Culture moves fast. Context matters. Audiences are highly attuned to what feels real and what feels forced. Our role is to help you understand the cultural space you are stepping into, identify where you belong within it, and shape ideas that resonate rather than perform.
research, strategy, creativity,
and lived experience.
what we mean by cultural consultancy
This can include:
- Cultural research and insight
- Audience and community understanding
- Brand positioning within cultural contexts
- Strategic guidance for creative projects
- Advisory support for campaigns, programmes, and spaces
- Long-term cultural strategy development
cultural consultancy is not about
trend-chasing or surface-level references.
It is about understanding why certain ideas,
movements, aesthetics, and behaviours
matter, and how they connect to people’s
identities and values.
trend-chasing or surface-level references.
It is about understanding why certain ideas,
movements, aesthetics, and behaviours
matter, and how they connect to people’s
identities and values.
our consultancy work often informs
experiential projects, digital platforms,
and content, but it can also stand
alone as strategic guidance.
our approach
We begin by understanding your context. This includes your organisation, audience, goals, and the cultural spaces you want to engage with. We research history, references, communities, and current dynamics.
2. Sense-making and framing
We translate research into clear, usable insights. This helps identify opportunities, risks, and meaningful directions. We focus on clarity over jargon.
3. Strategic guidance
We provide direction on tone, approach, language, partnerships, and creative routes. This can inform campaigns, programming, design, or long-term planning.
4. Ongoing advisory support
We can act as a cultural sounding board throughout a project or over a longer period, helping teams make informed decisions as ideas evolve.
where cultural consultancy is useful
Cultural consultancy supports work across many contexts, including:
- Brand strategy and repositioning
- Campaign development
- Experiential and installation projects
- Community-led initiatives
- Public programmes and institutions
- Fashion, music, sport, and youth culture
-
Technology and innovation-led projects
- Education and learning environments
it is particularly valuable when
entering new cultural spaces
or working with communities
beyond your existing expertise.
entering new cultural spaces
or working with communities
beyond your existing expertise.
why studio858
Clients work with us because we:
- Combine strategic thinking with creative practice
- Understand both grassroots culture and institutional realities
- Speak plainly and honestly
- Challenge ideas when necessary
- Help avoid performative or extractive approaches
- Create space for better questions, not just faster answers
studio858 brings a practitioner’s
perspective to cultural consultancy.
We are not commenting from the sidelines.
our work is grounded in making,
building, and participating in culture.
we believe strong cultural work
starts with humility and curiosity.
perspective to cultural consultancy.
We are not commenting from the sidelines.
our work is grounded in making,
building, and participating in culture.
we believe strong cultural work
starts with humility and curiosity.
frequently asked questions
Is cultural consultancy only for brands?
No. We work with brands, institutions, cultural organisations, and individuals.
Can this lead to creative production?
Often, yes. Cultural consultancy frequently informs experiential, digital, or content projects, but it can also remain a standalone engagement.
Can you support long-term strategy?
Yes. We offer both short-term consultancy and longer-term advisory relationships.