Futures-Oriented Museum Synergies (FORMS)
FORMS will next gather at MOD. in Adelaide from 4-8 November 2025
FORMS is a unique gathering of cultural visionaries—directors, curators, researchers, and futurists—who are shaping futures-thinking in museums and cultural institutions worldwide.
For 2025, FORMS will be hosted by MOD. at the University of South Australia. The theme of FORMS Adelaide is Futures Ecosystems, enabling us to explore interconnections and systems in futures practice. Museums don’t operate in isolation; our impact depends on networks, relationships, and community connections. This year’s program will immerse you in the vibrant cultural and environmental landscape of Adelaide, introducing you to the partners that enable futures work at MOD. We will offer hands-on experiences, thought-provoking discussions, and deep peer-to-peer learning.
Attendance is limited, and preference will be given to those who have completion the Registration of Interest Form. Secure your spot now!
Why Attend?
- A rare moment of retreat for senior cultural leaders to connect, collaborate, and think boldly about how we work with futures.
- No spectators – everyone contributes. FORMS is a dynamic space for exchange, experimentation, and emergent learning.
- Engage with leading thinkers and provocateurs shaping museum strategy, leadership, and climate futures.
- Experience Adelaide – located on Kaurna Country in South Australia. Explore its cultural scene and connection to First Nations culture; spend time with wildlife and landscapes from the hills to the sea.
What to Expect
- Immersive discussions on museum strategy, leadership, and climate futures.
- Site visits and experiences that highlight how MOD. is enmeshed within the South Australian community.
- Opportunities to extend your stay with an optional day of tours and conversations in Melbourne on 10 November.
- Meeting new people to the FORMS network and from the Adelaide ecosystem to enrich the conversation.
Adelaide prides itself on culture, wine, and access to nature. The draft program has been developed with FORMS members to give experiences of place and insights into museums, futures and the ecosystems that support futures work in Adelaide.
- Tuesday 4 November: Welcome Reception with the South Australian Foresight Community of Practice.
- Wednesday 5 November: Fellowship Day with time to reconnect, find points of collaboration and set the scene before visiting the McLaren Vale region to learn about Aboriginal cultural practices before an evening of local wines and food.
- Thursday 6 November: Museums Day starting with a visit to the FOREVER exhibition at MOD. followed by Q&A with the design team. After lunch, we walk along the river to explore the state’s cultural institutions and consider perspectives on futures-orientation, before a long-table dinner with senior leaders from the South Australian cultural sector.
- Friday 7 November: Futures Day kicks-off with a workshop on systems thinking and futures thinking thanks to the South Australian Futures Agency. After lunch we will meander through the Adelaide Central Markets to find supplies towards a shared dinner at a home with ocean views.
- Saturday 8 November: Climate Day will cap off the week with a trip to Cleland Wildlife Park to hear about the initiatives Adelaide is pursuing towards climate mitigation and adaptation. You’ll have a chance to get up close with Australian wildlife before we conclude with a reflective lunch at an Adelaide Hills winery.
Who Should Attend?
FORMS is designed for senior leaders at the intersection of futures thinking and cultural institutions. If you are responsible for leading the strategic work on building futures thinking capabilities in communities, through the mechanism of cultural institutions, then FORMS is for you. If you are new to FORMS, please do Register Interest and we will contact you for further information.
What’s Included?
- No registration fee. MOD. covers program expenses for activities, transport to activities, meals included in the program and venue costs.
- Participants cover their own flights, airport transport, accommodation, other meals and incidental expenses.
More information on travel to Adelaide and accommodation options will be provided shortly.
Register Your Interest
Attendance is limited, and preference will be given to those who Register Interest. Please email Brooke Ferguson if you have questions about the gathering.
We can’t wait to welcome you to Adelaide for an unforgettable week of inspiration, connection, and future-making.