You recently joined the team at ArtBound Initiative. What drew you to working with the organization?
My own experience as a Intern—now alumnus—of ArtBound Initiative drew me into wanting to work for ABI. They were extremely supportive, well connected, and knowledgeable of what is going on in the creative industry, not just at their locations but on a global level. I was also drawn to what ABI does for the students and the way they provide a seamless transition into the launch of the participant’s career because this is exactly the kind of services I hope to provide artist one day. So what better place to start then here.
Sitting Outside East Side Gallery Berlin with ABI Members
Can you tell us about your new position as the Program Advisor?
As a Program Advisor I handle all the incoming inquiries. I introduce the program to incoming participant over email and through calls, and stay in contact all the way through the application process. On top of that, I also help with more creative tasks such as the Newsletter and other promotional material.
What are you most excited about in your new position and working with ArtBound Initiative?
Being able to speak with the participants. I find I am constantly learning something new about the art world or about a different interests in the art world that I wouldn’t have know before.
ArtBound Initiative Studio Visit: Wolfgang Stiller, Photo Credit Ena Lefeber
How does your background in Graphic Design and Communication Design influence your work today?
I directly use my Graphic Design and Communication Design background when making the newsletters. Both majors taught me about creative processes and how to look for solutions in unexpected ways. But what I use the most is the creative way I learned how to explain a program or a project and how to tailor that to the participant I am speaking to.
What has relocating from New York to Berlin been like for you? How are you able to use that experience in your advising?
Relocating from New York to Berlin has been exciting. From my own knowledge of home, and after many conversations with artists that have also relocated here to Berlin after New York, it has been said that Berlin hosts the same vibe as New York did in the late eighties, early nineties, which was the prime of NYC becoming a leading art powerhouse.
Living in NYC and Berlin, and working in both cities, has shown me what it takes to make it in each city. New York is fast paced and is constantly reinventing itself. It really allows you to thrive in the business side of creativity.
Berlin is constant exploration, expression, and collaboration. Berlin is a place to find yourself as an artist and immerse yourself in a growing art-world. Knowing this, and conversing with the students, really helps in advising them based off their lifestyle and their end goal of which city would be best for them.
Beatrice Von Tresckow’s Quarter of a Century celebration with ABI members. Photo credit Tasmin Kania (ABI Social Media Manager)
Do you have any advice for people who are transitioning to life abroad?
Having now lived in five countries in two years, my biggest advice I can give to those looking to move abroad is to stay connected globally and build connections personally. Quality time exploring your city and meeting new people—and maintaining those friendships—will give you some of the best experiences in the world. Trust me, there is always time for a coffee in your city and to send a text to another country.
What makes ArtBound Initiative an exciting opportunity for potential participants?
Where do I start, ArtBound Initiative provides amazing access to cities where it is hard to get your foot in the door. They provide a community of fellow participants and allow you to really be independent. Plus ABI is constantly connecting participants with cool events, artists, and organizations that are really interesting.
Why do you think it’s important for people to travel and experience art internationally?
You need to travel and experience art internationally to understand the essence of the art, the background of the artist, and the foundation of the idea. We as people are very much a product of nature and nurture, and artists bring what they have taken from the world and from their life to express it in new ways. By going to new places, especially where an artist is from, you’re able to see more clearly what they are trying to express.
Studio Assistant Work for Berend Strik, Photo Credit Berend Strik
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
Meaningful travel to me means connecting—having a “spiritual” or a “heart” connection to the place you have visited. Whether that connection comes from a view, a person, a experience, or an art piece—that’s up to the location and you. But you know you have had a meaningful travel when you can wholeheartedly say you have become a better, more aware, and more enlightened person than the one who began the journey.
What are your hopes for your position with ArtBound Initiative?
I look forward to meeting the next group of Berlin participants for sure. As for my position itself, I hope to also begin assisting with connecting ABI with future partner companies here in Berlin. In addition, I see ABI as a big part of my future, as the program we offer is exactly what I want to be doing in the creative industry—assisting the next generation of creatives with launching their career in order to thrive in this dynamic industry.
