Professional Speeddates

By The New Current

Are you looking to gain valuable insights and expand your professional network in a dynamic, fast-paced setting? Join us for an exciting evening of Professional Speeddates, where you’ll have the opportunity to engage in short, powerful conversations with experienced professionals from various fields.

What to Expect:

- Three Personal Conversations: Every participant will have three 10-minute speed dates with different professionals. It's your chance to ask questions, get feedback, and make meaningful connections. When buying a ticket, you’ll be able to list your preferred professionals.

- Focused and Fast-Paced: The format ensures that every minute counts, creating an energetic environment for learning and networking.

Event Details:

- Date: Wednesday, February 25, 2026

- Time: 19:00 - 21:30

- Location: Kunstinstituut Melly (Witte de Withstraat 50, Rotterdam)

- Ticket: €10,- available through the button below.

Why Participate?

- Invaluable Insight: Gain direct access to professionals who have the expertise and experience to guide you in your career or personal development.

- Expand Your Network: Build connections with art professionals and other participants who share your drive for growth.

- Grow Your Skills: Each conversation is a chance to refine your ideas, seek advice, and broaden your perspectives.

Whether you’re seeking career advice, looking to explore new ideas, or simply expanding your professional circle, this event is the perfect opportunity to meet and learn. Don’t miss out on this unique experience, get your ticket (€10) with the button below!

Professional Speeddates is supported by Pictoright

Meet the professionals:

LEANA BOVEN - CURATOR

Leana Boven is a curator, programme maker, writer and researcher whose practice is grounded in gender and postcolonial theory. Her work centres on counterculture, diasporic connection, belonging, spatial justice, ecology and decolonial climate justice, with a strong focus on collective care. She has curated exhibitions and public programmes across institutions and artist-led spaces, and currently works as curator and project lead at Stroom Den Haag. Alongside this, she teaches, writes on contemporary art, and advises cultural funding bodies and public institutions.

Hanneke Mantel - FENIX

Hanneke Mantel is Head of Exhibitions and Collection at Fenix. She works at the intersection of curating, collection development and institutional storytelling, with a strong interest in photography and visual culture. In her role, she focuses on shaping coherent exhibition narratives and building collections that speak to broad and diverse audiences. Mantel values research-driven curatorial practice and sees exhibitions as spaces where artistic work can create meaningful, human connections.

FRANK TAAL - Frank taal gallery

Frank Taal is a Rotterdam-based gallerist with a strong focus on contemporary art and long-term artist development. His curatorial approach is driven by visual strength, conceptual clarity and an interest in works that are raw, layered or materially distinctive. Personal engagement with artists plays a central role in his practice, alongside a commitment to transparency and clear communication. Across exhibitions, he emphasises a total presentation, where harmony or productive tension shapes the experience as a whole.

Simone Poot - EURICA Law

Simone Poot is an intellectual property lawyer specialising in copyright, trademark and design law, with a strong focus on creative practices. She advises artists on contracts, licensing, authors’ rights and collaborations, and represents clients in IP-related disputes. Simone combines an independent boutique practice with interim legal work, bringing flexibility and clarity to complex cases. Known for her analytical yet practical approach, she helps artists protect their work and make informed decisions about their creative and commercial positions.

AAD KROL - GALERIE Vivid

Aad Krol is a Rotterdam-based gallerist and co-founder of Galerie VIVID, together with Saskia Copper. His practice bridges contemporary art and design, with a long-standing focus on presenting pioneering makers in a gallery context. With decades of international fair experience, he has built strong connections with collectors, museums and curators. Krol places great value on experimentation, material intelligence and positioning artists within a broader cultural and international landscape.

Marijn Bril - curator

Marijn Bril is an independent curator and researcher focused on network cultures and contemporary media practices. Her work explores systems, memes, productivity, archiving and knowledge production, translating research into exhibitions, public programmes and writing. She has curated and contributed to projects for institutions and festivals across art and media culture, and regularly publishes essays and gives talks internationally. Bril brings a research-driven, critical perspective that helps artists position their work within broader cultural and digital contexts.

Jeanthalou Haynes - curator

Jeanthalou Haynes is a cultural strategist, curator and programme developer working across art, community and public institutions. Her practice centres on creating inclusive cultural programmes that connect creativity, identity and social engagement. She collaborates with artists, organisations and grassroots communities to develop sustainable frameworks for participation and visibility. Jeanthalou is the organiser and creative director of Unity in Diversity Rotterdam, and serves on the board of Kunstmuseum Garage Rotterdam, where she contributes to long-term institutional development.

Ali Keles - Lakeside collection

Ali Keles is a Rotterdam-based entrepreneur, investor, founder of Lakeside Capital Partners, and an active contemporary art collector. With Lakeside Collection he holds a private compartment in Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen, including an exhibition space, artist-in-residence and storage area. Since 2023 he is the chairman of the Netherlands Association of Corporate Art Collections (VBCN). Keles is committed strengthening the relationship between art, business and society, supporting both established and emerging artists through long-term engagement.

Jacco Ouwerkerk- CURATOR

Jacco Ouwerkerk is a strategist and concept developer at DOOR, specialising in immersive cultural storytelling. He works at the intersection of digital and physical exhibition design, focusing on digital storytelling, new presentation formats and visitor experience. Jacco develops projects for museums and cultural institutions, using service design to place the visitor at the centre of the narrative. For artists, he brings insight into how work can be translated into engaging, future-facing exhibition experiences.

Laure van den Hout - Mister Motley

Laure van den Hout is director and editor-in-chief of Mister Motley, an online platform connecting art and everyday life. Trained in graphic and typographic design and artistic research, she approaches language as her primary material. Van den Hout writes for museums and institutions and co-edits exhibition catalogues. For artists, she offers sharp editorial insight into how artistic practices can be articulated, contextualised and communicated to wider audiences.

This program is kindly supported by Pictoright Fonds and Stichting Ondernemersbelangen Rotterdam.