Programme Level Up
22.11.2025
Nieuwe Instituut

10:00 Doors open

10:30 Curator Talk: Amanda Pinatih (Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam)

Opening Level Up is Amanda Pinatih, with a talk where you will gain an important perspective from the art and design world: that of the curator. What guides a curator’s choices, what draws their attention, and how can you get in touch with them? Amanda Pinatih is a curator and art historian with wide-ranging expertise at the intersection of design and contemporary art. As Curator of Design and Contemporary Art at the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, she explores innovative perspectives and develops ways to present them in a contemporary and accessible manner. Her work is characterized by an experimental approach, driven by a deep interest in developing innovative formats for knowledge exchange. In her exhibitions and projects, the interplay of social, political, (de)colonial, environmental, and economic issues takes center stage. Additionally, this year she serves as curator of the Dutch Pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale, where she presents her vision on an international scale.

11:15 Collector Talk: Bob van Eerd
This talk will offer you another perspective on the art market—specifically from the viewpoint of a collector. How do collectors view a presentation or exhibition? In what ways can you stand out as an artist? And more broadly, what role do collectors play in the art world? For Bob, a clinical psychologist and psychotherapist, art is an indispensable part of life. Together with his wife, he has built an impressive art collection over the years. The couple owns a pied-à-terre in a former Holland America Line hangar, where their passion for art comes to life. This extraordinary living space houses an inspiring collection of works by both emerging and established artists from the Netherlands and abroad. The collection includes works by Marc Mulders, Katinka Lampe, Claudy Jongstra, Kalliopi Lemos, Marjan Teeuwen, Maartje Korstanje, and Ronald Zuurmond. With his years of experience and deep involvement in the art world, Bob has sharp insight into the art market and understands like no other how it evolves.

​

12:00 Lunch break

12:30 Speeddates & Workshops
After the plenary talks and lunch, you are invited to actively take part in the interactive part of the day. During three consecutive rounds of 60 minutes, you can join a program divided into two elements: workshops and speed dates. For instance, you might attend a workshop in the first round, then join the speed dates in the next. In the remaining round, you can choose to register for another workshop or speed date, or to visit the exhibitions at Het Nieuwe Instituut.

​

Workshops

One-hour workshops, offering you the chance to actively develop a skill useful after graduating from the academy:

• Workshop 1: Marketing & Social Media with Boudewien Chalmers Hoynck van Papendrecht (Bubble Shooters Network)

• Workshop 2: Business (Chamber of Commerce, tax services) with Nienke van der Wal (Stichting Art Projects)

• Workshop 3: Grant Application with Mette Samkalden (Kunstmest)

• Workshop 4: Residencies with Bojana Panevska (TransArtists)

Speeddates

You can also join three 15 minute-conversations with three speakers per round. Six participants can sit at each tables and provide ample room for personal questions and exchange of experiences:

• Internationalization (Host: Marie-Anne Souloumiac, Nieuwe Instituut)

• Design & Visual Art (Host: Manique Hendricks, Curator)

• Art & Law (Host: Simone Poot, ARQUE Advocaten)

• Community Art & Art in Public Space (Host: Rob de Melker, Kunstmest)

• Social Practice (Host: Elke Uitentuis, teacher, visual artist, activist, mother and fulltime collaborator)

• Collections & Awards (Host: Anne Clement van Vugt, Art Adviser Art Affairs / EUR Art Collection of the Erasmus University )

• Prizes & Galleries (Host: Jaring Dürst Britt, gallery Dürst Britt Mayhew)

• Marketing (Host: Luuk Heezen, journalist & podcastmaker Kunst is Lang)

​​

16:15 Artist Talk: Audrey Large

Expect to hear more about the professional experiences of this renowned artist, Audrey Large, who will offer professional insights, practical tips, and personal highs and lows. Audrey Large graduated from the Dutch Design Academy with a Masters in Social Design in 2017 with her project Life.VFX, which grew out of an investigation into visual effects. Today, her fluidity across mediums continues to set her practice apart. Her work has quickly become collected and recognised internationally. In 2021, she won the Dutch Design Award for Young Designer and she has been part of several influential residencies while participating in global design and art exhibitions. Don't miss her work in the exhibition, Dutch, More or Less, about contemporary digital culture, design and architecture, on view at Nieuwe Instituut and free tov visit during this program. 

17:00 Drinks
The day concludes with drinks, where you are encouraged to share the knowledge you gained and start building your professional networks. Blank business cards will be distributed to encourage you to stay in touch after Level Up.

18:00 End

​

Details

Date & time: Saturday, November 22, 10-17h

Location: Nieuwe Instituut, Rotterdam

Cost: €19 including coffee/tea and lunch, excluding service charges

Tickets: click here

Please note: presale ends on Wednesday, November 19 at 6PM!

Would you rather join Level Up for the full duration of a year? With one ticket, you join the full series: from this full-day event at Nieuwe Instituut in Rotterdam to a visit to Prospects at Art Rotterdam, online speeddates and access to essential artist resources. Meet gallerists, collectors, and professionals from the cultural field, get answers to your questions, and grow your network. 

Level Up year tickets are available here.