Paul Schafer - Cultural Futurist.
- Isobel Arden
- Mar 14
- 5 min read
Updated: Apr 4
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Meet Paul Schafer, the Cultural Futurist, using Word Culture Project for creative change.
Paul Schafer has spent nearly six decades swimming in the deep end of the cultural pool, dabbling in just about every role possible—author, educator, administrator, and advisor.
Oddly enough, he started out in the world of economics, lecturing on its principles, history, and international development at Dalhousie University and Acadia University. But rather than spending his life debating supply and demand curves, he took a route into culture—a detour that has defined his career and, quite possibly, his destiny.
From 1967 to 1970, Paul cut his teeth as Assistant Director of the Ontario Arts Council, helping to shape Canada's arts scene in ways that probably still ripple today.
Not content with just that, he rolled up his sleeves and founded the Graduate Programme in Arts Administration at York University (1970-1974), where he no doubt taught students how to make the arts world both profitable and palatable.
Later, from 1984 to 1990, he coordinated the Cooperative Programme in Arts Administration and the Cooperative Programme in International Development at the University of Toronto—presumably because running just one programme would have been far too easy. Alongside all this, he spread his wisdom on arts administration and cultural policy across multiple North American universities, contributed to UNESCO projects, and advised Canada’s Department of External Affairs (now Global Affairs Canada) on cultural matters, probably with a polite but firm nudge towards more investment in the arts.
In 1989, Paul took matters into his own hands and founded the World Culture Project, convinced that culture and cultures were the keys to human happiness and global sustainability.
UNESCO promptly gave it their seal of approval, designating it an official activity of the World Decade for Cultural Development.
Ever the prolific thinker, Paul translated his ideas into numerous books, including Culture - Beacon of the Future, The Age of Culture, The Secrets of Culture, The Cultural Personality, The True North: How Canadian Creativity Changed the World, and The World as Culture: Cultivation of the Soul to the Cosmic Whole. (Click on purple links to go to the book on Amazon.)
These works tackle the small issue of how culture shapes societies, influences policies, and—if taken seriously—could probably sort out quite a few of the world’s problems.
His latest book, The Great Cultural Awakening: Key to an Equitable, Sustainable, and Harmonious Age (2024), is the pièce de résistance of his decades-long crusade. In it, he lays out a compelling argument that the world must finally stop treating culture as an afterthought and instead embrace it as the driving force of human progress.
He advocates a shift from the all-too-familiar economic mindset to a cultural consciousness, where the arts, humanities, and heritage take centre stage in global development.
His vision isn’t just for governments and policymakers; he’s calling on individuals, communities, and nations to see culture as the thread that ties everything together—sustainability, equality, and even humanity’s relationship with the natural world.
The World Culture Project remains his pride and joy, structured into two components: an international arm tackling global cultural challenges and a Canadian component exploring how these ideas take shape within Canada. Together, they work towards making culture a central, rather than a peripheral, player in world affairs.
Paul Schafer has spent a lifetime proving that culture is not just about museums, galleries, or the occasional Shakespearean soliloquy. It is, in fact, the very glue of human existence—the key to making societies thrive, creating a more sustainable future, and, let’s be honest, making life a little more interesting.
His work challenges policymakers, academics, and everyday citizens alike to rethink culture’s role in the grand scheme of things—and to finally give it the credit it deserves.
A Fantasy Cultural Year: Paul's Dream Artistic Journey
In the interview above Mark created Paul's Fantasy Cultural Year from the answers to a few simple questions. There are no wrong answers ;-)
Paul’s journey of cultural discovery began by being transported on a sunny afternoon to a cafe near the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, where he enjoyed a Pina Colada with his favourite book, Visions of Culture by Karl J. Weintraub by his side.
Their conversation was filled with humour, anecdotes, and playful challenges, as Mark devised a fantasy cultural year inspired by Paul’s responses to easy questions.
His adventure unfolded when a wealthy family foundation in Turkey invited him to embark on a year-long global research project to create a Global League table of how culture fares in different national economies. The catch? He had to choose a genre of music to listen to for the year. Paul couldn't choose one, narrowing it down to baroque, classical, and flamenco music.
Her travels took her across continents, with a carefully curated cultural programme:
A dance performance by the Whirling Dervishes in Istanbul
A Turkish meal
A football game and a hockey game in Seville, Spain
Exploring Indonesia's culture and heritage
Mark and Paul discussed their preferences for works by famous artists and cultural experiences. Paul expressed a preference for Canadian artists, particularly the Group of Seven.
Paul also expressed his life-long interest in visiting Suzhou in China, which is world famous for its exquisite gardens, which have an interesting connection with cultures in his view.
They then discussed their choices for a historic pop or rock concert, a theater play, a Broadway or West End musical, an opera, and a cinema experience. Paul chose a performance of Mahler's 4th Symphony, the Canadian musical Come From Away, a smash hit on Broadway and in Toronto, and his favourite Puccini’s opera La Boheme.
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Mark Walmsley FRSA FCIM AGSM
Chief Culture Vulture
Arts & Culture Network
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Chief Culture Vulture
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