CultureLab is currently part of an international consortium of researchers, carrying out an extensive investigation into the colonial past of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW).
On 7 May 2026, CultureLab joined the inaugural edition of Kelas Malam at Side Room through a public talk by Dr. Sadiah Boonstra titled Whose Taste Is It Anyway? Did Colonialism Stitch Together Indonesian Style?
Dr. Sadiah Boonstra is part of a newly funded research project under the NWA programme (Dutch Research Agenda), examining the ongoing effects of Dutch slavery and colonialism. ‘Slavery past present: Dutch slavery and colonialism and their present-day impact’ brings together an international consortium of researchers, cultural practitioners, and institutions working across different disciplines.
Starting in September 2025, an international consortium of researchers will begin an extensive investigation into the colonial past of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW).
The contemporary art exhibition Beyond Unsettled Pasts brings together six Indonesian visual artists to critically reflect on how Dutch colonial legacies continue to shape society, space, and identity in present-day Indonesia.
Looking Behind Nias Faces: The Face of Ono Niha is a research-based exhibition that critically engages with Dutch colonial representations of Nias and its people, the Ono Niha.
Exploring Indonesia's role and relationship in the complexity of the international Spice Route, the intricate and diverse history of this network unveils a wealth of social and cultural heritage, showcased through various artifacts, stories, and memories.
Jalan Nusantara (Archipelago Street or Wandering Across the Archipelago) is a special area at UNESCO Headquarters turned into an exhibition space which displays 11 art objects donated by the Indonesian Government to UNESCO.
CultureLab's Founder & Director, Dr. Sadiah Boonstra, trained as a Curator and Historian, formerly served as the Specialist for International Collaboration, Curatorial Affairs and Collection Management at the Indonesian Heritage Agency (IHA) in 2022 to 2023 under the Ministry of Education and Culture Republic of Indonesia in which she was responsible to advise on collection and curatorial management and developing international collaborations on those fields. At that time, she developed and set up IHA which manages 18 Indonesian museums including the Indonesian National Museum and 34 heritage sites including Borobudur and Prambanan.