Lunch & Learn: Futuring - in 45 minutes

27 August 2026, 12:00-12:45

Does your offering still align with a new generation of visitors? And what will your organization look like in ten years? Big questions — but you don't need to set aside an entire day to explore them. Join this free online session during lunch and get an accessible introduction to futuring, also known as future exploration, in just 45 minutes.

No heavy theories, just a fresh perspective on the future of your audience — and plenty of room to ask your questions. Just enough to see if this topic is something for you and your organization.

Agenda

In brief

Futuring (future exploration) helps you make better strategic decisions today by exploring possible futures. In this free online Lunch & Learn of 45 minutes, you will discover what futuring is, why it is relevant now for the cultural sector, and how DEN works with it. There is plenty of room for questions. An ideal stepping stone to the Futuring in-depth workshop on September 24 and the Community meet-up on October 8.

What is futuring?

Futuring, or future exploration in Dutch, is the structured exploration of possible futures to prepare your organization for them now. There is no single predictable future, but you can explore multiple conceivable futures. This way, you make choices that hold up across different scenarios and are prepared for unexpected outcomes.

Why futuring is important now for the cultural sector

A new generation is growing up in a fully digitalized world. Many expect a personal, interactive experience when shopping online, using streaming platforms — and also when visiting museums, theaters, archives, and venues. Organizations that adapt to this now will be stronger in the future. Futuring makes this uncertain future manageable: it helps you let go of the fear of the unknown and see opportunities instead.

„Even in a scenario that initially seemed dystopian to me, we eventually discovered opportunities and solutions during the conversation. When you let go of the fear of the future, you see a beautiful path.”
Marjan Ruiter, Director of Zeeuws Museum, former participant

What can you expect?

In 45 minutes, we will introduce you to the basics of futuring. You'll get an overview of the method and see examples of how cultural organizations are already applying it. Afterward, there will be time to ask questions and engage in discussions.

What will you learn in these 45 minutes?

What futuring is.
Why looking ahead is especially important now for your audience and offerings.
How DEN works with future scenarios and what they look like for the cultural sector.
What first step you can take to apply futuring in your organization.

Who is this Lunch & Learn for?

For anyone working in the cultural sector who is curious about the future of their audience: from directors to policy, audience, and program staff at museums, theaters, archives, libraries, and festivals. No prior knowledge is required — this is the starting point.

Want more?

This Lunch & Learn is the perfect stepping stone. Want to dive deeper afterward?

In-depth workshop (September 24, 2026). In half a day, you'll go through the entire method yourself: from scanning signals to translating scenarios into concrete actions for your organization.

→ View the Futuring workshop (opens in new tab)

Community meet-up (October 8, 2026). Meet peers, hear how other organizations apply futuring in practice, and expand your network. Sharing and connecting are central.

→ More about the DEN Community meet-up (opens in new tab)