Culture Lab
Culture is Key to Democracy
Cultural venues are civic institutions, and the artists and cultural workers who bring them to life are civic leaders. Since 2020, Culture Lab has convened over 50 musicians to build community, take bold public stands, and push back against organized bigotry; and supported over 150 venues in providing safe and inclusive community gatherings.
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Get Involved in our Work
Defend Cultural Gatherings
The Forum Fellowship is brings together venue owners, operators, and cultural leaders committed to creating inclusive spaces and resisting forces that threaten community cohesion.
Resources for Artists and Cultural Workers
Our trainings and tools for cultural workers and venues support safe and inclusive community events—from navigating ICE at venues to deescalation skills to how to plan safe events.
Rapid
Response
If you are a venue owner, operator, or cultural leader being targeted by anti-democracy movements, we are available to provide rapid response support.
Contact us for support.
Culture Lab’s Impact
"Hosting inclusive and safe events at our brewery hasn’t been without challenges, but working on the venue guide has helped me to put my own protocols and policies in place ahead of any issues. Plus, I’ve connected with fellow venue owners who I can lean on for support. I also know that I can call Western States Center for support if anything comes up that is alarming."
– Andrea Marcoccio, o
wner of Matchwood Brewing in Sandpoint, Idaho and coauthor of the “Safeguarding Arts & Culture Spaces,” a pro-democracy guide for Idaho Venues.
Resources & Case Studies
Safeguarding Arts and
Culture
Spaces
The Pro-Democracy Guide for Idaho Venues is designed by and for small businesses and venue owners across the state to protect their right to gather and express themselves freely.
Preparing for Immigration Enforcement at Venues
This practical guide for venue owners, operators, and staff offers step-by-step information to help venues prepare, respond, and care for their communities during immigration enforcement activity.
More
Resources Coming Soon!
Keep an eye out for more ways we’re bringing political education to artists and cultural workers.
Listen: Smoke & Mirrors
The Smoke & Mirrors album features hip hop artists from across the US sounding the alarm about the rise of anti-democracy movements and authoritarianism. These tracks inspire listeners to vote for inclusive democracy and take action in their communities.
Watch: Frogs of Portland
At our 2025 Activists Mobilizing for Power Conference, singer-songwriter Ana Egge debuted her resistance anthem "Frogs of Portland, October 2025. The song celebrates the power of showing up and standing strong after the inflatable frog became an iconic symbol of Portland’s unique protest culture: a nonviolent, absurdist rebuke to authoritarianism, ICE raids, and the false portrayal of our city as a “war zone.”
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