The Art department is about community if nothing else. We love connecting creatives to the industry while nurturing a positive environment to share, learn and develop. The Next Stage, curated by the Playgrounds Next Talent Program, is integral to this mission.
The stage invites up-and-coming artists to provide insight into their creative process, as well as sharing the artistic forces which drive them.
This year we’re so please to welcome Kayne Mosch, Flora Lemmens, Michael Hauwert, Baran Sedighian, Natalia Grytczuk and Ayoola Olaguniu to the Next Stage.
THU 20 MARCH
13.00-13.15 – Kanye Mosch
Kayne Mosch is a 2D character animator and illustrator from the Netherlands. As a big proponent of everything colorful, dynamic, wild and/or wacky he is currently developing his animation series Art & Davey.
13.15-13.30 – Flora Lemmens
Flora Lemmens is an XR artist, based in Sittard (NL). She was selected for the Next XR Talent Program last year. Flora’s work explores the relationship between perception, the mind and reality, aiming to create a sense of disconnection and detachment.
13.30-13.45 – Michael Hauwert
The Dutch animation director Michael Hauwert graduated with his animated documentary Maar alleen hier ben ik thuis (But only here am I at home) at HKU Art Academy and won a Wildcard from The Netherlands Filmfund with his film.
FRI 21 MARCH
13.00-13.15 – Baran Sedighian
Baran is originally from Iran and holds a master’s degree in Illustration. In 2022, she made the decision to leave her homeland and immigrate to the Netherlands, where she pursued a second master’s degree in Animation at St. Joost Art Academy. in 2024 she won the Animation Pitch at The Art Department 2024. Alongside her art, Baran is now pursuing a path as a producer, and was selected as a Fellow for the talent trajectory New Producers Academy.
13.15-13.30 – Natalia Grytczuk
Natalia currently studies Game Graphics Production at Howest/DAE Games in Kortrijk, Belgium. She will talk about her latest projects.
13.30-13.45 – Ayoola Olagunju
Originally from Nigeria, now based in The Netherlands, Ayoola made a switch to animation in 2020. He studied law in Nigeria and even practiced law for a year before deciding this was not his career path. During the corona epidemic he started to learn how to animate and illustrate, and started his freelance business. After graduating at the Master Animation at St. Joost Art Academy he now is building a new freelance career in The Netherlands.
Header image: Michael Hauwert
