Participants

Actor, theater director, producer, cultural manager, former advertising creative, and university professor. Originally from Galicia (Spain), my native languages are Galician and Spanish. My first contact with the arts, especially Performing Arts, happened at community theater. I am currently based in the Basque Country after becoming a migrant many years ago. 

FIRST MIGRATION: Madrid I moved there at 17 in order to study Drama and Journalism. Consequently, I worked as a waiter for some years. These seemingly different fields came together in two ways: writing about Performing Arts for media outlets (El País, Shangay Express, etc.) and applying theater techniques to brand communication. I co-founded during those years SeAlquila/Proyecto, a self-managed interdisciplinary festival.

SECOND MIGRATION: Argentina After 13 years in Madrid, I moved to Buenos Aires looking for new perspectives and job opportunities. There, I started a personal investigation line about gender performativity in collaboration with local artists. SeAlquila became an international project in collaboration with AECID (Spanish Agency for International Cooperation in Development).

THIRD MIGRATION: Ecuador While living in Guayaquil (Ecuador), I worked as an actor in theater, TV shows, and films. I also produced my own shows and participated in many international and national festivals. SeAlquila/Proyecto came along with me.

FOURTH MIGRATION: Back to Galicia I returned with a Foreign Youth Excellence Scholarship to take a Master’s Degree in Cultural Services, which now continues as a Ph.D. in Cultural Studies investigating gender performativity and identity in current Galicia. I also produced three editions of Festival Mar de Mares in A Coruña.

FIFTH MIGRATION: Basque Country Recently arrived in Vitoria-Gasteiz, I work as a university professor and continue creating shows. I am open to collaboration and creation, with interests spanning the previously mentioned fields, as well as intersections between arts, feminism, LGBTQ+ issues, nature, climate change, and social development.

Hadi is a Jordanian curator, choreographer, and Artistic Director based in Amman, Jordan.

Hadi is the Founder and Artistic Director of Studio 8 in Amman, a leading platform in Jordan for dance and performing arts. Additionally, he serves as the Director and Co-Curator of the IDEA Festival, a bi-annual International Contemporary Dance Festival aimed at positioning Jordan as a hub for innovative choreographic work.

Since 2014, Hadi has collaborated with numerous artists, cultural producers, academics, and researchers worldwide, expanding his global network and consolidating his reputation within the field. He has actively participated in talks, seminars, festivals, and exhibitions, contributing to the exchange of ideas and perspectives.

Initiating the "Remal Lab: Arab region meets the Global South '' artistic residency series, Hadi aims to bridge connections between South and East. This initiative brings together artists from diverse regions for a 20-day residency in the desert of Wadi Rum, Jordan.

Hadi's latest full-length performance, "Crossing," showcases his collaborative approach, involving visual, sound, and light artists. The performance has been showcased in prestigious venues globally, including the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts, the Asia Culture Center in Korea, the Marche Festival in Morocco, and the Akropidita Festival in Greece.

Besides his curatorial and artistic roles, Hadi has collaborated and worked as a cultural expert at various arts organizations, including Halaqat, a project organized by Goethe-Institut Brüssel and Bozar in Brussels, The Prince Claus Fund in the Netherlands, ProHelvetia in Switzerland, Drosos Foundation in Switzerland, Erasmus+, and others.

As the Artistic Director and Co-curator of IDEA Festival, Hadi aims to elevate Jordan in the global dance scene, fostering connections between local and international dance professionals. The festival showcases cutting-edge works from around the world and facilitates intercultural understanding and capacity building.

Hadi holds a B.A. in Business Administration and a Master's degree in Cultural Anthropology in Dance Knowledge, Practice, and Heritage from the Norwegian University of Technology and Science and the University of Roehampton in London. He is fluent in Arabic and English.

Artist who links movement and therapy with her background in contemporary dance and contact improvisation, believing in co-creation for cultural and training spaces in Guatemala.

Co-founder and manager of the contemporary movement platform CONNATURAL- since 2016 and CONFLUENCIA, a water dance festival since 2024.

She is a group therapeutic companion who focuses on the exploration of the body to re-appropriate the first territory. Linking the processes of self-knowledge and the approach to creativity as undeniable tools for the transformation of reality.

Her scenic and performative proposals have been presented on different platforms within Guatemalan territory. She was a teacher in the Bachelor of Dance at the USAC Higher School of Art and has guided various laboratories and immersions on movement, collective creation and Improvisation in Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, the United States, Mexico, Ukraine and Italy.

Part of Q’anil Transpersonal Training and Research Center since 2017, a space for feminist reflection and therapeutic practices based on embodied experiences. Here she is also a teacher of the Diploma for Companions of Traumatization Survivors. In 2025-2026, being coordinator of the artistic creation residencies "From painful memory to healing memory".

Active member of the Awitas Experimental Collective, winners of Iberescena Residences and Spaces of the Ministerio de Cultura y Deportes 2024.

She was co-organiser and Central American representative in the World Dance Alliance -Americas regional assemblies (2011-2016).

Alidou is a graduate in communication studies in the Republic Democratic of Congo. She took business training in in 2020 and soon started her own International business called Dedivin Shop. She imports cars and other goods from China, Dubai to Kinshasa in DR Congo. In 2022 she started with event business activities, organising cultural activities such as Festival, concerts, artists promotions. Currently, she works on international event called She Festival, giving young female artists occasion to show their talent and abilities

Anamari is the Director of Programming and Production at the North Australian Festival of Arts (NAFA), based in Townsville, Australia. A seasoned arts and events professional, she has worked across programming, logistics, and large-scale event production for over a decade. Anamari’s career has spanned diverse roles, including Festival Producer at Charm City Fringe in Baltimore, USA, and Company Manager for La Traviata at Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour. She has also toured with circus and cabaret shows in Spiegeltents across the UK and Australia, bringing her flair for creative, immersive performances to diverse audiences.

Her creative journey includes training at Philippe Gaulier’s clowning school in Paris, which informs her connection to circus and cabaret, shaping her ability to craft unconventional and engaging cultural experiences. Passionate about fostering community engagement and amplifying regional voices, she continually seeks innovative ways to connect audiences with the arts. When not organizing events, Anamari enjoys exploring festivals globally and contributing to creative conversations that shape the future of the arts.

Professional in cultural and communication management from the National University of Colombia, technological specialist in project management from the National Learning Service SENA (Colombia), student specializing in Cultural Management from the University of the Republic (Uruguay). With a career of more than 15 years focused on performing arts and music, as well as the design, development and evaluation of cultural projects.

She was coordinator of Programmers in different cultural markets in the country and abroad organized by REDELAE.LAT: Ventana Internacional de las Artes (VIA) in Bogotá, Eje Escena in Manizales, Bogotá Music Market Bomm, Mercado de Industrias Culturales del Sur MICSUR Bogotá , Circulart in Medellín and MAPAS South Atlantic Performing Arts Market MAPAS in Tenerife (Spain). During 2020 she was Programming Coordinator of the Metropolitan Theater of Medellín. She was a verifier of the 2021 National Stimulus Program of the Colombian Ministry of Culture.

Since 2011 she has coordinated theoretical and special events of the Manizales International Theater Festival, she is also the Executive Secretary of the Euro-Latin American Network of Performing Arts REDELAE

Aria Stamataki was born in 1996 in Athens and hails from Chania. She is a choreographer, dancer, and dance teacher, as well as a graduate of the Athens University of Economics and Business, where she studied Organization and Business Administration.

She has been professionally involved in dance and movement since 2012, beginning with her studies at the pre-professional Greek National Opera, where she spent two years developing her technique in classical and contemporary dance and improvisation. She later earned her Professional Dance Diploma from the Greek Ministry of Culture. Since then, she has been teaching classical and contemporary dance, improvisation, music and movement education, and rhythm to both adults and children.

She has participated as a dancer in various dance productions, including Train at Rouf (Kerameikos), Dance Waves (Athens), My Festival (Thessaloniki), Rokka Celebrations (Chania), and others.

She also works with individuals with disabilities, offering dance and music-movement education classes after obtaining specialized training from the University of West Attica. Additionally, in April 2024, she completed her master's degree in Arts and Culture Management at the Rome Business School.

Batgerel Batkhuyag is an art manager, creative producer and festival organizer based in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. She graduated from the Radio, Television and Cinema department of Ankara University, Turkey then continued her master degree in Cinema Studies at Bilkent University. Having an experience of working for the Arts Council of Mongolia; being part of arts and culture projects there, she had an opportunity to work as graphic designer, coordinator for an international film, media art festivals and multidisciplinary arts and culture projects, then she had co-founded Golden Ger International Film Festival; where she is acting as a board member now.

Since 2019 she’s been working for PLAYTIME FESTIVAL where she acts as the artistic director at the moment, being responsible for the curation of its art, culture, entertainmen, education and environmental program. She believes that PLAYTIME Festival has a huge impact to Mongolian and international youth to empower and nurture their creativity, freedom, humanity, education, sustainability and spirituality awareness.

Born in Sarajevo on April 24, 1993, I am a film producer and visual artist dedicated to pushing creative boundaries. I graduated from the Academy of Performing Arts in Sarajevo, specializing in production and management. Over the years, I have contributed to numerous Bosnian films, including Jasmila Žbanić's "Quo Vadis, Aida?" and produced the short film "Svjedok" by Alen Šimić. As a long-time collaborator of the Sarajevo Film Festival, I have been deeply involved in the region's cinematic landscape.

My artistic journey began at 13 with graffiti, later expanding into street and contemporary art. A collaboration with an American artist on a Sarajevo mural fueled my passion for large-scale works. I am the founder and director of FASADA Festival, an international street art festival, and Manifesto, a contemporary art gallery supporting innovative artistic practices.

Through my association Obojena Klapa, I have played a pivotal role in affirming street art in Sarajevo. My murals, often characterized by surrealism and abstraction, have gained recognition for their bold artistic expression.

Beyond film and visual arts, I have worked on major cultural projects in theater and music, including Jazz Fest Sarajevo, BAM-C (Bosnia's first electronic music conference), and large-scale public events like Solomun's performances and the 2024 New Year's Eve celebration in Sarajevo.

Currently, I am working on several international projects and exhibitions within Gallery Manifesto and it's 2025 programme while developing the 2025 edition of FASADA Festival, further expanding my vision for street art and cultural exchange.

Bonnie ("Bee") J. Evans is a creator and curator of time-based art and has developed work across a spectrum of disciplines; from theater, dance, and opera; to poetry, installation art, and ritual-making; to music, tv, and film. Her creative producing career includes time at The Dallas Theater Center, Working Theater, The Public Theater, BRIC, Fiasco Theater, Blue Man Group, Our Town (off-Broadway), and Sleep No More, to name a few. Bonnie is also a director and dramaturg specializing in participatory, experimental, and devised performance, most recently directing for Blue Book in Barcelona, Spain and for the Karachi Arts Council in Karachi, Pakistan. She holds an M.A. in Applied Theatre, focusing on theater as a tool for community building and social action, and an MFA in Pedagogy and Dramaturgy.

Carmen Martínez Guerra is a basque professional in the fields of music and cultural management. She is a musician, specialized in Flute and Orchestral music, she has studied her instrument since the age of 8 years old in the Basque Country, Barcelona, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands and she has played in several venues around Europe.

She further specialized in Cultural Management, studying a Master in Cultural Management with a focus on Performing Arts and Music, as well as a Postgraduate degree in Communication Management for Cultural Organizations in Madrid. Throughout her career, Carmen has combined her artistic studies with cultural management and music production. She is currently the Artistic Director of the Semana de Música Antigua de Álava (Ancient Music Week of Álava), now going into it's 43rd edition.

Carmen also works as a manager for artists such as the Latin Gammy and Goya award-winning composer Fernando Velázquez, producing the orchestral recording, contracts and concerts of several films, series and television soundtracks, including for Netflix, HBO, and Warner productions.

Her professional journey also includes involvement in the prestigious and long-standing Festivals such as Vitoria-Gasteiz International Jazz Festival, (board member), Donostia-San Sebastián Musical Fortnight (production department), and institutions such as National Auditorium, National Center for Musical Diffusion, and the Confederation of Choirs of the Basque Country.

Chris Gwillim, PhD, is the Director of Development for OUTsider Film and Arts Festival in Austin, TX USA. Gwillim’s work focuses on transnational exchange through performing arts curation and equitable funding distribution in live arts. Gwillim’s writings have appeared in Performance Matters, Sightlines, and Glasstire and has been a writer in residence for Fusebox Festival, Time-Based Art Festival at Portland Institute for Contemporary Art, Concept Animals, and Deeply Fascinating as well as curriculum development for PBS’s POV American Documentary program. As a teaching artist and social practitioner she has worked with the High Museum and Alliance Theatre, the Blanton Museum of Art, the Visual Art Center, The Kitchen, Moiety, and universities throughout the United States. Gwillim holds a PhD in performance studies from the University of Texas at Austin with certificates in LGBTQ+ Studies, Museum Studies, and Integrated Behavioral Health.

Enoma Amayo (1995) has been an active force in the cultural sector of Rotterdam in The Netherlands since graduating in Arts & Economics from the HKU University of the Arts in Utrecht. From program to production, if it involves elevating Rotterdam’s music scene, she’s in the middle of it. Since 2019, Enoma has been working with Motel Mozaïque, an organisation in Rotterdam that organises the multidisciplinary MOMO Festival and various other music events year round. The work within Motel Mozaique allows her to combine her passion for discovering new music, listening to compelling stories, and organising unique events. Besides creating program for the festival and concerts, she has professionalised the organisation's talent program, MOMO Create. Through this program, MOMO works closely with artists, offering coaching, guidance, and opportunities to amplify their stories and art. In 2024, it was announced that she would continue her leadership as the Head of Program, further solidifying her position as a key figure in Rotterdam’s cultural landscape.

In 2023 she won the IJzeren Eierbal Award, an accolade for emerging music professionals, during European showcase festival Eurosonic Noorderslag.

Rocío Velasco is based in El Salvador and has been actively involved in artistic and human rights work since 2014. As a singer and cultural manager, she became a member of a feminist artist collective in 2016, where she contributed to organizing "Akelarre" a festival created to promote the artistic work of young women. This festival also served as a powerful political statement against the abuse and violence faced by female artists in other artistic spaces across the country.

Rocío began her artistic journey in 2010 by taking singing lessons and was part of the theater ensemble at the University of El Salvador, where she was recognized as an "Outstanding Artist." Throughout her career, she has worked on various cultural projects that address themes such as women's and girls' human rights and the historical memory of women in El Salvador.

She was a member of the music group Luna de Anatolia, with whom she recorded two EPs, both available on all digital platforms. The first EP was included in the list of the 20 Best National Albums of 2021 by Revista Factum. Rocío also studied at the Escuela Integral de Música (ESIM) from 2020 to 2021, further enriching her artistic skills. Currently, she is the cultural manager at Casa Bruja, a feminist cultural center in San Salvador, where she continues to combine her artistic vision with her commitment to social justice.

George Matar is a dedicated Palestinian cultural activist with extensive experience in the performing arts. He serves as the Production Manager at Al-Harah Theater and is the Executive Director of the Baladi Center for Culture and Arts in Beit Jala. George is currently pursuing an MA in Community Development at Birzeit University. He holds a BA in Business Administration and a diploma in Marketing from Bethlehem University, as well as a professional diploma in Cultural and Arts Management from Al-Harah Performing Arts Training Center – PARC and a higher diploma in NGO Management from Birzeit University.

With a robust background in theater, George has managed production for over 50 plays at Al-Harah Theater and has produced and choreographed several folkloric performances for the Baladi Center. His deep insight into the cultural landscape of Palestine and the Arab region is complemented by international experience, including an internship at the Edinburgh International Festival in Scotland (2017) and training in Production Management at Piccolo Teatro in Milan, Italy (2016). George is also the main coordinator for the Palestine International Theater Festival for Children and the “Yalla Yalla” Street Festival, both organized biannually by Al-Harah Theater.

(1989) Glen is a french horn player by profession having graduated from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. He has worked with the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra for the part 15 years as well as freelance with other orchestras in Scotland. For the past 7 years he has worked at the Arts Council Malta as Creative Broker focusing on logistics of events. On his time off, Glen is a keen traveler as well has a passion for motorcycles and cars.

Iva Evgenieva is a recognized expert in project management with European funding, and during her over 15 years of practice she has led and participated in the preparation and implementation of more than 20 international projects within the framework of programs such as Erasmus+, Creative Europe, Europe for Citizens, COSME and Horizon 2020. She is an economist by education, with a Master’s degree in European Studies from King’s College London and a Master’s degree in Business Management from Institut Supérieur de Gestion – Paris, and her international professional path has passed through France, Spain and Bulgaria.

Over the past 8 years, as part of the management team of Lindy Hop Bulgaria, Iva has successfully led and grown the Swinging Europe Network initiative, supported by the Creative Europe program and uniting 13 organizations from 11 European countries. Iva is part of the management team of Sofia Swing Dance Festival and the International Lindy Hop Championships - Europe.

Currently Iva is also the leader of the Center for Creative and Social Practices, a non-governmental organization supporting the development of the creative sector in Bulgaria. Iva is engaged as an external evaluator for the European Commission within the Horizon Europe program, as well as within the Erasmus+ program.

Since the beginning of 2024, Iva has also been the manager of the Bulgarian jazz band Frantik Zen founded by saxophonist Arnau Garrofe. Iva is currently an external advisor to companies in the fields of culture, education and training both in Bulgaria and Spain. Her professional activity in this area is focused on introducing the topics of emotional intelligence, creativity and inclusion into the learning processes and on the development of innovative approaches to training and coaching. In her role as a trainer and mentor, Iva also participates in the implementation of activities supporting the development of entrepreneurial skills in young people, and in particular those involved in the creative industries.

Adela was born and raised in Seoul, South Korea. She earned a BA in Hispanic Language and Literature with a minor in Art History from Seoul National University. She is currently pursuing an MA in Interdisciplinary Studies in Performing Arts at the same university.

She began her career as a performing arts producer while working at the Korean Embassy in Montevideo, Uruguay, where she introduced Korean artists to Uruguayan audiences. Upon returning to Korea in 2019, she dedicated herself fully to the performing arts as a producer, educator, and researcher. Since joining SIDance (Seoul International Dance Festival) in 2019, she has actively managed international projects and artist invitations, serving as executive producer. As of this year, she continues to collaborate with SIDance as an associate producer to focus on developing her own performing arts festival.

In addition to her work as a festival producer, Adela collaborates with independent artists, primarily in dance but also in theater, actively engaging in the creative process. Her projects span from stage performances to dance films and dance workshops for neurodiverse individuals. Her research and professional interests center on fostering cultural exchange between Latin America and Korea, a theme that continues to shape her work.

Joaquín is a dancer self-taught in ballroom, contemporary dance and theater. Since 2017 he has been developing his own choreographic practice, through which he blurs the boundaries between the human and the animal, dance and performance, the body and its "monstrosities". Diving into metamorphic processes, Joaquín's choreography explores the grotesque with the poetic. He has been involved with dance organisations such as La Caldera (Barcelona), the Mercat de les Flors, the Artdanthé Festival, La Briqueterie CDCN, the Grec Festival, Dansa València, and El Graner in Barcelona (where he is currently an associate artist). In 2021, Joaquín founded the Paisaje dance festival in his hometown Villamalea (Castilla La-Mancha, Spain) which he directs.

Jon Insausti Maisterrena (1989)

I have spent most of my life growing up and living in Donostia. I was raised in the Old Town but currently reside in the Altza neighborhood. I studied at Ikastola Orixe, La Salle Loiola, and the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), where I earned a degree in Business Administration and Management. During my time at university, I had the opportunity to serve as a student representative.

I have completed a Master's Degree in Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability (UNED), a Master's Degree in Social Innovation and Cultural and Creative Industries (UPV/EHU), and a Master's Degree in Secondary Education Teaching (UNIR).

Professionally, I have worked at Banco Guipuzcoano and Nekatur, an organization that manages rural tourism and farmhouse accommodations in the Basque Country, among other experiences.

Currently, I am the City Councillor for Culture, Euskera, and Tourism at the Donostia City Council, as well as the spokesperson for the political party EAJ-PNV within the council. I always say I approach my work with great enthusiasm.

José Castro, 29-year-old, im a psychologist specialized in the social área, my work conect art and culture with social development. Since I was young I have dedicated my training and work to sociocultural projects. I studied classical and contemporary music and I am a musician in a community of indigenous andean music. I started in cultural management as an activist in the development of the Ollantay Urban Park project. In 2019 I began my work in cultural management in the “Proyecto mARTAdero” as part of team.

I am currently the Coordinator of the Social Interaction Area of the “Project mARTAdero”, where we promote social impact projects with “Artivist” collectives, I conect groups from all cities in Bolivia, and we work groups from Belgium, Chile, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia and Perú. I am also in charge of coordinating projects with cooperation agencies, mainly from Germany, to implement social projects.

I have participated in many activist meetings, like Actua.pe, a meeting for young leaders from Latin America in Peru, and I am part of the Coordinator of Self-Managed Cultural Spaces of Bolivia. Among the projects I have worked in the last years, I organice the “Encuentro Juventudes en Emergencia”, “Reencuentros” (Bolivian activists meeting), Hackmeeting (Hackers activists meeting), and the Japanese Cultural Festival, as a producer, manager, and organizer.

The most important festival I organize is the Ollantay Urban Festival, which seeks the strengthening of urban expressions culture in Cochabamba, through the creation of a park dedicated to these practices. The festival was created like an strategy to work in the construcction of this park, currently include elements of Hip Hop culture, such as urban dance (breakin), music (DJ and Rap), muralism, and graffiti, in addition to other urban practices such as skateboarding, parkour, roller quads, BMX, circus arts, among others.

Julia Hickey grew up in Malta and currently works as the Production Coordinator for the Edinburgh International Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland. Julia moved to Edinburgh in 2015 to pursue studies in Events Management at Queen Margaret University, an area which she chose to focus on after becoming involved in music festivals and events in Malta. Since moving to Edinburgh, Julia has worked on a variety of festivals and events in a number of capacities, mainly in production and logistical roles.

In 2019 shortly after graduating from university, Julia became Production Assistant for the Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival. This role enabled her to contribute to twenty live and digital festivals both in Edinburgh and around Scotland. In 2022, Julia became the Acting Production Manager for EJBF. In this role she was responsible for all the production elements of the first live festival following the pandemic, which consisted of 135 ticketed shows reaching all 17 City of Edinburgh Council wards, a free open-air Mardi Gras which attracts up to 6,000 people annually, two international partnerships, and an exhibition. In January 2023, Julia took on the role of Production and Technical Coordinator at the Edinburgh International Festival. This role has enabled her to immerse into a broad scope of art forms, and to collaborate with international companies producing and presenting their work at the highest level of delivery.

Julia believes in the power of Festivals as vehicles for social change and collective discussion. She welcomes the opportunity to be part of creative collaborations and looks forward to being part of the Atelier community particularly during this time of political instability world-wide when she believes the space for such discussions are the most necessary.

Koldo Doman Marañon (1978). I am a production and management technician in Donostia Kultura in San Sebastian in the Basque Country. I was born and raised in San Sebastian where I studied Tourism in Deusto University. After college I made a post grade in Hotel Managing in Les Roches Marbella, prestigious school o Global Hospitality Education. During my days as hospitality professional, focused mostly in event organisation, I got to work in different companies in Spain (Tenerife, Pamplona y Barcelona) and Europe (Paris y Hamburg)

After these first professional years, and thanks to the experiences learned working in event organisation I had the opportunity to work for Donostia Kultura witch is a Public Business Entity that aims to position culture as one of the main assets of development and projection of San Sebastian. Since 2006 until now I have been working in the Theater and Dance department. Part of my work is to organize parallel activities to the programming focusing on the creation of new audiences and working on spectators cultural awareness, witch I really enjoy. We develop as well different cultural programmes related to the performing arts such as creation of new dramaturgies, cultural sensibility and mediation in general.

In addition to this work, we organize every year dFERIA, the Performing Arts Fair of Donostia / San Sebastián, which is a national reference point in Spain for professionals in the performing arts and it is every year and step by step settling in Europe. I have been working in dFERIA since 2006 therefore the next edition will be my 20th.. I am part of the Management Team of dFERIA and currently my main task is to arrange everything related to international guests.

Laura Caparrotti has a master’s degree in Performing Arts from the University "La Sapienza" in Rome and trained with Dario Fo. After ten years of professional theatre in Italy, she relocated to New York, where she collaborated with The Kitchen, The Walter Reade Theater at Lincoln Center, the cell, the Cherry Lane Theatre, the Tank among others. Some of her recent projects include The Worth of Women based on Moderata Fonte’s book (commissioned by Casa Italiana Zerilli-Marimo’), The most learned woman (commissioned by Vassar College), Enrico IV, a monologue (commissioned by the Embassy of Italy). She is the artist in residence at Casa Italiana Zerilli-Marimo’ (2012-present) and at Vassar College (2017 and 2018) and at Watermill. She is the Founding Artistic Director of Kairos Italy Theater and of In Scena! Italian Theater Festival NY, the main Italian Theater festival in North America. She is member of the Director’s Lab at Lincoln Center, of SDC, co-founder of the collective World Wide Lab and of OnStage! Festival, an American Theater Festival in Italy. Laura is the recipient of the Dante Award 2016 from the Association of Teachers of Italian and in 2021 of the DC Italian Cultural Society for her work and dedication in spreading Italian culture in the States. In 2021 Laura completed her first documentary as a director Tutti In Scena on the history of Italian theater in NY. The documentary was one of the three finalists at The Russo Brothers Film Forum, and since then has won several prizes including Best Director at the Sidney World Fest and at the Spotlight Documentary film Festival.

Laura Bermúdez is a Honduran film director, producer, and cultural promoter, committed to fostering independent cinema in Central America. She is the Executive Director of Third Cinema Honduras (Tercer Cine), an alternative film exhibition and distribution initiative supported by the Mastercard Enablement Program from Berlinale Talents. She also serves as the President of the Honduran Female Filmmaker Collective, advocating for gender equity in the film industry.

As a curator and producer, Bermúdez has played a key role in shaping the Honduran film landscape. She is the Co-founder and Curator of "Alice’s Dream" Film Festival, now preparing for its seventh edition, as well as the Curator and Producer of the Human Rights Film Festival "Fragments and Memories", which is supported by the Movies that Matter Fund and currently organizing its third edition.

Her work as a filmmaker has gained international recognition. She is currently in post-production on her first feature-length documentary, Where The Sun is Born (Allá Donde Nace el Sol), a project supported by IMCINE (Mexican Film Institute). Simultaneously, she is developing her next feature documentary, "Soy Lluvia", which won the Ibermedia Development Fund (2023).

With her extensive experience in filmmaking, curating, and cultural management, Bermúdez continues to build bridges for Latin American cinema, creating platforms for alternative storytelling and social impact narratives in the region.

Lisa Marie Heidrich studied Ballet/Dance Education at the Royal Academy of Dance in London and Dance History at the University of Roehampton in London. She started working for Hessisches Staatsballett as a freelance production manager for Tanzfestival Rhein-Main in Wiesbaden and Darmstadt in 2022. She went on to work in the role of the Assistant to the Ballet Direction and Manager for Festivals in June 2023. From the 2024/25 season on, she is the Company Manager of Hessisches Staatsballett. She is currently supplementing her education with a master’s degree in cultural management at Leuphana University Lüneburg.

My name is Lisa Smith, and I’m the founder and festival director of Roffa Mon Amour, an open-air film festival in Rotterdam. In my early 20s, I discovered the magic of film festivals and decided to create one myself. Together with a friend, I founded Roffa Mon Amour to offer a unique cinematic experience at special locations, aiming to attract a young audience.

Over the past 13 years, Roffa Mon Amour has grown into an annual 12-day open-air film festival in Rotterdam, complemented by year-round film events across the Netherlands in collaboration with various partners. My role has evolved from producer to film programmer to festival director. Currently, I enjoy mentoring other team members—often young talent—within the creative festival field. I strive to maintain an artistic and socially engaged approach while fostering a business mindset to keep the organization strong and sustainable.

My love for daring cinema has always remained steadfast and is now complemented by an interest in public debate, talks, performance, and live music. When curating programs, I seek out unheard, striking stories that need to be shared. My approach is content-driven and audience-centered, balancing artistry with accessibility because firmly believe that the arts can have a profound impact on our lives.

Maite Iparraguirre (1985) is a theater programmer at General San Martin Cultural Center dependent on the Ministry of Culture of the City of Buenos Aires. Raised in Bahía Blanca city and moved to the capital of Argentina to study Theater and Cinema at the University of Buenos Aires and Contemporary Dance at the National University of the Arts. While studying, I began my first experience in a Festival as an assistant to international guests at the Buenos Aires International Theater Festival (FIBA); and then I stayed for several years in the General Directorate of Festivals of the City of Buenos Aires, working in other roles; guest office, artistic production and communication.

At the same time that I was working in festival production, I began to produce plays comprehensively, performing seasons in Buenos Aires, Uruguay, Chile and Spain.

This year I was in charge of the programming and production of Winter Festival 2024 for boys and girls, two weeks of artistic activities for children and families, organized by the CCGSM and the Ministry of Culture of the City of Buenos Aires.

IETM Global Connector 2025

ISPA Fellow 2024 & 2025

BIPoC Colombian artist, decolonial curator, choreographer, performer, researcher.

MA -Art in Context- at the University of the Arts, UdK Berlin. BA dance theatre & solo dance studies at the Folkwang University Essen under the direction of Pina Bausch. Martha has been awarded the prestigious Pina Bausch fellowship.

Her work has been invited to festivals and venues in Europe, Asia and the so called Americas. She is artistic director of Plataforma/SurReal Berlin Festival. Her curatorial praxis reflects on (de)coloniality processes and forms of survival of artists migrating to Europe or engaging in geopolitical approaches of native peoples of the Abyayala. In 2021 and 2022 she was associate curator at Radialsystem Berlin.

Hincapié Charry has unfolded several unlearning spaces focused on underrepresented BIPoC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) expressions. She facilitates a dialogue between continents with an ancestral wisdom perspective, embodying earth and water based native ontologies, while addressing topics such as climate chaos, ecocide, the human/more-than-human kinship, and the interplay between the visible and the invisible worlds, with an ecofeminist position.

Natasha Katerinopoulos is a New York-based producer originally from Greece. She works with artists towards multidisciplinary projects presented in theaters, museums, and public spaces internationally; and with non-profit organizations for general management, program development, festival production, and community partnerships. Natasha has collaborated with Annie Dorsen, Maria Hassabi, Jonah Bokaer, Hamid Rahmanian, and others, for projects presented at venues including BAM, Jacob’s Pillow, Theatre for a New Audience, New York Live Arts, Chocolate Factory, Performance Space New York, Performa, River to River Festival, Onassis USA, Walker Art Center, Wexner Center for the Arts, Winspear Opera House, CAP UCLA, Centre Pompidou, La Biennale de Lyon, Vienna Secession, ImPulsTanz, Kaaitheater, Blackbox Oslo, BIT Teatergarasjen, Brisbane Powerhouse and Sharjah Biennial. Natasha is currently Producer for PEN America's 2025 World Voices Festival. She previously served as Managing Director at The Center at West Park, Program Manager at Chez Bushwick and Company Manager at the Martha Graham Dance Company. Natasha studied Theater at University of Patras and Arts Politics at Tisch School for the Arts, NYU. She was honored to serve as a panelist for the New York State Council for the Arts (NYSCA) in 2024.

NICK JONCZAK (he/him) is a writer, director, and producer of live performance. He co-founded the Cannonball Festival, which centers peer-to-peer curation and redistributes resources to independent artists. www.cannonballfestival.org Nick's original scripts include MAN OF LA MANCHIN (Winner, Christ Church Neighborhood House New Play Festival), DEATH HUSTLE (Semifinalist, Sundance Episodic Lab), and RUST (Finalist, Creative Capital). As a producer, Nick has led more than 20 original, full-length, live productions, including massive outdoor performance events (Invisible River), sprawling immersive adventures (New Paradise Laboratories), bawdy funk bands (Red 40 and the Last Groovement), and intimate, experimental circus (Almanac Dance Circus Theatre). www.nickjonczak.com

Oleksandra Prokopenko is a festival programmer, film curator and translator based in Kyiv, Ukraine.

She has been the Head of Programming at the Kyiv International Short Film Festival for the past five years. Sasha has participated in several film festivals as a curator, mentor, and jury member.

She has also collaborated with the Molodist Kyiv International Film Festival and Ukraine's first LGBTQIA+ film festival, Sunny Bunny. Since 2016, she has worked at the independent film distribution company, KyivMusicFilm, which distributes films on art, music and culture. Amongst other projects, Sasha has programmed for 100 Films in 100 Minutes, the INTRO film festival about music and culture, and Kino Susidiv, the international film festival in Uzhhorod, Zakarpattia. In 2024, she became the Berlinale Talents alumna (Audience Design).

Paloma is a NYC-based, Chilean-born performing arts manager, producer, and curator with extensive experience working with artists and cultural institutions. She is currently the Director of Artistic Programming at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, where she leads Summer for the City, one of NYC’s largest outdoor festivals. Paloma also oversees the organization’s line-producing team and curates year-round programming. Paloma began her career in Santiago, Chile, where she spent nearly a decade managing theater companies and orchestrating large-scale cultural events, including international art summits, book fairs, art exhibitions, and music festivals. She moved to NYC in 2016 and earned her MFA in Theater Management and Producing from Columbia University. Shortly after, she worked on the Brooklyn Academy of Music’s 2018 Next Wave Festival. Currently, Paloma plays a pivotal role at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, applying her extensive experience across theatre, dance, music, opera, and visual arts. She takes pride in her artist-centered approach, shaping a diverse programming, emphasizing partnership building and audience development while advocating for an equitable and radically inclusive field.

Pei-Chih WU serves as the Head of Dance and Circus Programme Section of the Artistic Planning Department at National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts, as well known as Weiwuying.

Pei-Chih holds a Master’s degree in Economics and Law. After working in the legal field for a few years, she found out that she has passion for planning and executing projects as well as enjoying the sense of accomplishment of a group of people accomplishing one thing. Also because she learned dance during her teenage years. This makes her turn around and devote herself to the performing arts field.

As the Head of Dance and Circus, the key task is to guide and inspire my team members to execute the two of Weiwuying's main platforms: Taiwan Dance Platform and Weiwuying Circus Platform. The core spirit of Taiwan Dance Platform is to create a platform for uprising artists/dance companies to present their works, to build an artists exchange network, and to provide opportunity for international exchange and collaboration while the Weiwuying Circus Platform is committed to find the possibilities of integration in circus performances between contemporary and traditional.

Kusasa Phillip was born on 15 July 1975 in Chipinge District, Zimbabwe. Chipinge District is known for its deep-rootedness in Ndau culture. Phillip like any other local people was groomed under ndau cultural moral values. He went to local primary and secondary schools. After completing secondary education in 1998, Phillip proceeded to a teachers college. (Hillside Teachers college where he studied for a Diploma in Education specialising in Art and Design and English language. After completing his course, he was deployed to a rural located school where he initiated creative arts activities drawing and painting, crafts and poetry. He worked for just three years and in 2005 he decided to further his education. He enrolled with Great Zimbabwe University specialising in Music, Religious Studies and English language. Phillip had a bias on cultural studies. All that stemmed on his desire to take the creative economies to some height. The Ndau people as a once marginalised cultural group had been losing respect of what defines them. Due to massive cultural infiltration enhanced by colonialism, most Ndau people lost self-esteem.

After completing his Bachelor of Arts Degree in 2007, Phillip initiated home grown projectes for example in 2011 he founded a project called Paiyapo Arts Development and Heritage Centre, that houses a women and cultural museum, art gallery and an information centre. Later in 2013, he founded Ndau Festival of the Arts, a trust that promotes, preserve and revitalise Ndau culture. Ndau Festival of the Arts is key to empowering communities through creative arts.

Due to his commitment to arts, Phillip has been honoured in his country. In 2017 he was nominated among the 100 Great Zimbabweans, a program that honours community builders. In 2017 again he was invited to attend a workshop in Wales which was on Creative Climate LEADERSHIP. His selection was biased on how Phillip works attempts to use culture as a way of addressing climate issues. Through Ndau Festival, Phillip engages children as key participants since the future belongs to them. He also believes rural communities needs a lot of empowerment if the world is to be just.

Pietro Monteverdi is an artistic director, producer, administrator and consultant for the development of cultural projects. Born in '91, after studying business economics and management at Luigi Bocconi University in Milan, between 2017 and 2018, he produced his first theater season in Catanzaro, with some of the big names of contemporary Italian theater.

In the same period, he moved to Rome to attend a master's degree in cinema and audiovisual from Sole24Ore Business School, and in 2018 he founded Oscenica, an audiovisual and theatrical production company, with which he aims to invest in and promote the careers of the young artists he follows. From 2018 to 2019 he creates Opera Necessaria, a festival of theater, dance, visual arts and music at the MARCA museum in Catanzaro.

From 2019 to 2020 he works in the production team of Short Theatre under the guidance of Francesca Corona, the current artistic director of the Festival d'Automne in Paris. From 2019 to 2021, he collaborates with PAV, a Rome-based cultural institution, where he was mainly responsible for the economic and administrative management of the large-scale European project "Fabulamundi. Playwriting Europe", coordinating over 12 partners from as many European countries.

In the following years, he produced numerous works by different artists in terms of age, languages and subject matter, which toured the world debuting in some of the biggest festivals and theaters, including the Santiago a Mil, FIBA - Festival Internacional de Buenos Aires and Romaeuropa Festival.

Since 2022, he has worked alongside Settimio Pisano, his first mentor, who made him general coordinator and administrative director of Primavera dei Teatri, a multidisciplinary festival with 25 years of history.

In 2025, the first edition of IRA Festival, a multidisciplinary event created together with Settimio Pisano, will be held, which within it will host an international platform for programmers named IRA Platform.

As an artistic director and creative producer, I am passionate about crafting meaningful experiences that connect communities through culture, creativity, and innovation. I serve as the artistic director of the Rotterdam Street Culture Weekend (RSCW), a festival celebrating urban arts and street culture through performances, workshops, and cross-disciplinary collaborations. My work focuses on fostering inclusivity and creating platforms for diverse voices to shine.

With a background in directing, programming, and cultural entrepreneurship, I have led numerous projects that merge the arts with community-building. A highlight of my career includes producing *Tot kafris en koelies gemaakten*, a documentary exploring migration histories, as well as conceptualizing and executing large-scale cultural events that resonate with global audiences.

My areas of expertise lie in curating multi-dimensional festivals, integrating urban and contemporary art forms, and empowering underrepresented communities through artistic expression. I am particularly drawn to the intersection of tradition and innovation, crafting narratives that blend heritage with modernity.

Outside of my work with RSCW, I manage creative ventures and mentor artists to thrive in their fields. I am currently exploring projects that address sustainability, diversity, and technology-driven cultural development.

In attending the Festival Academy’s Atelier in Donostia-San Sebastián, I aim to collaborate with like-minded professionals, exchange ideas, and further develop strategies for making festivals not only celebrations but also catalysts for societal impact. My work is guided by the belief that festivals have the power to transform, inspire, and unite across borders.

I am a dance artist and currently expanding my practice into socially engaged and multi disciplinary formats. I obtained my BA(Hons) in Contemporary Dance from Fontys Hogeschool voor de Kunsten in Tilburg, The Netherlands. I further obtained an MA in Digital Art, Design and Cultures from University of Galway, Ireland. I am focused on world building and rehearsing for the world we're after through collective physical training, enlivening imagination, community organising and political education.

Cultural manager, producer, programmer and arts curator. Former Production Head Manager in the Buenos Aires General Direction of Festivals and large-scale events under the Ministry of Culture of the City of Buenos Aires. Within this role and between 2019 and 2023, he's been designing, producing and coordinating cultural festivals and large-scale events. Some of the festivals he's worked as General Producer for are: "FIBA - Buenos Aires Internacional Festival", "Ciudad Emergente" and the “International Festival of Contemporary Dance”, in addition to being General Coordinator of the mass events of Buenos Aires City such us the Inauguration of Nueva Calle Corrientes, BAFICI Marathon, Abasto Marathon, the Inauguration of The Woman Bridge, The Night of the Antique Stores and The Night of the Museums, among others.

As a curator and producer, he currently works in Artlab: a cultural space that crosses performing and visual arts with electronic music and technology. A platform that summons emerging, established, local and international artists from the music scene and multimedia arts. It is part of the international network of the MUTEK Digital Creativity Festival, one of the largest art and technology events on the world circuit.

Moreover, he was a production consultant in @fundacioncazadores, a space dedicated to the training, the projection of artists, and research on creative processes in both visual arts and performing arts fields.

He was in charge of the production direction of the last Melisa Zulberti 's project co-produced by Biennale di Danza di Venezia: POSGUERRA.

Currently production director and tour manager of the artists Malicho Vaca Valenzuela and Melisa Zulberti.

Furthermore, he has worked in important and international music festivals such Lollapalooza and Primavera Sound, and he was the producer of the concerts of the renowned actress and singer Elena Roger.

Sara Hernández Askasibar (Donostia, 1994) is currently the coordinator of the Cinema and Audiovisual Laboratory at Tabakalera, the International Centre for Contemporary Culture in San Sebastián, which she joined in 2017. As a center for creation, Tabakalera has reinforced its commitment in recent years to supporting the professionalization of the audiovisual sector and encouraging artistic creation. One of the key challenges she currently faces is rethinking the support system for artistic creation, accompanying a community of creators, and shaping an audiovisual laboratory that serves as a meeting point for emerging talent and the industry.

Previously, she worked in the San Sebastián International Film Festival’s film department (2015–2017), where she collaborated on the Nest Film Students program. She has also worked as a film critic for various media. Sara holds a degree in Business and Management from the University of the Basque Country and a postgraduate degree in Film Curating from Elías Querejeta Zine Eskola.

I'm an actor and Artistic Producer at the Blackout Art Society and the STAND Festival, where I am deeply committed to celebrating diverse stories and voices. My work with these organizations has given me the incredible opportunity to amplify immigrant and refugee artists' narratives, fostering connection and understanding through the transformative power of art. As an actor, I embrace the challenge of stepping into different worlds and exploring the depth of human emotions. As a producer, I thrive on shaping creative visions and collaborating with talented artists to bring impactful stories to the stage. My role as Artistic Producer at the Blackout Art Society and the STAND Festival allows me to combine these passions, curating performances and workshops that spotlight underrepresented voices while creating a vibrant platform for cross-cultural dialogue.

I deeply believe in the transformative power of art to heal, connect, and inspire. Through the STAND Festival, I am proud to create spaces where diverse narratives are embraced, barriers are broken, and communities come together in shared understanding.

With over a decade of experience as an actor and producer, I remain dedicated to using art to celebrate human connection and the stories that unite us all.

Strahinja Babić is the co-founder and director of DUK Festival, a dynamic cultural movement that blends street art, music and other performances. Passionate about revitalizing urban spaces, Strahinja helped transform a riverside area into a vibrant cultural hotspot for young people featuring an amphitheater, skate park, and over 120 regenerated city facades. Under his leadership, DUK Festival has become a powerful platform for music events, art exhibitions, workshops, and skateboarding competitions, creating a unique cultural movement capable of making changes that stick.

Tyler Clifford is the Senior Artistic Programming Coordinator at The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center and works to expand opportunities for emerging artists and arts leaders. Tyler’s curatorial and administrative areas of focus include dance, theatre, music, and festival arts. Before coming to The Clarice, he served local artists and community members at Pyramid Atlantic Art Center focusing on outreach strategies, community based partnerships, and serving as a primary grant writer and researcher.

Tyler is a visual artist and teaches creative writing and studio art workshops for both youth and adult learners, volunteers with local nonprofit organizations and arts-based initiatives in the Washington, D.C. region. He was selected for the 2024 Emerging Leadership Institute with the Association of Performing Arts Professionals, and has served as a panelist and workshop facilitator with an emphasis on arts activism at the Library of Congress National Book Festival. He holds a B.A. in English Literature and Language and minors in Creative Writing and Human Development and Quantitative Research Methods from the University of Maryland, College Park. He is inspired by the transformative nature of arts-based experiences and the catharsis reached through creative expression. With this inspiration, he works to cultivate inclusive spaces that celebrate the inherent creativity within us all.

Veronika Kostková is a cultural project manager, musician, and creative person who is passionate about infusing places with culture. Born and raised in Slovakia, currently living in the Czech Republic. She studied Music Management at the Janáček Academy of Music and Performing Arts, focusing her thesis on international collaborations in music. As a co-founder and project manager of ROZHRANIE acoustic sessions, she organized concerts in unconventional venues like forests, parks, and galleries, combining her love for music and unique settings. Veronika has gained valuable experience in stage management for multiple Slovak and Czech festivals, including the SHARPE showcase festival and conference, Festival Hviezdne noci Bytča, Festival Atmosféra, Festival United Islands Prague,.. She collaborated on a fundraising campaign for the National Theatre Brno and completed an internship as a Partnership Coordinator at the renowned Pohoda Festival, where she honed her skills in partnership development and event management. Additionally, she is a composer, playing the cello and guitar and incorporating her musical skills into her projects.

Yulia Didokha is the program curator of the TRANSLATORIUM Literary and Translation Festival and co-founder of the eponymous NGO, which organizes literary and translation residencies and other projects in addition to the festival.

As a program curator, Yulia creates the festival's theme and then draws up a festival program of events that corresponds to it. Each year, a new theme is chosen, though it is always viewed through the prism of translation, which gives an opportunity to look at certain things from a new, unusual perspective.

In addition, Yulia is a translator and since 2013 has been a member of the Ukrainian translation group, VERBatsiya, which practices collaborative translation and translates fiction and art history texts into Ukrainian. In particular, the following translations were published using the method of collaborative translation: "Where Curating Is: the artist-as-curator and the curator-as-artist in Ukraine from the 1980s to the 2010s" by Kateryna Nosko, Valeriya Luk’yanets (IST Publishing, 2018), "A Big Important Art Book (Now with Women)" by Danielle Krysa (ArtHuss, 2023) and "Performing the Common City" by Pascal Gielen (IST Publishing, 2019). In addition, together with the members of VERBatsiya, Yulia also practices collaborative translation of poetry, particularly the translation of American Beat Generation poetry into Ukrainian.

Shiori Sakurai is a musician and director based in Tokyo, Japan. She graduated from the Classical Piano Department of Toho Gakuen School of Music and further honed her skills in Salzburg, London, and Munich.

In 2012, she founded Otomic, a music workshop artist group that has conducted approximately 500 performances for over 40,000 participants, delivering concerts, music workshops, and social inclusion programs. In 2024, she established the General Incorporated Association IROHAMO to further expand these initiatives.

Since 2014, she has been involved in Casa da Música’s international education program in Portugal and is currently engaged in program planning and production at Tokyo Bunka Kaikan’s education program, where she also works as an artist.

Internationally, she participated in the London Symphony Orchestra’s social inclusion project, “Discovery 2020”. In 2023, she led “UMI2.0”, a music show commemorating the 480th anniversary of Japan-Portugal diplomatic relations, which was officially recognized by the Embassy of Japan in Portugal.

In 2024, she was invited to the European Capital of Culture Tartu2024, where she performed in Tartu, Estonia. In March 2025, she is scheduled to perform in Milan.

Shiori is also conducting research on coexistence and social inclusion, exploring how the arts can contribute to addressing Japan’s future social integration challenges. Through practical engagement in promoting diversity and inclusivity in society via the arts, she continues to seek innovative approaches to social cohesion.

She is currently planning a music festival in the summer of 2026 and hopes to gain valuable insights and expertise through this academy.