Europe's Finest Hours: Meet the Makers

On June 5th, you can immerse yourself in the wonderful world of Europe in Pakhuis de Zwijger during Europe's Finest Hours. This full-day event is an initiative by Pakhuis de Zwijger and EUNIC NL, and is supported by the European Commission Representation in The Hague, the European Cultural Foundation, Gemeente Amsterdam and DutchCulture|Creative Europe Desk NL.

EUNIC NL and DutchCulture|Creative EuropeDesk NL will introduce key important European themes through art and culture, focusing specifically on enhancing the European network and knowledge potential of Dutch artists and organisations during the programme Meet the Makers and Creative Europe Day (more about Creative Europe Day will follow asap).

What does European collaboration mean for emerging artists? Do they relate to it as an open cultural space? How does working in Europe impact their practice and their outlook?

Artists Víctor Santamarina, Nixon Mukiza, Sára Kučerová and Ouassila Arras will be guiding us through both past projects and future plans through quickfire presentations - showing what they look for in collaborations and how they navigate Europe as artistic professionals.

Join our programme if you’re eager to learn about their stories and want to grow a network of European peers. After the presentations, you will learn about a practical way to fund your project through the Culture Moves Europe programme, with funding advisor George Parry-Jones.

Register via Pakhuis de Zwijger:

Víctor Santamarina is a seasoned artist who harnesses material-based processes with an experimental flair. His extensive experience, including a BA from UCM (Madrid) and an MFA from the Piet Zwart Institute (Rotterdam), has honed his craft. Santamarina has showcased his exploration of exhaustion and preservation in contemporary society through solo and group exhibitions in prestigious venues like Kadist (Paris) and CA2M (Madrid). His work, deeply influenced by existential themes, offers an alternative perspective on societal values and norms. With a portfolio spanning galleries, museums, and artist-run spaces worldwide, Santamarina captivates audiences with his thought-provoking creations.

Architect Nixon Mukiza views the city through the lens of a photographer from his Research & Studio Photography Maison Mukiza, a virtual mansion. He specializes in the art of photography, blending urban strategies to develop concepts that give new meaning and understanding of our space and identity. Through Research & Studio Maison Mukiza, he builds relationships between architecture, design, and human experience, to find complexities within diaspora identity formation. He aims to study the concept of 'home' and the challenges faced by individuals in establishing a sense of belonging. What does healthy individual identity formation look like for the diaspora? What do they experience as "at home"?

Sára Kučerová, a Czech multidisciplinary designer and occasional illustrator, has been living in the Netherlands for almost two years. She has a generous appreciation for life, and her work aims to showcase the presence of beauty and inspire others to witness it. Characterizing elements of her projects include lightheartedness and symbolism. Sára exhibited her work at Dutch Design Week last year alongside her former classmates from D3 studio at the Academy of Art, Architecture, and Design in Prague, where she received an education that shaped her as a creator the most. Recently, she completed the Pre-Master study program at Design Academy Eindhoven which rooted her as a designer in the Netherlands. She continues to work as a designer now.

Ouassila Arras, born in 1993 in France, now lives and works between Paris and Berlin. Her art, exploring identity and memory with everyday materials, delves into the complexities of Franco-Algerian history. She earned acclaim for "Photos de Famille" at Musée des Beaux Arts de Reims. Solo exhibitions at venues like Frac Champagne Ardenne and Kunstlerhaus Bethanien Berlin showcase her transformative experiences. Through her work, Ouassila invites viewers to reflect on silenced stories, cherishing cross-cultural dialogues beyond geographical borders.

George Parry-Jones is a Grant Officer at Culture Moves Europe, which provides international mobility grants for artists and cultural professionals in all 40 Creative Europe countries. His main focus is on the Individual Mobility Action, through which artists can apply directly for a mobility grant to implement a project in another Creative Europe country. He will also discuss the Residency Action, which provides financial support to organisations and artists registered as legal entities who wish to host artists for a residency project.