What kind of cultural policies, work, and promotion are needed in times of upheaval to mitigate the rupture in society caused by the multiple crises? Recently we had the opportunity to hold a reflection workshop for the German Culture Department of the Autonomous Province Bolzano on the topic of "Culture as an engine of socio-ecological transformation". An important insight: Culture is all human-made and there is a need for consciously promoted cultural change so that "collective reprogramming" can succeed. Therefore, the aim of cultural policies, work, and promotion should be to strengthen communities, address major socio-economic and environmental challenges, and create fictional Protopias (a better future of tomorrow) as well as real alternatives.