The Cultural Democracy Lab emerges at a decisive inflection point when democratic institutions face unprecedented threats and traditional civic engagement models are failing to reach historically marginalized communities. The urgency stems from converging crises that demand innovative, culturally-grounded approaches to civic participation and democratic renewal.

As is described in Why Nations Fail by Daron Acemoglu and James A. Robinson, we are at a critical juncture - a major historical event or period of upheaval that disrupts a nation's existing political and economic balance. As a society, we are facing fundamental choices that determine whether we will develop inclusive (prosperity) or extractive (poverty) institutions.

Indiana exemplifies the broader national crisis facing democratic participation and cultural expression. The state currently ranks 50th for voter turnout among all states, with only West Virginia having lower participation rates. This civic disengagement occurs against a backdrop of increasingly restrictive policies that directly threaten the very communities the Cultural Democracy Lab aims to serve.

Indiana's 2025 legislative session has witnessed an unprecedented assault on cultural democracy through multiple fronts:

Exhibit A - Book Banning and Educational Censorship: Senate Bill 12 and related legislation strip educational defenses from libraries, making it easier to remove books with diverse perspectives. Indiana schools have already banned six books as a direct result of Republicans' controversial HEA 1447 (2023) and SEA 442 (2025), creating a chilling effect on cultural expression and access to diverse narratives.

Exhibit B - Elimination of Cultural Competency Training: New amendments to House Bill 1002 drop requirements for all Indiana teachers to train in social-emotional learning, trauma-informed care, cultural competency, and restorative justice practices. This dismantling of culturally responsive education directly undermines the foundation for inclusive civic engagement.

Exhibit C - Systematic Disenfranchisement: Indiana's election laws contain multiple bureaucratic hurdles that disproportionately impact vulnerable voters, including restrictive ID requirements and early deadlines that particularly affect "infrequent or vulnerable voters, like the elderly, voters with disabilities and students.

Research demonstrates that arts and culture serve as essential civic infrastructure, particularly during periods of democratic strain. Cultural organizing represents a strategic response to political disengagement by integrating "arts and culture into organizing strategies" while "organizing from a particular tradition, cultural identity, and community" to advance social and economic justice (Arts & Democracy, 2025).

Multiple studies confirm the correlation between arts participation and civic engagement. Participatory arts increase political literacy and democratic decision-making abilities, while providing alternative mediums for political expression that transcend the limitations of formal political language. This is particularly crucial for Black communities, where cultural production has historically reshaped the U.S. cultural landscape and serves as a powerful tool for civic activation.

Cultural Democracy Lab’s framework explicitly acknowledges how extractive funding practices, nonprofit industrial norms, and bureaucratic gatekeeping have historically destabilized organizations led by and for Black, queer, trans, disabled, and low-income communities.

Building Authentic Civic Infrastructure: Rather than imposing traditional civic engagement models, cultural organizing meets communities where they are, using familiar cultural practices and narratives to facilitate political education and participation.

Countering Authoritarian Tactics: As democracy scholars note, autocratic actors consistently target arts and cultural institutions because "art and culture often allow opposition through political commentary". Supporting cultural democracy represents direct resistance to authoritarian suppression of civic space (Brookings Institute, 2025)

Creating Sustainable Engagement: Unlike episodic electoral campaigns, cultural organizing builds year-round capacity for civic participation rooted in community identity and values

The Cultural Democracy Lab represents more than programming—it constitutes emergency democratic infrastructure for communities under siege. We engage in 1) rapid response organizing to build capacity for communities to quickly mobilize around emerging threats to their rights and interests; 2) narrative sovereignty by ensuring marginalized communities can tell their own stories and define their political priorities; and 3) cross-movement coalition building by using cultural connections to bridge different justice struggles and build broader democratic alliances.

Multiple factors create a narrow window for establishing this critical infrastructure. Conservative legislators are rapidly advancing restrictive policies. Establishing cultural democracy programming now creates protected space for civic education and organizing before further restrictions take effect. Further, existing arts and cultural organizations face increasing pressure and potential funding cuts. Investing in cultural democracy infrastructure strengthens the entire ecosystem's resilience. Indianapolis is poised to be a leader in cultural organizing because Indianapolis already hosts robust Black arts and cultural institutions through organizations like Indiana Black Expo, Naptown African American Theatre Collective, and other emerging collectives carrying the legacy of Indiana Avenue’s Jazz and Rock ‘n’ Roll history. The Cultural Democracy Lab can leverage existing community assets while addressing current gaps.

Funding the Cultural Democracy Lab represents both immediate emergency response and long-term democratic investment. In a moment when traditional civic institutions fail to engage marginalized communities and authoritarian forces actively target cultural expression, cultural organizing offers proven pathways to democratic renewal. The convergence of Indiana's restrictive political climate, documented civic disengagement, and demonstrated effectiveness of cultural democracy approaches creates an urgent imperative for investment in this critical infrastructure.