Momentum

We will be hosting networking events, giving you the opportunity to meet delegates, at our Delegate Centre across August.

To sign up for an event, please follow the links below to watch an introductory video from each delegation and then complete the registration form (link in description).

Meet the Polish Delegation
Thursday 7 August, 14:00-15:30

Meet the Vietnamese Delegation
Friday 8 August, 15:30-17:00

Meet the Korean Delegation
Wednesday 13 August, 14:00-15:30

Meet the Nordic Delegation
Thursday 14 August, 11:00-12:30

Meet the Turkish Delegation
Monday 18 August, 11:00-12:30

Meet the MENA Delegation
Thursday 21 August, 11:00-12:30

Full delegation details, including written biographies, can be found further down the page.

Third year working with Momentum.

Delegates will be joining us from Avant Art Festival, Korczak Festival of Theatre for Children and Youth and Konteksty Festival / Early Years Festival.

Watch the delegates' video introductions here.

Please note there is an additional delegate from Avant Art not featured in the video. Biographies below:

Kostas Georgakopulos (he/him)
Avant Art Festival

Kostas Georgakopulos is a musician and producer.  He is president of the Avant Art Foundation, and director of the international Avant Art Festival, which presents contemporary experimental music and sound installation.  The Avant Art Festival has been held for 18 years in Wroclaw, for 9 years in Warsaw and for 6 years in Berlin.  Kostas leads on international projects at the Avant Art Foundation, and has produced events in Germany, Austria, Hungary, France, Turkey, Russia, Lithuania, Latvia, Norway and Japan. 

He is also director of the record label Tone Industria, and was artistic director and producer of the Music Stage of the Era New Horizons Film Festival 2007-2018.

Katarzyna Golecka (she/her)
Avant Art Festival

Katarzyna Golecka is Director of the Avant Art Foundation, responsible for the development of new projects, partnerships with national and international collaborators, fundraising, project applications and financial reporting. She leads the foundation’s promotional and communication strategy and coordinates educational and community-focused programs.  

She is a curator and producer of interdisciplinary, socially engaged events; a cultural manager with extensive experience in the independent and experimental arts scene.

Dorota Kowalkowska (she/her)
Korczak Festival of Theatre for Children and Youth / ASSITEJ Polish Centre

Dorota is the General Secretary of ASSITEJ Poland and Artistic Director of the Korczak International Festival of Theatre for Children and Youth, which is a significant platform for theatre for young audiences in Poland.  ASSITEJ Poland is one of more than 80 national centres of the International ASSITEJ, which connects theatres, organisations and artists making work for young audiences.  

In 2025 the Korczak Festival will have a Focus:UK strand, concentrated on new practices from the United Kingdom.  Dorota is responsible for programming and international cooperation with artists and curators. 

Dorota is also a dramaturge and theatre pedagogue, curator, and lecturer at Theatre Academy in Warsaw. In 2024 she was a member of the dramaturgical commission of Teen Theatre Fest in Trnava. She focuses on new drama and trends in theatre for teenagers (11-15) and introducing theatre of high artistic value into the school space.

Barbara Malecka (she/her)
Konteksty Festival / Early Years Festival

Barbara Malecka is the Artistic Director of Festival Konteksty, a festival of work for young audiences produced by Teatr Animacji in Poznan.  The festival programmes the most interesting performances from the sphere of contemporary puppetry, theatre of form, object and motion, for adult, young and very young audiences.  Teatr Animacji is one of the oldest puppet theatres in Poland, founded in 1945.

Barbara has a particular focus on work for very young audiences.  She is a co-founder and board member of Art Fraction Foundation, an NGO which implements projects for young children, supports the development of theatre for the youngest audiences and is focused on international cooperation. She was also previously the artistic director of an international early years festival, Art Seeks Toddler. 

Barbara is also a stage designer creating sets and touring performances for the early years in Poland and abroad (Japan, Norway, Slovakia).

Third year working with Momentum.

Delegates will be joining us from Lang Spot Community Art Space, Hoi An Center for Culture, Sports, Radio & Television, Hanoi Creative Design Festival, and Hue Festival.

Watch the delegates' video introductions here.

Biographies below:

'Tricia' Trang Thanh Nguyen (she/her)
Lang Spot Community Art Space

Lang Spot is a community art space that hosts a variety of events and classes in theatre, art and dance, supporting the local community by giving everyone an accessible space to create. Tricia manages the space alongside her husband, running theatre classes as well as putting on their own shows, and collaborating with local organisations to support them in their creative endeavours.

Tricia is currently writing and performing her own theatre piece titled: The Boarders, with two British theatre practitioners. She has worked within the art industry for over 10 years, starting as an apprentice ballet dancer with HBSO (Ho Chi Minh City Ballet Symphony Orchestra and Opera) and later founding a small project that helped raise mental health awareness through the arts in Vietnam, with exhibitions and performances. She has also collaborated and performed with The Run Project, an experimental theatre project based in Ho Chi Minh City.

Cam Truong Thi Ngoc
Hoi An Center for Culture, Sports, Radio & Television

The Hoi An Center for Culture, Sports, Radio, and Television is responsible for the preservation and promotion of intangible cultural heritage, as well as for providing public services related to arts and culture, event organization, tourism, and media. The Center regularly organizes events, festivals, competitions, exhibitions, and tourism promotion activities both domestically and internationally, including cultural exchange programs in Germany, France, Japan, South Korea, Hungary, and other countries. They also implement policies to preserve and promote various forms of folk art and traditional craft villages; foster the development of reading culture and creative activities in the local community; and organize training programs and create employment opportunities for talented young individuals in these fields. 

In their capacity as the Director of the Center, Cam oversees overall operations, participates in external relations, acts as the permanent focal point for Hoi An as a UNESCO Creative City, and advises the Hoi An People's Committee on international cooperation initiatives with twin cities and cultural exchange partners of Hoi An.

Huong Bui Thi Thanh (she/her)
Hanoi Creative Design Festival

Architecture Journal, the official publication of the Vietnam Association of Architects (VAA), has led efforts to support Hanoi’s cultural industry since 2019. The Spark of Creativity Week (2021), which evolved into the Hanoi Creative Design Festival (2022–2024), was pioneered by the magazine in collaboration with the Department of Culture and Sports.

Huong has collaborated with domestic and international organizations to ensure the success of the festival since 2022, working closely with architects, artists, and designers from various sectors to transform the event into a dynamic platform showcasing Hanoi’s creative potential. In 2025, Huong is spearheading proposals for the Festival’s 2025–2026 activities, as well as discussing plans and seeking partners to elevate it into an internationally recognized event.

By participating in Momentum, Huong wishes to draw on Edinburgh’s expertise as a festival city, generating new ideas to enhance the Hanoi Festival and its long-term vision, as well as fostering collaborations that could lead to joint projects for the 2026 edition.

Trung Hoang Viet (he/him)
Hue Festival

Hue Monuments Conservation Centre (HMCC) is tasked with preserving and promoting various forms of cultural heritage in Hue City; its main activities include research, conservation and restoration, museum exhibitions, and organization of cultural and artistic activities and festivals within the framework of the annual Hue Festival.

As Director of HMCC, Trung leads on the conservation, restoration, and promotion of the cultural heritage of Hue City, while concurrently serving as the Head of the Organizing Committee of the Festival. He plays a key role in advancing cultural diplomacy and promoting Hue’s heritage on the global stage. This includes expanding international cooperation, mobilizing external resources, and integrating advanced technologies in the areas of conservation, digitization, and heritage research. Trung actively pursues international collaboration by engaging foreign experts, institutions, and funding sources in joint projects, while also strengthening strategic communication to raise public awareness and safeguard the image of Hue’s heritage across international media platforms.

Final year working with Momentum.

Delegates will be joining us from EG Musical Company, National Asian Culture Center Foundation, Korea Disability Arts & Culture Center / Modu Art Theatre, ICONTACT, Seognam Arts Center / Seongnam Cultural Foundation.

Watch the delegates' video introductions here.

Biographies below:

Ara Cho (she/her)
EG Musical Company

EG Musical Company is a South Korean theatre company which creates original musicals centred on human stories. Their work explores global issues such as AI and human dignity, life in the age of social media, and the language of love.  EG’s production You & It, which premiered in 2019, was further developed and showcased in London, was part of the 2024 Korean Season at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and has also toured to Taiwan.

Ara Cho is a producer leading creative development, production, and international collaborations.  Her focus is on connecting Korean musicals with international stages through co-productions, festival touring, and cross-cultural exchange.

Chaehwan Oh (she/her)
National Asian Culture Center Foundation

National Asian Culture Centre Foundation (ACCF) is an international arts and cultural exchange organisation, established for the advancement of mutual understanding and cooperative growth with different Asian countries.  It acts as a platform for participants from Asia and the rest of the world to come together and exchange their ideas while working on research, creation, and production.

Chaehwan Oh is in charge of planning performance and exhibition programmes.

Sehyung Oh (he/him)
Korea Disability Arts & Culture Center / Modu Art Theatre

The Korea Disability Arts & Culture Centre (KDAC) was established and funded by the Korean Ministry of Culture in 2016 to support and nurture disabled artists. KDAC opened the Modu art theatre in 2023; an accessible theatre for disabled artists and backstage teams to develop their skills and create new work.  

Sehyung Oh is the theatre director, managing the theatre and programming performances and diverse programs.  The programme includes Korean artists as well as international artists, for example from England, France and Australia.  The focus on the programme is on disabled artists and the aesthetics of disabled-led work. 

Seungmin Yang (he/him)
ICONTACT

Seungmin Yang is the founder and producer of ICONTACT, a performing arts collective based in Busan, South Korea. ICONTACT focuses on blending documentary sensitivity, physical theatre, traditional Korean culture, and multimedia to develop globally relevant and exportable original works. The company’s ethos centres on reinterpreting local and disappearing realities through international collaboration and experimental formats.

As a producer, he leads international co-productions and tours across Europe and Asia, building sustainable cultural exchange models. He is currently developing projects with La MaMa Theatre (New York) and working with major festivals including the Edinburgh Fringe, FITS (Romania), and ULICA Festival (Poland). He is also the International Exchange Director for the Busan Theatre Association and is preparing for the 2026 Korea Theatre Festival in Busan.  He is interested in cross-cultural dialogue, digital theatre innovation, and collaborative creation across diverse geographies.

Jieun Yoon (she/her)
Seognam Arts Center / Seongnam Cultural Foundation

Jieun Yoon is a manager in the Performing Arts Programming Department at Seongnam Arts Centre, operated by the Seongnam Cultural Foundation under the local government of Seongnam City. She runs the international performing arts programme, focusing on building partnerships with overseas organizations and inviting international artists to Korea.

Seongnam Arts Centre is one of the major performing arts venues in the metropolitan area of South Korea. It offers a wide variety of programs—including theatre, dance, music, and family/children’s performances—across three venues of different sizes.

Previously, from 2007 to 2012, Jieun worked at the Korea Arts Management Service (KAMS), an agency under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, where she was responsible for international market development and the Seoul Performing Arts Market. She managed various projects that promoted Korean performing arts companies abroad, particularly at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and the Edinburgh International Festival.

Hosted in partnership with Edinburgh International Book Festival.

Delegates will be joining us from ARI Literature Foundation (Armenia), Bergen International Literary Festival (Norway), Open Arts (Nigeria), Ceylon Literary & Arts Festival (Sri Lanka), globale° Festival for Border-Crossing Literature (Germany), PEN World Voices Festival (USA) and Translatorium (Ukraine).

Biographies below:

Arevik Ashkharoyan (she/her)
ARI Literature Foundation

Arevik Ashkharoyan started her career in the publishing industry 14 years ago as the first literary agent and co-founder of the first ever Armenian literary agency aimed at promotion of the Armenian literature globally. In 2016 she founded her own ARI Literary Agency which now represents around 20 Armenian writers worldwide. In 2017, she established  ARI Literature Foundation to build multicultural dialogues and to make Armenia an active partner in literary and publishing platforms around the world․ Arevik has been an invited delegate for several other international publishing events, book fairs and conferences, and organised panel discussions with the participation of Armenian writers.  

The ARI Literature Foundation’s projects include a 10 day international writing camp for a group of  young writers from different countries and the Zabel International Women Writers’ Forum, which aims to raise the visibility of Armenian women authors in the market and to introduce women authors in translation to Armenian readers.

Teresa Grøtan (she/her)
Bergen International Literary Festival

The annual Bergen International Literary Festival for non-fiction and fiction (LitFestBergen), held for the first time in 2019, presents around 100 Norwegian and international authors, moderators and artists. LitFestBergen aims to increase understanding of our world and humanity's place in it. It seeks to be bold and innovative, while simultaneously being accessible to a broad audience. LitFestBergen is characterised by literary, linguistic, cultural and geographic diversity, with an emphasis on freedom of expression.

Teresa Grøtan has been the festival director since its inception. She is the artistic director and oversees the running of the non-profit organisation. LitFestBergen collaborates closely with the Bergen House of Literature, where the festival is located.  Grøtan is oriented internationally with an MA from South Africa and a background in journalism and nonfiction books. In 2021, she initiated and ran a collaboration with 12 festivals on all continents, resulting in a successful 12-hour digital “travelling festival”.

Sada Malumfashi (he/him)
Open Arts

Sada Malumfashi is a writer and cultural curator from Nigeria. He is the Founder of Open Arts, a literary and arts collective where he curates the Hausa International Book and Arts Festival (HIBAF), a crisscross festival of arts and language by and for African creatives in an indigenous language. The festival showcases the best of contemporary African literature, poetry, music, art, film, and theatre in the Hausa language. The theme of the 2024 edition of the festival was ‘Popular Culture’ which looked at Hausa as a lingua franca in northern Nigeria surrounded by popular culture from movies to literature, to games and plays, food, clothes and fashion. He has produced video documentaries exploring the identity of cultural and artistic producers from the Hausa diaspora across the world. He is interested in the nexus of culture and identity on the African continent.

Fazeena Rajabdeen (she/her)
Ceylon Literary & Arts Festival

The Ceylon Literary and Arts festival is a platform for arts and culture, with a specific focus on literature, art, film and music. This multi-artform approach aims to broaden the cultural footprint of the festival, connecting literature with other forms of artistic expression and promoting cross-disciplinary engagement.  The festival acts as a platform to create meaningful cultural exchange and raise awareness of global artistic dialogue.  It has a special focus on youth, with a Young Writers programme and an aim to engage the next generation in arts and culture, so they are able to find opportunities in creative industries.

As the Director and Co-Founder of the organization, Fazeena’s role focusses on setting the strategy and vision for the festival, guiding the festival’s direction, ensuring that it remains aligned with its mission of elevating the cultural landscape through creative expression.  She shapes the programming approach across the different artform strands and drives the creation of strategic partnerships for the festival. 

Daniel Schmidt (they/them)
globale° Festival for Border-Crossing Literature

Daniel Schmidt has been co-director and curator of globale° since 2024, together with Tatjana Vogel. globale° festival organises readings, workshops, discussions and offers a forum for writers with a focus on transnational and transcultural practice, with its first instalment in 2007.  Daniel is responsible for scientific and international relations, and besides globale°, is also a writer and a literary scholar.

Their work with cultural partners in the international sector includes strong connections with the Czech Republic (University Ústí nad Labem and Czech Literary Centre) and Ukraine (Cultural Centre Gedankendach, Chernivtsi), and also cultural institutions such as the Institut Français, Instituto Cervantes and Istituto Italiano. Daniel has also collaborated with Italian research project Polyphonie (Universities of Catania and Genoa).

Sabir Sultan (he/him)
PEN World Voices Festival

Sabir Sultan is the director of the World Voices Festival and Literary Programs at PEN America. He has curated literary programs for the past six years. Most recently, he was the Director of Events at The Strand Book Store. Previously, he was an Events Manager at Barnes & Noble. He has a broad background in managing author and publisher relations. He attended Bard College at Simon’s Rock and George Mason University.

Veronika Yadukha (she/her)
Translatorium

Veronika Yadukha is a Ukrainian transmedial translator, art curator, and co-founder of the literary and translation festival TRANSLATORIUM. The organisation works with and for the translation community, while also creating a platform for interdisciplinary collaboration across various art forms. TRANSLATORIUM organises residencies, artistic projects, and the annual Literary and Translation Festival, which takes place each year in Khmelnytskyi (Ukraine) around International Translation Day. The upcoming eighth edition is scheduled for September 19–21, 2025.

Veronika curates artistic and literary projects and facilitates international collaborations that explore translation not only as a linguistic act but as an artistic practice. Her work focuses on transmedial translation—transferring meaning across different mediums such as literature, ceramics, performance, and sound.  She regularly works with artists, translators, and scholars across borders to develop projects that highlight the complexity and beauty of translation in its broadest sense.

Hosted in partnership with Edinburgh Art Festival.

Delegates will be joining us from op.cit. Foundation (Mexico), Samdani Art Foundation (Bangladesh), Artspace (Australia), ARD Art Institution (Egypt), Palestinian Art Court (Palestine), Beirut Art Center (Lebanon), and Pinacoteca Sau Paulo (Brazil).

Biographies below:

David Ayala-Alfonso (he/him)
Independent Curators International / op.cit. Foundation (Mexico)
www.davidayala.info

David Ayala-Alfonso lives and works in Mexico City as a curator and writer. He is a guest curator for Independent Curators International and op. cit., and a Visiting Critic for the At The Transit Bar series. His research addresses visual culture and critical heritage, focusing on the political and ecological implications of extractive practices. He contributes to numerous publications in the US, Mexico, and the UK, and mentors artists in different residency programs in Mexico City. Ayala-Alfonso earned his MA in Visual and Critical Studies from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and has participated in curatorial residencies in France, Colombia, the US, the UK, and Germany.

Independent Curators International (ICI) supports curators to help create stronger art communities through experimentation, collaboration, and international engagement. op.cit. Foundation is comprised of different venues and exhibition programs, artist residencies, and publications of invited artists in collaboration with curators and cultural agents.

Ruxmini Choudhury (she/her)
Samdani Art Foundation (Bangladesh)

The Samdani Art Foundation is a non-profit based in Dhaka, Bangladesh, supporting contemporary art and architecture from South Asia through exhibitions, collaborations, and public programs. Rooted in long-term relationships and collective learning, the Foundation values process and experimentation over static display. It’s best known for the Dhaka Art Summit, a free, non-commercial platform that brings together artists, curators, and thinkers from across the globe.

Ruxmini Reckvana Q Choudhury is a curator at the Foundation, where she leads research-led projects and shapes exhibitions and public engagements. Her work often centers around ideas of collectivity, cultural memory, and care, particularly in how they unfold across different contexts and communities. She’s also deeply involved in art mediation, working closely with mediators to create more inclusive, conversational experiences for audiences. Through international collaborations and long-term partnerships, Ruxmini’s curatorial practice focuses on building space for voices and stories that are too often overlooked in mainstream art narratives.

Katie Dyer (she/her)
Artspace (Australia)

Katie has been Senior Curator at Artspace since 2024. Established in 1983, Artspace is one of the leading institutions for the production and presentation of contemporary art in the Asia Pacific. Katie leads the development and management of Artspace’s artistic program including exhibitions, new work commissions, studio residencies, public engagement initiatives and publishing. Recent international projects include partnerships with Ocean Space, Venice and WIELS, Brussels and FACT, Liverpool. Prior to this she was Senior Curator Contemporary at the Powerhouse Museum where she helped lead the transformation of the museum through the development of artistic programming anchored in research, collections and contemporary critical practice. Her exhibitions there included collaborations with the Wellcome Collection and the V&A, London. She has also held roles at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney, the Museum of Modern Art and The Drawing Center, New York. Her research focuses on interdisciplinary and collaborative cultures and creative practice.

Hana El Beblawy (she/her)
ARD Art Institution (Egypt)

Hana El Beblawy is a curator and arts professional with a passion for promoting contemporary art, based in Egypt. With a Bachelor of Arts degree in Visual Arts from The American University in Cairo (AUC), El Beblawy has a strong foundation in artistic expression and architectural design.

Driven by her passion for promoting contemporary art, she founded and currently manages the ARD Art Institution. As the Founder and Managing Director, she has been instrumental in shaping the institution's vision and direction; ARD presents a diversified program that includes many artistic activities stemming from the surrounding affairs and is open to the world. The program includes; artistic residencies, exhibitions, workshops, and other art alternatives. El Beblawy’s understanding of the local cultural context has allowed her to curate a diverse range of exhibitions and programs that engage with pressing social, political, and cultural issues. Hana is also a member of the Creative Africa Advisory Group for Afreximbank.

Manar Idrissi (she/her)
Palestinian Art Court / Dar Al Kalima University (Palestine)

Manar is a cultural and art manager based in Jerusalem, holding a Master’s degree in Art Management from Barcelona, and is currently working on her research proposal for a Ph.D. in Cultural Studies.  With extensive experience in organizing and managing exhibitions, she also serves as the Dean of Student Affairs at Dar Al-Kalima University in Bethlehem, where she teaches specialized courses on art exhibition management, portfolio development, and the rights and responsibilities of artists in society.

Additionally, Manar is responsible for social interaction and exhibitions at the Palestinian Art Court in Jerusalem. She dedicates her efforts to engaging with diverse communities and has consistently collaborated with youth throughout her career. Recently, her focus has shifted towards organizing exhibitions that highlight emerging artists, and she continues her research on issues related to cultural genocide and the destruction of visual artworks. Manar aims to create a positive and meaningful impact in the fields of cultural interaction and artistic expression.

Ibrahim Nehme (he/him)
Beirut Art Center (Lebanon)

Ibrahim Nehme is a Lebanese writer and multidisciplinary creative working at the intersection of storytelling, cultural practice, and social transformation. He currently serves as the Director of Beirut Art Center, a space committed to functioning as a laboratory of imagination—engaging with immediate urgencies while nurturing the collective imaginary as a vital political force. Since its founding in 2009, the Center has become a critical site for contemporary art in Lebanon and the region, positioning art as a form of resistance and a catalyst for community, kinship, and radical expression.

In his role, Ibrahim develops and oversees artistic programming, forges international collaborations, and explores new models of sustainability and self-organization within the cultural sector. His work is grounded in the belief that art can drive structural change, and he actively works to expand the Center’s impact both locally and globally.

Clarissa Ximenes
Pinacoteca Sau Paulo (Brazil)
claximenes.com

I am a curator, researcher, and cultural facilitator, with a degree in Visual Arts and specializations in Cultural Management and Production. In 2021, I founded BANANAL ARTE E CULTURA, a collaborative studio and cultural space located in Barra Funda, São Paulo. Since 2023, I have been the Programming Curator at the Pinacoteca de São Paulo, responsible for the institution’s public programs, special projects, educational initiatives, and cultural agenda.

I regularly participate in project evaluation committees for the State and Municipal Culture Departments of São Paulo. Over the years, I have assisted in the management and implementation of artistic projects, with a focus on project writing for public grants and incentive laws, as well as supporting, coordinating, and facilitating independent projects by artists and collectives.

First year working with Momentum.

Delegates will be joining us from Nordic Black Theatre, Arctic Arts Festival, Producentbyrån, and Reykjavík Dance Festival.

Watch the delegates' video introductions here.

Biographies below:

Cliff Moustache (he/him)
Nordic Black Theatre

Cliff is one of the founders of Nordic Black Theatre, and its Artistic Director, as well as being a theatre director.  Nordic Black Theatre works to enrich the Norwegian theatre landscape by producing and sharing work which has not been a priority for the theatre sector.  Nordic Black Theatre produces its own productions, participates in collaborative projects with other artists, and develops young actors through the theatre school Nordic Black Xpress (NBX). It is an independent theatre foundation established in 1992.  

Cliff directs productions, speaks on the political theatre scenario of Norway, and campaigns and lobbies. He teaches at NBX, and also at the Norwegian Theatre Academy for students training as directors, where he is also a jury member for directing students’ work.

Susanne Naess Nielsen (she/her)
Arctic Arts Festival

Susanne Næss Nielsen is the newly appointed Artistic Director at The Arctic Arts Festival (Norwegian: Festspillene i Nord-Norge). The festival is based in Harstad, in northern Norway.

The Arctic Arts Festival has ambitions of becoming the world's most important arts festival for the entire Arctic region. Together with strong profiles of arts and culture, the festival sets in motion fresh, creative projects. The festival encourages collaborations which bring together different northern regions, and wishes to take a leading role as a facilitator of network building and as an arena for Arctic arts and culture. The Arctic Arts Festival will foreground new constellations, partnerships and groundbreaking independent productions.

The festival funds diverse projects in the fields of theatre, music and visual art, supporting creative projects which challenge the boundaries of artistic expression through new collaborations. It wants to provide the opportunity for artists to think big, push the boundaries and take chances!

Dag Rosenqvist
Producentbyrån

Producentbyrån was founded in 2008 and is a team of producers and project managers working with various artists, companies, festivals, conferences and projects in performing arts, both in Sweden and internationally. It works primarily with the independent performing arts sector, and its services consist of tour management, communication, project management, coordination, production, administration and fundraising.

Dag is one of the co-directors of Producentbyrån, working across its operations but with a focus on coordination, strategic communication and advisory work for supported companies, and managing Producentbyrån’s communication channels. Their main international focus is Step, an international dance festival for young audiences that was launched in 2020, and where Dag works mainly with the artistic curators, on the professionals’ programme, strategic communications and international relations. 

Pétur Ármannsson (he/him)
Reykjavík Dance Festival

Pétur Ármannsson is co-artistic director, with Brogan Davison, of Reykjavík Dance Festival (RDF).  Reykjavík Dance Festival is an international centre for choreographic practices in Iceland.  It runs residencies for local and international artists as well as an international festival, taking place in November each year. The festival presents and co-produces work, through collaborative networks such as Aerowaves, with around 6-8 international artists performing at the festival every year.

In collaboration with Brogan, Pétur is also a creator of contemporary performance.  They have presented work in over sixty venues in eleven countries, working with the formats of dance, biographical performance and stand-up and in venues ranging from the black box to the living rooms of strangers.

First year working with Momentum.

Delegates will be joining us from Istanbul Atatürk Cultural Centre, an independent playwright, Ankara State Opera and Ballet / Modern Dance Company, and Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts / Istanbul Theatre Festival.

Watch the delegates' video introductions here.

Biographies below:

Murat Baki (he/him)
Istanbul Atatürk Cultural Centre

Murat Baki is the Event and Festival Manager at Atatürk Cultural Center (AKM), operating under Türkiye’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism. 

He curates and coordinates a wide range of artistic programmes—from national institutions like the State Opera and Ballet to globally celebrated performers. His role bridges creative vision and detailed execution.  Murat also leads on programming for the Türkiye Kültür Yolu Festival, a nationwide initiative fostering access to the arts through inclusive and dynamic cultural events.

His focus is on shaping experiences that connect people—audiences and artists alike—across borders and creative disciplines; building platforms where meaningful artistic encounters can flourish.

Ebru Nihan Celkan (they/them)
Independent Playwright and Director
linkedin.com/in/ecelkan

Ebru Nihan Celkan is an internationally active independent playwright and director whose work engages with urgent sociopolitical themes through a feminist and intersectional lens. They have written 14 plays and directed 6, focusing on topics such as gender equality, masculinity, militarism, systemic violence, collective memory, and—more recently—forced displacement and migration. Their plays have been staged in numerous cities across Türkiye, Germany and  the USA. Their most recent play, The Loop, premiered at the 28th Istanbul International Theatre Festival and continues to be staged across Türkiye.

Ebru’s ongoing project Diverse Steps invites communities to engage with the hidden or erased histories of the spaces they inhabit. The project reclaims memory through gender- and diversity-informed storytelling, encouraging walkers and storytellers alike to rediscover underrepresented figures and reframe public space through alternative narratives.

In 2020, Ebru was the Stadtschreiberin von Ludwigsburg (City Writer of Ludwigsburg), during which they wrote Der Weltschmerz, an essay based on interviews and experiences with local residents. The work was later published by the city as a standalone book.

Burge Kayacan (she/her)
Ankara State Opera and Ballet / Modern Dance Company

The Modern Dance Company (MDT) was established in Ankara in 1992 under the General Directorate of the State Opera and Ballet. Since then, MDT has produced over 80 works in collaboration with both Turkish and international choreographers. The company regularly performs at the Ankara Opera Stage and tours nationally and internationally.

Burge Kayacan is MDT’s Artistic Director, and her responsibilities include curating the company’s repertoire, engaging with choreographers, securing financial sponsorships, and organizing touring.  She works closely with contemporary dance festivals and art institutions in Turkey, as well as with universities that have dance and ballet departments.

Established in 1949, Türkiye’s State Opera and Ballet has directorates in six provinces of Türkiye. Its affiliated institutions engaged in opera, ballet, and contemporary dance work nationally and internationally.

Handan Uzal Dündar (she/her)
Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts / Istanbul Theatre Festival

Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (IKSV) is a non-profit cultural institution established in 1973.  IKSV organises the Istanbul Festivals of Music, Film, Theatre and Jazz and the Istanbul Biennial.  An international event bringing together theatre companies and dance groups from Türkiye and abroad, the Istanbul Theatre Festival was first held in 1989.  The festival hosts carefully selected companies and artists, aiming to open up new horizons for both the audience and the art world by bringing national and international, classical and contemporary renditions to the stage through its unique lens.

The festival is programmed by a guest curator, each of whom is responsible for two editions.  Handan’s role as Programme Manager is to collaborate closely with the guest curator to shape the festival’s programme and to lead the teams and ensure its seamless and impactful execution.  This includes researching potential artists and companies and working closely with the curator to create relevant and compelling festival programmes.  

Third year working with Momentum.

Delegates will be joining us from Studio 8, Mraya Theater Project, Damascus Theatre Laboratory, Ezzat Ezzat Contemporary Dance Studio, and Amman Contemporary Dance Festival / National Centre for Culture & Arts.

Watch the delegates' video introductions here.

Biographies below:

Hadi Nahleh (he/him)
Studio 8

Hadi Nahleh is a choreographer, curator and the Artistic Director of Studio 8 and IDEA Festival, both based in Amman, Jordan. Studio 8 is a cultural and artistic platform which supports contemporary dance and interdisciplinary performance through creation, education, and community engagement. Its ethos is grounded in experimentation, collaboration, and inclusivity, particularly in contexts where resources and infrastructure are limited.

Through IDEA Festival, Hadi curates and produces a biennial program which brings together local, regional, and international artists for residencies, performances, and knowledge exchange. His practice is deeply rooted in process, embodiment, and social engagement.  His international work includes collaborations across Europe, the Arab region, and the Global South, with a strong focus on cross-cultural dialogue and sustainable artistic ecosystems.  He is also committed to mentoring emerging artists and building networks that bridge communities through dance and performance. 

Anna Akkash (she/her)
Mraya Theater Project

Anna is a theatre practitioner and founder of Mraya Theater Project, a Syrian initiative founded in 2017 during the war.  Mraya works at the intersection of interactive theatre, documentation, and community engagement. Mraya is committed to preserving intangible Syrian heritage and documenting personal and collective Syrian narratives from the past fourteen years, as a way to safeguard contemporary memory. Its work focuses on marginalized voices, including women affected by violence and individuals impacted by war. Based in Damascus and Tartous, Mraya engages in drama therapy, participatory methods, and partnerships with local NGOs.

Anna’s experience includes playwriting, dramaturgy, and theatre directing. She designs and supervises specialised theatre workshops focused on various aspects of performance-making and dramaturgical development. She builds regional and international collaborations, particularly with cultural and artistic organisations across the Arab region and Europe. Her focus is on creating reflective, accessible, and culturally relevant frameworks for artistic exchange and professional growth in the performing arts.

Osama Ghanam (he/him)
Damascus Theatre Laboratory

Osama Ghanam is a theatre director, playwright, translator and academic.  He is the founder and artistic director of the Damascus Theatre Laboratory (DTL) which was founded in 2010 with a mission to establish a creative and independent space for artistic and empirical research for aspiring theatre professionals in Syria that motivates them to produce their own shows. 

At Damascus Theatre Laboratory Osama has produced local adaptations of works by writers including Samuel Beckett, Mark Ravenhill, Franz Kroetz, Dario Fo, Harold Pinter and Tennessee Williams, as well as his own play Shams and Majd.  His works have been staged in Damascus, Beirut, Tunisia, Germany and Belgium.  

As well as plays he has translated Patrice Pavis’s Routledge Dictionary of Contemporary Theatre and Performance. He has a PhD in Theatre Studies from Paris 8 University and teaches at the Higher Institute of Theatre in Damascus and at Saint Joseph University in Beirut. 

Ezzat Ismail (he/him)
Ezzat Ezzat Contemporary Dance Studio

Ezzat Ismail is the founder and artistic director of Ezzat Ezzat Studio, an independent contemporary dance studio based in Cairo, Egypt. The studio serves as a hub for experimentation, training, and artistic exchange within Egypt’s contemporary dance scene. Its programs—such as the Preparatory Training Program, Contemporary Dance Night (CDN), and national artist residencies—support both emerging and professional artists, while fostering connections with local communities and international collaborators.

As a choreographer, Ezzat’s work has been presented in Europe, the Middle East, and the United States. He was also part of the creative team behind Egypt’s Golden Parade of the Pharaohs, a globally televised cultural event. Drawing on his background in architecture and AI, his projects often explore space, dramaturgy, and movement in innovative ways. His role includes leading international collaborations, commissioning works, and building long-term platforms for artistic development and cultural dialogue.

Rania Kamhawi (she/her)
Amman Contemporary Dance Festival / National Centre for Culture & Arts

The National Centre for Culture and Arts was established in 1987 to promote social development, education, respect of cultural diversity and cultural exchange through the use of performing arts, mainly theatre and dance. It aims to make arts and culture accessible to all.

Rania has been the Senior Programme Development and International Manager at NCCA since 1997.  She is the founder of NCCA’s MISK Dance Company, founder and director of Amman Contemporary Dance Festival and is credited with establishing the first professional dance programme in Jordan. 

As a choreographer, Rania’s recent projects include the Jordanian performance at Japan Expo in May 2025 and the official Silver Jubilee Ceremony marking HM King Abdullah’s ascension to the throne with 1600 participants in June 2024.  She has participated in a number of international choreographic residences and programmes in the USA and in Cuba. 

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