Futurecity
Futurecity is a London-based cultural placemaking agency founded in 2007 that develops cultural strategies, curates public art, and brokers partnerships for property developers, architects, masterplanners, and public bodies across the UK, Middle East, and beyond.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Futurecity does
Futurecity is a London-headquartered cultural placemaking agency founded by Mark Davy in 2007, with a secondary office in Cambridge and 11-50 employees. The firm operates two integrated service divisions, Arts & Culture and Strategy & Placemaking, delivering cultural placemaking strategies, public art curation and commissioning, art-architecture collaboration, community engagement, cultural activation, cultural brokering, cultural branding, and thought leadership for real estate developers, architects, masterplanners, and public bodies. Its core IP consists of codified methodologies including the Cultural Placemaking Strategy Framework and the Place Vision Toolkit, supported by a network of more than 30 senior cultural strategists and curators delivered through the Futurecity Associates Network. The company also operates Seed130, a meanwhile gallery at 130 Fenchurch Street in the City of London, and jointly runs the Futurecity Lab research platform with engineering partner AtkinsRéalis.
Futurecity generates revenue on a project-based, fee-for-service consultancy model. Engagements are bespoke and priced per project, with no public pricing tiers. The stated customer base exceeds 100 property-sector clients with more than 300 cumulative major projects delivered across the UK, Europe, Asia, Australia, North America, and the Middle East. Notable enterprise clients include Quintain (Wembley Park), Diriyah Company, Royal London Asset Management, Cadogan, Prologis, Lincoln MGT, Orion Capital Managers, Greenland UK, ION, Aviva Investors, and CO-RE. Marquee projects span developments valued from £235m (The Gaumont) to £850m (Station Hill, Reading). Distribution is direct enterprise sales supplemented by strategic channel partnerships, most prominently the 2026 AtkinsRéalis global MoU, plus brokered institutional partnerships with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Barbican, and Centre Pompidou.
The company is privately held, founder-led, and bootstrapped, with no disclosed funding rounds, parent company, or external investment. Founder Mark Davy remains CEO. Futurecity's strategic posture has shifted from UK-focused advisory toward international delivery, evidenced by an active Middle East project pipeline and the AtkinsRéalis partnership announced at MIPIM 2026. Product surface has also expanded through Seed130 and the Futurecity Lab, and recent thought leadership has begun exploring AI-generated imagery and sustainability themes within curatorial programming, though AI is not a proprietary technology.
Futurecity firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Futurecity
- Legal name
- Futurecity
- Website
- https://futurecity.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Futurecity is a London-based cultural placemaking agency founded in 2007 that develops cultural strategies, curates public art, and brokers partnerships for property developers, architects, masterplanners, and public bodies across the UK, Middle East, and beyond.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Futurecity industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Cultural Placemaking Consulting
- NAICS
- Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121)
- SIC
- Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Urban Planning & Master Planning (BPAHAKAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Regional & Land Use Planning (BPAHAKAE), Urban & Regional Planning (Land Use, Zoning, Master Planning) (BPAIANAD), State/Provincial Housing, Urban/Regional Planning & Community Development (BPAIABAM)
Keywords
Where Futurecity is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Futurecity business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Cultural Placemaking Consulting: Fees for developing cultural strategies, placemaking frameworks, and cultural plans for real estate developments, regeneration areas, and urban projects
- Public Art Curation & Commissioning: Full spectrum commissioning services from artist selection through to installation and unveiling, providing curatorial, technical, and legal knowledge
- Cultural Activation Programs: Transforming underused spaces into creative destinations through cultural programming, partnerships and storytelling
- Strategic Partnership with AtkinsRéalis: Integrated bid and delivery teams combining AtkinsRéalis engineering with Futurecity's cultural strategy for culture-led urban development
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Futurecity product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Futurecity is a global cultural placemaking agency that develops cultural strategies, brokers partnerships between the cultural and real estate sectors, and delivers major public art projects for property developers, architects, masterplanners, and public bodies. Its services span cultural placemaking strategy, arts strategy and masterplanning, public art curation and commissioning, art and architecture collaboration, cultural brokering, community engagement, cultural activation, and cultural branding across the UK, Europe, Asia, Australia, North America, and the Middle East.
Product overview
Futurecity is a global cultural placemaking agency offering two integrated service divisions: Arts & Culture and Strategy & Placemaking. The Arts & Culture division provides public art curation and commissioning, arts strategy and masterplanning, art-architecture collaboration, community engagement, and cultural activation. The Strategy & Placemaking division delivers cultural placemaking strategies, implementation plans, cultural brokering, cultural branding, and thought leadership. Key products include Seed130, a meanwhile gallery space at 130 Fenchurch Street in the City of London, and the Futurecity Lab research platform developed with AtkinsRéalis. Founded by Mark Davy in 2007, the company has delivered over 300 major projects across UK, Europe, Asia, Australia, North America, and the Middle East.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Seed130: A meanwhile gallery space at 130 Fenchurch Street in the City of London, featuring 10-month programme of exhibitions, talks and performances exploring sustainability, ESG, and future thinking
- Futurecity Lab
- Futurecity Associates
Products and services
- Public Art Curation & Commissioning Full spectrum commissioning services from artist selection through to installation and unveiling, with curators, creative producers and project managers supporting the process at every stage. Designed for property developers, public bodies, and architects seeking confidence in delivering ambitious public art projects.
- Arts Strategy & Masterplanning Develops strategic frameworks for delivering art in public realm, balancing inspirational creative vision with deliverable execution plans and embedding cultural initiatives within development processes. For developers, architects, and public bodies.
- Art & Architecture Collaboration Develops meaningful ways to engage artists in the design process, finding early opportunities to integrate creative approaches into architecture and public realm. For architecture and design firms seeking to embed cultural vision in masterplans.
- Community Engagement Designs and delivers programmes putting communities at the heart of cultural projects through consultations, workshops and collaborations with residents, schools and local organisations. For public bodies and developers seeking authentic community-led outcomes.
- Cultural Activation Transforms underused or transitional spaces into creative destinations through cultural programming, partnerships and storytelling that build identity and create visible public value. For property developers and public bodies.
- Cultural Placemaking Strategy Creates cultural strategies for developments of all scales, defining a site's "cultural DNA" and connecting it to wider context through vision-led projects and partnerships. For property developers, investors, and public bodies.
- Cultural Implementation Plan Transforms visionary ideas into actionable, site-specific programs and projects, integrating cultural elements from design through delivery. For developers and public bodies executing cultural strategies.
- Cultural Brokering Match-makes between property development and the cultural sector, enabling creative partnerships and supporting negotiation, legal support, financial planning and communications. For developers seeking to anchor projects with world-class cultural institutions.
- Cultural Branding Provides expertise on using arts and culture to enhance brand perception and recognition, developing unique partnerships with leading cultural institutions. For developers and investors seeking brand differentiation through culture.
- Thought Leadership Provides cultural and placemaking knowledge and insights for talks and workshops, generating thought leadership across global platforms and media. For organisations seeking strategic cultural intelligence and public positioning.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 300 major projects delivered across UK, Europe, Asia, Australia, North America, and Middle East
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Futurecity
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Futurecity technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability2 records
Feature3 records
Futurecity partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
17 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core, key and minor.
- AtkinsRéalisflagshipGlobal strategic MoU signed at MIPIM 2026 to advance culture-led urban development across global markets, initially focused on Middle East. Partnership creates Futurecity Lab for research, cultural foresight, and market intelligence. Combines AtkinsRéalis' engineering expertise with Futurecity's cultural strategy through integrated bid and delivery teams.
- National TrustcoreCollaborated on In Bloom exhibition at Seed130, showcasing over a century of green transformation across London's transport network. Partnership brings together contemporary photography and archive images.
- BarbicancoreExclusive cultural partnership for Panorama St Paul's development where Barbican Immersive team curates digital moving artworks for one of Europe's highest-resolution LED screens. Orion Capital Managers became lead sponsor of Barbican Immersive's summer exhibitions.
- CO-REcoreLead developer for Aviva Investors for 130 Fenchurch Street project. CO-RE is sponsoring and supporting Seed130, the meanwhile gallery space curated by Futurecity.
- Aviva InvestorscorePrimary sponsor of Seed130 gallery at 130 Fenchurch Street, a meanwhile activation project exploring sustainable futures.
- Invisible DustcoreArt, science and climate organisation collaborating with Futurecity on Seed130 exhibitions addressing environmental awareness, ESG and sustainable futures. Partnered on Cloud Messengers by Raqs Media Collective.
- Eastern City Business Improvement DistrictcoreBID partner for Seed130, bringing extensive knowledge and programming within the area along with network of local partners.
- Opportunity LondonkeyFuturecity joined as Partner & Advisor to Opportunity London, supporting London's major development opportunities and embedding placemaking within the investment portfolio.
- Social Value UKminorFuturecity became a member of Social Value UK, aligning with organization's mission to transform organizations' places and spaces so they work for people and communities.
- Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO)coreLandmark partnership brokered between Quintain and RPO for Wembley Park. Futurecity helped attract world-class cultural partners to establish RPO's new headquarters, providing permanent cultural anchor for the neighbourhood.
- Centre PompidoucorePioneering partnership brokered between Centre Pompidou and STH BNK by Beulah in Melbourne - supporting the institution's first presence in Southern Hemisphere. Also relevant to AlUla Contemporary Art Museum collaboration with Royal Commission for AlUla.
- Transport for LondoncorePartner with National Trust on In Bloom exhibition, contributing archive images from London Transport Museum documenting station gardens tradition.
- University of the Arts LondoncoreAcademic partner for exhibitions at Seed130, including Public Art in a Time of Crisis exploring how artists respond to urgent social and environmental challenges.
- WilkinsonEyrecoreArchitecture firm in design team for 130 Fenchurch Street building. Collaborated with Futurecity on Seed130 space design.
- ArupcoreEngineering consultancy in design team for 130 Fenchurch Street project supporting Futurecity's meanwhile gallery activation.
- Red Sea GlobalkeyClient for Red Sea Global Art and Culture Strategy - major tourism development project.
- Future PacekeyStrategic partnership with Pace Gallery for two-year programme leading to Illuminated River Project and other digital art commissions including Leo Villareal, Michal Rovner, Matt Collishaw, Random International, Teamlab, Studio Drift, and Studio Swine.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Futurecity competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- AtkinsRéalis: Global engineering consultancy and Futurecity's newly announced strategic partner for culture-led urban development. Comparable as a competitor on integrated masterplans with cultural components, and as a partner now co-bidding with Futurecity on Middle East opportunities.
- Snøhetta: International architecture and design practice with a strong cultural placemaking identity (e.g. SALT Art & Music, library and cultural centre projects). Overlaps with Futurecity on developer-led cultural masterplans but operates primarily as an architecture firm.
- BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group): Global architecture firm with deep cultural placemaking credentials (e.g. LEGO House, The Spiral). Competes for developer-led mixed-use cultural schemes but delivers through an architecture-led model rather than a specialist placemaking consultancy.
- Arup: Global engineering consultancy with an established arts, culture and placemaking practice serving developers and public bodies worldwide. Competes for the same cultural strategy line item on major projects but offers cultural placemaking as part of a much broader multidisciplinary portfolio.
- LDA Design: UK landscape architecture and urban design practice with placemaking, regeneration and public realm teams serving developers and local authorities. Comparable in client base and regeneration focus, broader in core discipline (landscape) than Futurecity.
Direct peers
- Project for Public Spaces (PPS): Global non-profit consultancy and thought leader in placemaking for public spaces, cities and communities. Comparable discipline and methodology (placemaking frameworks, cultural strategies), but US-based and non-profit structure versus Futurecity's commercial model.
- Create London: London-based cultural development agency that works at the intersection of arts, culture and urban regeneration. Highly comparable to Futurecity in mission (culture-driven place making), client base (developers, local authorities) and geography (London + UK).
- Sited Projects: London-based public art consultancy supporting developers, architects and local authorities with curatorial strategy and artist commissioning. Directly comparable services, target clients and project types.
- Colander Associates: UK consultancy delivering public art strategies, artist commissioning and cultural masterplans for built environment projects. Direct competitor for the same developer/architect brief and a similar fee-based service model.
- Art+Audacity: Independent UK consultancy specialising in public art strategy, commissioning and cultural placemaking for developers, architects and local authorities. Closely comparable service offering, client profile and project scale to Futurecity's Arts & Culture division.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Futurecity social profiles
Digital presenceFuturecity financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Futurecity leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Futurecity funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Futurecity M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Futurecity
What does Futurecity do?
Futurecity is a global cultural placemaking agency that develops cultural strategies, brokers partnerships between the cultural and real estate sectors, and delivers major public art projects for property developers, architects, masterplanners, and public bodies. Its services span cultural placemaking strategy, arts strategy and masterplanning, public art curation and commissioning, art and architecture collaboration, cultural brokering, community engagement, cultural activation, and cultural branding across the UK, Europe, Asia, Australia, North America, and the Middle East.
Is Futurecity a public or private company?
Futurecity is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Futurecity founded?
Futurecity was founded in 2007. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Futurecity based?
Futurecity is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Futurecity make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Cultural Placemaking Consulting is the primary driver. The others are public Art Curation & Commissioning, cultural Activation Programs and strategic Partnership with AtkinsRéalis.
Who are Futurecity's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are AtkinsRéalis, Snøhetta, BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group), Arup and LDA Design. Direct peers are Project for Public Spaces (PPS), Create London, Sited Projects, Colander Associates and Art+Audacity.
Does Futurecity have an API?
No public API is recorded for Futurecity.
What industry is Futurecity in?
Futurecity's product category is Cultural Placemaking Consulting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAKAD, Urban Planning & Master Planning, with a secondary code of BPAHAKAE, Regional & Land Use Planning. Its NAICS code is 71 and its SIC code is 7330.