Cultural Strategies
Culture is a powerful force for moving hearts, minds and policies, and we see cultural strategies as the secret to unlocking culture’s social change power.
Support TOA’s Cultural Strategies Work
By convening, connecting and supporting artists, media makers and advocates, we are amplifying the impact of cultural strategies, raising the profile of leading practitioners of these strategies, and showing movement leaders why creativity must be a part of their toolkit.
Our work in this area includes:
The Creative Change Retreat and Strategy Sessions: Our Retreat and Regional Strategy Sessions bring together artists, media makers, and advocates to strategize around collaborative action, and to build relationships that can help bring arts and social justice approaches to the public sphere.
Creative Change Awards: We have honored some of the most innovative thinkers and doers in this space, exposing a large audience to cutting edge work.
Research, Training, and Analysis: We develop communications and research resources specifically for cultural leaders, and repurpose existing tools for the work of cultural leaders as well.
Cultural strategies are an essential component of achieving lasting social change, but many advocacy organizations in the social justice movement either do not fully recognize their potential or do not know how to blend them with more traditional approaches. At the same time, many of the most innovative artists whose work promotes social justice values want to be involved in social change efforts, but feel disconnected from organizing and policy efforts.
The Opportunity Agenda creates tools and resources to bridge this gap, helping artists become effective spokespeople and helping advocates understand how best to work with artists.
Cultural Strategies Reports
INTRODUCTION Welcoming a baby into the world should be a time of joy...
Talking About Birthing Justice
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY In The Opportunity Agenda’s Power of POP research series, we explore...
Power of Pop: What TV Gets Wrong About Getting By
Art & Discussion Guide We believe that ending poverty is within our reach,...
We Can Thrive Together: Visioning Economic Justice for All
INTRODUCTION Both research and our lived experience consistently show that the language we...
Shifting the Narrative
Tips for Advocates Seeking Guidance on How to Add to the Conversation From...
Talking About Justice and Equity Through Sports
The Opportunity Agenda’s Creative Change Innovation Fellowship was an invitation-only pilot program intended to support a cohort of leading-edge...
Introducing New Cultural Strategy Tools from Our Creative Change Fellows
This memo is intended to help journalists and media organizations produce fuller and...
When They See Us: Improving the Media’s Coverage of Black Men and Boys
Improving Media Coverage of Black Men and Boys This memo provides tips and...
When They See Us: Thirty Years Since the Central Park Five Case
10 Tips to Spark Change Our research report, Power of Pop: The Case...
Working with Cultural Influencers
Executive Summary In recent years, the power of popular entertainment to inspire large...
The Case of the Cultural Influencers: Colin Kaepernick, Jimmy Kimmel, and #MeToo
We need a new story about the U.S. economy; a story that recognizes...
Art that Tells a New Story About Economic Opportunity
Introduction In the weeks following the 2016 presidential election, and the almost immediate...
Power of Pop: Media Analysis of Immigrant Representation in Popular TV Shows
The Creative Change Retreat brings together a diverse group of leading artists, entertainers, media makers, advocates, activists, and funders committed to transformative social change.
Creative Change Retreat
This national retreat combines intimate strategy sessions, group conversations, showcases of innovative work and interactive presentations to create fertile ground for sharing, connection, and reflection to inspire, amplify and mobilize support for social justice values and solutions.
Check out the Retreat
Creative Change Retreat
Helvetika Bold
Flip the script on harmful narratives to create messages of equality and opportunity for all with superhero, Helvetika Bold!
