Cultural Mobility Forum 2025 (Riga, Latvia, and Online)

Co-hosted by Northern Dimension Partnership on Culture (NDPC) and in partnership with Riga Cirks and HowlRound. The Forum was co-funded by the European Union (EU), part of the New Solidarities’ project (2025–2028).

Each year On the Move proposes a Cultural Mobility Forum to collectively investigate international artistic and cultural mobility trends. As a unique knowledge platform, the network works together with its members and partners to design thematic panel discussions and contextualize global mobility issues.

Focus 2025: Revisiting the International Mobility of Young and Emerging Arts Workers

As the world emerged from the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic, the career trajectories of young and emerging artists and culture professionals faced profound challenges. For many, their early careers began in the context of remote-only training, virtual internships, or online graduations—conditions that hindered vital networking and sector engagement. The pandemic interrupted the journeys of emerging artists and, in too many cases, led to abandonment of artistic pursuits altogether. Data is scarce on those who may have reoriented their paths, raising questions: in 2025, who is genuinely prepared to pursue an artistic career in the face of such profound uncertainties? How do digital development, mobility justice issues, climate concerns, and international world uncertainties influence their appetite to embrace an international pathway?

Through these themes, the Cultural Mobility Forum 2025 fostered critical dialogue on the pathways forward for young and emerging artists and culture professionals, offering perspectives on how international mobility, inclusivity, and sustainability can be reimagined for a resilient arts and culture sector.

Tuesday 29 April

Welcome Words and Introduction

7 a.m. EST (New York, UTC -4) / 12 p.m. BST (London, UTC +1) /14:00 EEST (Riga, UTC +3)

Panel One—Arts Education and Cultural Management Programs: Embedding the Internationalization of Practices

7:30 a.m. EST (New York, UTC -4) / 12:30 p.m. BST (London, UTC +1) / 14:30 EEST (Riga, UTC +3)

Panelists: Paolo Montemurro (Materahub, Italy) and Aparajita Dutta (University of the Arts The Hague, the Netherlands)

Moderator: Mirela Travar (Novi prostori kulture, Croatia)

This panel will explore how education institutions, cultural management programs, and life-long learning initiatives can integrate internationalization into their curricula, ensuring that future artists and culture professionals are equipped for the realities of a globalized cultural sector.

The discussion will review the role of educational leadership as well as teachers, researchers, mentors and all support staff members in fostering the cross-border circulation of creatives, their work, and ideas. Building upon the existing international exchange programs for students and staff, we will review the most recent needs expressed to enable building international networks early in their careers.

Panelists will discuss the perceived need to better prepare students for the "real world" by balancing creative development with entrepreneurial skills, generally admitted as being essential for sustaining a career. Practical aspects of international opportunities, such as navigating funding schemes and understanding mobility logistics, will also be examined to improve students’ access to global platforms. By embedding internationalization at the education phase, the panel aims to identify strategies that support young artists and culture professionals in their transition to the global stage.

Panel Two—Transitioning to the International Arts and Culture Ecosystem: Revisited Motivations and Challenges

9:15 a.m. EST (New York, UTC -4) / 2:15 p.m. BST (London, UTC +1) /16:15  EEST (Riga, UTC +3)

Panelists: Adam Svoboda (Prague Quadriennale, Czech Republic) and Jennifer Lee (Mekong Cultural Hub, Taiwan)

Moderator: Maïa Sert (ANdÉA-National Association of Higher Schools of Art, France)

This panel will delve into the challenges young artists and culture professionals face as they transition from education to the professional world. Establishing oneself in a competitive sector requires strategic networking and access to work opportunities, yet many struggle with discoverability and inclusivity issues of existing support programs. The discussion aims to review the young and emerging arts workers’ motivations to embrace an international trajectory.

Panelists will examine the role of cultural stakeholders, including institutions and independent organizations offering international opportunities and facilitating these transitions. A key focus will be on improving access to these initiatives by addressing, for example, eligibility criteria, active inclusion of individuals from diverse backgrounds, or geographical coverage.

Interim Conclusions

10:45 a.m. EST (New York, UTC -4) / 3:45 p.m. BST (London, UTC +1) / 17:45  EEST (Riga, UTC +3)

Wednesday 30 April

Welcome Words and Introduction

2 a.m. EST (New York, UTC -4) / 7 a.m. BST (London, UTC +1) / 09:00 EEST (Riga, UTC +3)

Panel Three—Points of Departure, Points of Arrival: Young Arts Workers Reviewing International Relations

2:15 a.m. EST (New York, UTC -4) / 7:15 a.m. BST (London, UTC +1) / 09:15 EEST (Riga, UTC +3)

Panellists: Niusha Khanmohammadi (artist, Sweden) and Bahdan Khmialnitski (Goethe-Institut Georgia)

Moderator: Olu Alake (The Africa Centre, United Kingdom)

This panel will explore whether the challenges faced by young artists in accessing the international arts and culture ecosystem are truly unique or mirror those experienced by other groups, more vulnerable ones, operating from the perceived peripheries or edges. By drawing parallels, the discussion will address barriers related to artistic freedom and democracy recession, conflicts and displacements, or unequal access to resources and opportunities at global level. 

Panelists will examine how these inequities intersect with the growth of an upcoming global generation of makers and thinkers that seek to redefine international relations and interdependencies. With a focus on mobility justice, the conversation will seek to uncover shared solutions that prioritize equity and sustainability for all artists.

Panel Four—Takeaways and Recommendations

4 a.m. EST (New York, UTC -4) / 9 a.m. BST (London, UTC +1) / 11:00 EEST (Riga, UTC +3) 

Rapporteurs: Clara Passarinho (Portugal), Katrīna Dūka (Latvia), Andrew Ogun (United Kingdom), Ikars Graždanovičs (Latvia), Lina Allia (Algeria), Karu Treij (Latvia)

Moderator: Yohann Floch (On the Move)

This concluding panel synthesizes insights from the Cultural Mobility Forum’s discussions, aiming to shape actionable recommendations for policymakers and the broader cultural sector. Drawing from the panel discussions, as well as findings from three pre-forum Webinars, the session will consolidate perspectives on supporting young and emerging arts workers. This collective dialogue seeks to inspire meaningful change and drive forward inclusive and sustainable practices in the global arts and culture landscape.

The session also aims to be output oriented and propose both policy recommendations and actionable solutions to support emerging talent in navigating their entry into the professional arts and culture ecosystems.

Final Conclusions

5:15 a.m. EDT (New York, UTC -4) / 10:15 a.m. BST (London, UTC +1) / 12:15 EEST (Riga, UTC +3)  

Bios

Paolo Montemurro is the founder of Materahub, an organization working to support the cultural and creative sector in Italy. He has been the project manager of numerous pilot EU-funded initiatives, focusing on capacity building, policy development, and ecosystem creation for the sector. These initiatives particularly emphasize creative entrepreneurship, internationalization, EU networking, and the cross-fertilization of the cultural and creative sector with other economic and social sectors. Paolo is the coordinator and organizer of the Creative Business Cup in Italy and serves as an expert and consultant for Italian regions developing actions to support the cultural and creative sector. With Materahub, he supported the bid preparation of Matera as European Capital of Culture and the capacity-building program for local cultural operators during the preparation phase. In 2020, he was selected as an expert within the “EU4Business” program to support the development of cultural and creative industries (CCIs) in Eastern Partnership countries. Today, he represents Materahub in the EIT KIC Culture and Creativity, where the organization is a founding member. 

Aparajita Dutta, head of International Affairs at the University of the Arts The Hague, has been working in the field of internationalization since 1999. She has consistently explored how the quality of education and internationalization are intertwined. Since 2011, she has been engaged in art education, primarily responsible for internationalization strategy, implementation, and international projects. From 2013 to 2018, Aparajita served as the chair of the CUMULUS Association—X-Files Internationalization Working Group. In 2013, she created the Netherlands Art and Design Academies International Relations Group. Since 2011, she has been involved in various EU projects. In 2018, she initiated the Platform Internationalization ELIA. In November 2018, she began a PhD program on Internationalization in Fine Arts and Design Higher Education at Leiden University. 

Mirela Travar is an established cultural worker, advocate, trainer, and advisor in the fields of culture and youth. She has more than fifteen years of experience in civil society and the public sector, working on issues ranging from youth and human rights to human rights education, independent culture, and public goods. She is currently working as a senior expert at the City of Zagreb’s newly established cultural institution, New Spaces of Culture. Internationally, she has worked with the OSCE and the Council of Europe, as well as various international youth and cultural networks. Domestically, in her home country of Croatia, she has worked with dozens of different organizations and institutions. She served as the Secretary General of the Croatian Youth Network: National Youth Council of Croatia; she was a program coordinator at Clubture (a national alliance of cultural NGOs), coordinator of Kooperativa-Regional Platform for Culture, and was a long-time president and coordinator of Operation City: a collaborative platform for NGOs, cultural workers, and artists. She also served as the first president of the Network of Socio-Cultural Centres of Croatia: DKC-HR. Mirela is the author, co-author, and editor of several publications and studies in the field of culture and youth. 

Ikars Graždanovičs is a young semi-professional performance artist and writer who has spent far too long ruminating on arts and culture, particularly the intersections of fine arts and performative arts and their own space within these fields. A frequent volunteer and participant in many contemporary art events, Ikars was a former teen curator of the Homo Novus and Bastard festivals as part of the “Shakedown” project. Currently, Ikars is a first-year student of communication sciences at the University of Latvia.

Adam Svoboda has over fifteen years of experience in production and management, ranging from running and curating alternative music clubs to producing and curating multi-genre festivals. He joined the Prague Quadrennial (PQ) in 2015, initially overseeing individual productions, and has since advanced to the role of Technical Production Manager and later Head of Production. Since mid-2023, he has been responsible for the executive management of PQ for the 2027 edition.

Jennifer Lee has been the program manager for Fellowships & Training at Mekong Cultural Hub (MCH) since 2018. With over twenty years of experience as a project manager/producer, event and festival coordinator, house manager, and producer in the field of theatre and culture before joining MCH, she is skilled in designing and facilitating workshops and training courses. These include audience development, theatre venue services, creative project management, and program planning. She also has extensive experience in collaboration and coordination for productions, events, and festivals with partners from different countries. In recent years, her main focus has included advocating for a sustainable ecosystem for the cultural industry, social engagement of the arts, multiple mechanisms for talent incubation, cross-cultural learning and understanding, and regional cultural exchange and collaboration. Jennifer holds an MA in Cultural Policy and Arts Management. 

Maïa Sert works in the field of intercultural cooperation in France and internationally. After gaining initial experience in promoting UNESCO World Heritage and then specializing in European cooperation projects, Maïa changed her career towards the performing arts sector, while continuing to promote international cultural mobility, co-creation and green transition. Since January 2025, she is in charge of international development at ANdÉA, the French national association of higher art schools.

Lina Allia is the Development and Cooperations Coordinator at Radio Grenouille/Euphonia in Marseille and a PhD candidate in Cultural Studies (CIFRE: Euphonia, Université Lumière Lyon 2, and On the Move). Her research examines the evolving landscape of international cultural cooperation, with a particular focus on the role of intermediaries, digital transitions, and decolonial movements. Born in Algeria, Lina has a background in curation, production, and project management within the Mediterranean region.

Niusha Khanmohammadi is a multidisciplinary professional combining expertise in international development and arts and culture. Born and raised in Sweden with Iranian heritage, she holds an MA in Human Rights from Uppsala University and a BA in Political Science from Stockholm University. With over a decade of experience living in ten countries and working across Europe, Central Asia, and the Middle East, Niusha has worked for the United Nations, EU, and the Swedish administration. Her work has focused on gender equality, arts and culture, and freedom of expression. Currently managing the Western Balkans portfolio for a cultural development program at the Swedish administration, Niusha leads initiatives that empower young artists and the creative industries. These initiatives promote cultural exchange across generations and borders in the region. As a published writer and exhibited visual artist, Niusha's work explores themes of belonging, identity, and community. Fluent in multiple languages, she bridges diverse cultural contexts, fostering inclusive dialogue and impactful storytelling. Her novel, Conversations with Cities, will be published in late 2025.

Bahdan Khmialnitski is a cultural manager, activist, and performer. He serves as the national coordinator for Belarus within the EU4Culture project, implemented by a consortium led by the Goethe-Institut to foster cultural cooperation in Eastern Partnership countries. Additionally, he collaborates as an external expert with ArtPower Belarus and Ambasada Kultury, specializing in cultural diplomacy, policymaking, and international relations. Visit the Goethe-Institut website here.

Olu Alake is the CEO of The Africa Centre, a sixty-year-old London-based cultural institution dedicated to championing excellence in arts and culture, education, community development, thought leadership, and enterprise and innovation for Africans and the global African diaspora. With extensive experience in global culture, Olu has played key leadership and consultancy roles in organizations and forums worldwide. He has developed, critiqued, and implemented cultural policy with a focus on artistic mobility, global cultural markets, diversity, social inclusion, and cultural rights. Additionally, Olu has presented papers on these topics at numerous international conferences, contributing to shaping cultural discourse on a global scale.

Clara Passarinho is a Portuguese performer. She won the Baal17 emerging theatre directors' competition in Serpa, Portugal, conducted Rakugo research in Japan, and interned at the Yokohama Theatre Group with support from Fundação Oriente. Clara played a key role in the production of the Alecrim festival, which premiered in September 2024. To further develop her artistic practice, she recently began a postgraduate course in Performance and Digital Technology at the Institute of Theatre in Barcelona. Beyond her artistic work, Clara is a committed cultural agent. Between the ages of eighteen and twenty-two, she actively participated in over ten youth exchanges and training courses. Clara co-founded Associação da Minha Rua, where she started writing Erasmus+ projects and facilitating activities. She also joined the “Pop The Vote” program, promoting voter awareness in the European elections through art. To complement her studies, Clara completed a five-month production course at Companhia Instável in Porto, with modules on cultural policies, European funds, and project applications. Since 2024, she has been a member of Culture Action Europe, reinforcing her dedication to fostering cultural collaboration and dialogue. Clara Passarinho was the rapporteur of the Pre-forum Webinar Number One: International Mobility Funders Supporting Young and Emerging Arts Workers (19 March 2025).

Katrīna Dūka is a creative producer, theatremaker, and researcher based in Latvia. She is currently an international project manager at Riga Circus, where she oversees various international initiatives aimed at fostering collaboration and professional development within the circus arts community and beyond. As an independent creative producer, she has worked on international projects focusing on community-based and participatory art, artistic interventions in organizations, and the creation of site-specific and interdisciplinary performances. As an artist, Katrīna creates performances that engage with local communities and "everyday experts". Her work has been showcased at the International Festival of Contemporary Theatre “Homo Novus,” as well as on independent stages in Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania. Her practice is rooted in fostering dialogue and collaboration across disciplines, creating meaningful opportunities for artistic exchange. Katrīna Dūka was the rapporteur of the Pre-forum Webinar Number Two: European Platforms for the Promotion of Emerging Artists (9 April 2025).

Andrew Ogun (United Kingdom) is a multi-disciplinary artist: a poet, musician, and cultural commentator. He is a published poet, with his debut collection, Slingshot, released in 2024 via Lucent Dreaming. Amidst his creative endeavors, Andrew is also the agent for change at the Arts Council of Wales and the main organizer for Black Lives Matter Gwent. Through his role with the Arts Council, he has influenced policies and structures to ensure that the arts and culture sector in Wales represents the diversity of the nation. In this work, he has particularly impacted the music sector by serving as the Welsh coordinator of the POWER UP initiative in Wales. Andrew has played an integral role in democratizing the music scene in Wales for Black musicians and industry professionals, culminating in the creation of the Welsh Black Music Action Group (WBMAG), which is co-chaired by Andrew. Andrew has been an artist his whole life but has been producing creative work since 2014, initially through fashion with his own clothing brand, before moving on to music and poetry. His notable achievements include being a member of BBC 1Xtra's inaugural “Future Figures” list, recognizing him as a significant Black leader within his community. His album was listed at number 67 of “100 Greatest Welsh Albums”, and he has performed headline shows and a series of high-profile performances nationally and internationally. He has received recognition for his community work from Race Alliance Wales, EYST, and the Welsh Government. Andrew Ogun was the rapporteur of the Pre-forum Webinar Number Three: International Mobility Trends for Young and Emerging Arts Workers (23 April 2025).

Ikars Graždanovičs (Latvia) is a young semi-professional performance artist and writer who has spent far too long ruminating on arts and culture, particularly the intersections of fine arts and performative arts and their own space within these fields. A frequent volunteer and participant in many contemporary art events, Ikars was a former teen curator of the Homo Novus and Bastard festivals as part of "The Shakedown." Currently, Ikars is a first-year student of communication sciences at the University of Latvia. Ikars Graždanovičs is the rapporteur for Panel One—Arts Education and Cultural Management Programs: Embedding the Internationalization of Practices.

Lina Allia (Algeria) is the development and cooperations coordinator at Radio Grenouille/Euphonia in Marseille and a PhD candidate in Cultural Studies. Her research examines the evolving landscape of international cultural cooperation, with a particular focus on the role of intermediaries, digital transitions, and decolonial movements. Born in Algeria, Lina has a background in curation, production, and project engineering within the Mediterranean region. Lina Allia is the rapporteur for Panel Two—Transitioning to the International Arts and Culture Ecosystem: Revisited Motivations and Challenges.

Karu Treij (Latvia) is an unprofessional performance artist, semi-professional writer, and teacher. Karu began their career as a teenage curator at the festival Homo Novus in the “Shakedown” project and has since participated in various festival projects. They are an occasional critic and a full-time drama teacher. Karu Treij is the rapporteur for Panel Three—Points of Departure, Points of Arrival: What International Circulation for Young Arts Leaders.

Yohann Floch is the director of operations at On the Move, the international network dedicated to artistic and cultural mobility, and the director of FACE, a resource platform that facilitates European capacity-building programs in the contemporary performing arts field. He serves as an international advisory board member for International Migration Meets the Arts (IMMART), a Danish organization. Throughout his career, Yohann has designed, coordinated, and contributed to numerous European cooperation projects and pilot international collaborations while working for independent arts organizations and cultural institutions. He acts as an external expert for governmental bodies and private foundations and leads or co-authors European policy reports. Previously, Yohann held various leadership positions, including secretary general of the European Dancehouse Network, director of Skåne’s International Resource Office, coordinator of Dansehallerne’s Nordic dance network, and coordinator of the Circostrada Network.

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