Talent Development – 55 grants awarded

general impression

Applications to the Talent Development Grant Scheme this year continue to reflect the breadth and diversity of the creative industries. The selection presents a diverse generation of makers who are focusing on topical themes such as sustainability, inclusivity and the relationship between humans and non-humans. The committee sees strong artistic visions and a growing awareness of social issues, but calls on makers to be more daring and experimental outside their familiar networks.

There is a strong focus on participation and democratic processes within the discipline of architecture. Makers look for ways to break through structures and take responsibility in the use of materials and space. For instance, Yannesh Meijman is exploring spatial justice with audiovisual productions and new forms of organisational structures.

In design, the emphasis in many applications is on technical skills. Applicants who presented innovative perspectives were appreciated by the committee. Romy Zhang links socio-political issues to audiovisual narratives, for example, and Lydienne Albertoe brings new layers to her research into identity and heritage with experiments in handicrafts.

In digital culture, the balance between humans and non-humans is a recurring theme, with the humanisation of technology often taking centre stage. Makers like Mika Schalks, who explores queer representation in children’s animation, combine technology and content in innovative ways.

The committee appreciates practices that convincingly link themes such as sustainability, social justice and diversity to artistic innovation. Makers who boldly operate outside their networks and seek new forms of collaboration and presentation contribute to a more inclusive and future-proof creative field, according to the committee.

diversity and inclusion

In general, the level of diversity and inclusion in the Talent Development Grant Scheme applications is very high. This manifests itself in different aspects, such as education levels, the academies where makers graduate, and the themes they commit to. Furthermore, there is great diversity among the group of applicants in terms of cultural background, gender, disabilities (visible and invisible), neurodiversity and geographical distribution.

However, the committee does advise applicants to also seek expertise outside their own network for more diverse perspectives. It is also noticeable that activism in this group has declined slightly compared to previous years.

kick-off

Because the Fund attaches great value to the exchange of knowledge and also wishes to connect individual makers with each other, we organised a kick-off for all the makers and designers mentioned above on 19 September 2024. This year, the session took place at ’t Gagel farm in Lochem, a place where regenerative design and sustainability play a central role. On arrival, the participants were welcomed by Anne van Leeuwen, co-founder of ’t Gagel, who gave an introduction to regenerative design. Participants were then able to explore the farm in small groups on guided tours, and there were three interactive workshops. The day finished with drinks.

In January and May, joint programmes with the talent group are planned once again. The sessions are used to network, exchange experiences about the development year and inspire each other.