Young at Art Radio

Marco Gerris

(Choreographer, director, and artistic director of ISH Dance Collective)

“I firmly believe that the more you are stimulated by creative experiences, the more your body and mind are trained.”

ISH Dance Collective is celebrating its 25th anniversary, bringing hip-hop dance and urban sports to the theater and connecting them with traditional art forms like ballet. Marco Gerris founded and leads ISH, inspired by the variety of disciplines he encountered in his own youth. In Young at Art Radio, he talks about his dedication to inspiring, guiding, and challenging young people through the arts.

Marit Törnqvist

(Children’s book author and illustrator)

‘Taking the children’s book seriously is taking the child seriously.’

Marit Törnqvist won the 2024 Johannes Vermeer Prize, the first time this prestigious award has been given to an artist primarily focused on children and youth. She creates imaginative worlds where the child is at the center. In Young at Art Radio, Marit discusses the importance of putting children—and their experiences—first in literature and art.

Jeangu Macrooy

(Singer-songwriter)

“I want every child to have access to music education.”

Jeangu Macrooy, a Surinamese-Dutch singer, gained international attention through the Eurovision Song Contest and has released three albums. His fourth album, Young, Awkward & Lonely, will be released this fall, accompanied by a theater tour of the same name. As ambassador and board member for Méér Muziek in de Klas, he advocates for music education. In Young at Art Radio, Jeangu shares how music has shaped his own life and why it matters for the next generation.

Marleen Stikker

(Internet pioneer & Founder of Waag Futurelab)

“Harness the creative power of young people to build a safe and empathetic digital space.”

Marleen Stikker is one of the first internet pioneers. In 1993, she founded De Digitale Stad, the first Dutch internet provider to offer free access to the web. Thirty years ago, she also launched Waag Futurelab, a research institute at the intersection of art, technology, and society. Today, young people spend an average of five hours online. How does technology shape their lives? And more importantly, how can we use it as a force for positive change?

Gunay Uslu

(CEO of Corendon, former State Secretary for Culture & Media)

Gunay Uslu served as State Secretary for Culture and Media in 2022 and 2023. A cultural historian with a PhD from the University of Amsterdam, she left politics to become CEO of Corendon, the company she built together with her brother Atilay. Throughout her career, she has worked at the intersection of arts and society in various roles. What is her hope for the future? And what role can the arts—and the business world—play in shaping it?

Dirk de Wachter

(Psychiatrist & author)

Dirk de Wachter is a psychiatrist and professor at KU Leuven, widely known for his 2012 book Borderline Times. In his work, he shows how psychiatry reflects the world around us, portraying a society overflowing with loneliness and urging special attention for the mental well-being of young people. Many struggle with mental health issues—why is this, and more importantly, what can we do about it?

In his Antwerp home, surrounded by art and CDs, Janneke van der Wijk speaks with Dirk about mental health, our deep need for connection, and the role the arts can play in meeting that need.

Tania Kross

(Mezzo-soprano)

In 2023, mezzo-soprano Tania Kross won the prestigious Johannes Vermeer Prize for her outstanding international singing career and her innovative work in making opera widely accessible. Born on Curaçao, where she returned to live in 2020, she has long been committed to music education on the island. In the podcast, Janneke van der Wijk speaks with Tania about her personal drive, her plans for children and young people on Curaçao, the role music education played in her own youth, and the life lessons she hopes to pass on.

Ramsey Nasr

(Poet, writer & actor)

Award-winning poet, writer, and actor Ramsey Nasr is the author of De Fundamenten, one of the best-selling books of 2021, exploring, among other things, the importance of art for society. In Young at Art Radio, he talks about why it’s vital for young people to be introduced to books, music, and other works of art—and shares how he himself was first moved by the power of music at a young age.

Willemijn Verloop

(Founder of War Child)

Peace activist, pioneer, social entrepreneur, and leader, Willemijn Verloop has built a career on initiatives that make the world a better place. At just 23, she founded War Child, pioneering the use of music to improve the lives of children in war zones. Today, War Child operates in 15 countries, reaching over 500,000 people annually. In Young at Art Radio, Willemijn reflects on the impact of the arts on children’s well-being and what the cultural sector can learn from War Child’s approach.

Renzo Martens

(Artist)

This year, artist Renzo Martens represents the Netherlands at the Venice Biennale. For over 15 years, he has initiated creative projects with Congolese plantation workers, showing how art and culture can help shape society. In Young at Art Radio, he shares the insights he has gained—and how these lessons can be applied to working with children and young people in the Netherlands.

Paulo Zuben

(Composer, Musician & Director of the São Paulo Conservatory, Brazil)

The Brazilian Guri program reaches more than 75,000 children each year in 300 cities. This program provides top-level music education as well as a social safety net for the entire community. Paulo Zuben, Director of the São Paulo Conservatory, is responsible for the program. Janneke van der Wijk speaks with him about its impact and key success factors. How can music education be used as a tool for social change? And what are the most important lessons from scaling up the program?

David Bade

(Artist & Co-founder of Instituto Buena Bista)

Contemporary, multidisciplinary artist David Bade is known for his strong social engagement and is a regular guest at biennales and prestigious international art venues. In 2006, together with artist Tirzo Martha, he founded Instituto Buena Bista (IBB) on Curaçao, the island where he was born. This unique art school for young talent is located on the grounds of a psychiatric institution. What change does David Bade hope to bring to the world through his art? And how does Instituto Buena Bista contribute to the development of young people on Curaçao?