dialogues
Our signature research initiative will bring together foundation leaders, philanthropists and civic thinkers whose work intersects with contemporary art, technology, social stewardship and cultural heritage. Through structured dialogues, Cultural Futures Lab will investigate how these leaders think about cultural voice and vision, and how their decisions shape the futures available to communities around the world.
Cultural Futures Dialogues creates space for honest, exploratory conversations about the role of culture in social change. We’re asking questions like:
How do traditional cultural values inform contemporary innovation?
What voices are missing from philanthropic decision-making?
How can technology serve heritage stewardship rather than displace it?
Our Approach
Work collaboratively
The challenges facing cultural sectors are too complex for any single organisation to address alone. Cultural Futures Lab partners with researchers, institutions, foundations and communities to ensure our investigations reflect diverse perspectives and lived experiences.
Lead with questions
Cultural innovation requires humility for what we don’t yet know. Rather than arriving with predetermined solutions, Cultural Futures Lab creates space for genuine enquiry where unexpected insights can emerge.
Centre equity
Our work begins with a commitment to fairness and access. We investigate whose voices are heard and whose are excluded whilst researching how cultural policy can be reimagined to serve communities that have been marginalised.
Produce evidence that matters
Research should inform action. We combine rigorous methodology with accessible communication to ensure our findings reach the policymakers, practitioners and funders who can put them into practice.
Partner With Us
Cultural innovation requires intercultural collaboration. We’re seeking partners who share our commitment to equity, rigorous enquiry and transformative cultural policy.
Whether you’re a foundation exploring new approaches to cultural investment, a research institution investigating similar questions or a cultural organisation working at the intersection of heritage and innovation, we invite you to connect with us.
Ways to engage:
Co-commission research on shared priorities
Participate in Cultural Futures Dialogues
Partner on policy development initiatives
Share insights from your context or practice
Support our investigations through funding or in-kind contributions
