Constellations Culture Change Fund and Initiative was a bold, three-year, field-building initiative (2022–2024) of The Center for Cultural Power that raised and redistributed an unprecedented $7.7M to more than 150 artist disruptors, culture bearers, and cultural strategy organizations across the country. Born from the vision of artists and cultural leaders, Constellations responded to a critical field gap – the need for sustained investment in the storytellers and culture keepers whose work shapes how communities remember, imagine, and build just and sustainable futures. By investing at the scale and pace required, Constellations helped stabilize and grow the field of cultural strategy and demonstrate the transformative potential of culture as a driver of long-term social change.

The findings in this report draw from in-depth interviews and qualitative research conducted by an external evaluator (ORS Impact) alongside an internal learning process. The report offers insights for practitioners seeking to build narrative and cultural power, and guidance for funders looking to resource this work more effectively. In today’s rapidly shifting cultural and political landscape, these lessons point to the importance of resourcing culture as infrastructure, supporting artist-led narrative strategy, and trusting practitioners to lead.