Meet our GCRP participants 2022

We’re very happy to announce the cultural changemakers and innovators selected to take part in our Global Cultural Relations Programme (GCRP) 2022!

40 participants have been selected from over 2,000 applications to take part in our flagship training programme for cultural and creative professionals around the world. They span 40 nationalities and numerous sectors including performing arts, music, audio visual, cultural heritage and visual arts.

During the four-day GCRP programme (10-13 May) they will network, share experiences and ideas, build their skills in international cultural relations and have the opportunity to develop a collaborative international cultural project.

Asia and Pacific

Sharmilla Ganesan: Radio Presenter & Producer at BFM 89.9 (Malaysia)
Glyn Roberts : Festival Director & CEO at Castlemaine State Festival (Australia)
Mai Nguyen: Founder & Director at Meye Creative Co. Ltd. (Vietnam)
Tomoko Nakamura: First Secretary at the Embassy of Japan in the United States of America (Japan)
Wendy Ng: Public Engagement Assistant, Experiential Learning Coordinator, U.S. Embassy Singapore (Singapore)
Xiangling Chen : Associate Programme Specialist at UNESCO World Heritage Centre (China)
Sepehr Sharifzadeh: Artistic Director at NH Theatre Agency (Iran)

European Union

Anna Isola: International Consultant at Hangvető Ltd. (Hungary)
Anni Pohto Huhtisaari : Owner, Creative Director & Artist at Northern Atlantis (Finland)
Beatriz Chivite: International Engagement Officer for the Architectural Association in London (Spain)
Camilla Gürtler: Producer at The Development Platform for the Performing Arts (Denmark)
Catarina Neves Ricci: Film and Dance-Theatre Director; Writer (Portugal)
Diego Aparicio: Artistic Director at Queer Wave: the Cyprus LGBTQIA+ Film Festival (Cyprus)
Genevieve Marciniak : Relationship Manager for the World Cities Culture Forum (Poland)
Kristine Milere: Exhibition Curator at the Latvian National Museum of Art / the Art Museum RIGA BOURSE (Latvia)
Monika Necpalova: Founder and President of the international cultural NGO Thalia Teatro (Slovakia)
Nele Tast: Cultural Manager for city-twinning programme & international projects at City of Hannover (Germany)

Europe and Central Asia

Asli Yurdanur: Cultural Affairs Coordinator at the Consulate General of Sweden in Istanbul (Turkey)
Gunesh Khodjakuli: Freelance coordinator in projects funded by Swiss Cooperation Office, British Council and Goethe Institute (Uzbekistan)
Nino Gvasalia : Counselor to the Mayor of Poti (Georgia)
Tom Curteis: Partnerships Programme Manager at Leeds 2023 (United Kingdom)
Zorica Velkovska: Co-founder; Project & Product Manager at Center for Social Innovations BLINK 42-21 (North Macedonia)

Latin America and Caribbean

David Suarez: Curator and Museum Advisor at La Fototeca and the International Movement for a New Museology – MINOM (Colombia)
Isabel Gil: Founding Partner & CEO at Aura (Mexico)
Magdalena Ayerra: SPURS/Humphrey Fellow at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Argentina)
Mariana Soares: Director for International Cultural Cooperation at SOMA Institute for Creative Citizenship and Project Manager at Ibermuseums Programme (Brazil)
Talía Vega León: Cultural Manager and Curator; Director and co-founder of Radical Sounds Latin America (Peru)

Southern Mediterranean

Mohamed Biyjeddiguene: Project Manager at The Moroccan Association of Electronic Music (Morocco)
Sanad Abu Assaf: Independent Art & Inclusion Director and Consultant (Jordan)
Naoures Rouissi: Programmer of Manarat Film Festival 2021 and 2022 (Tunisia)

North America

Melody Ma: Cultural Advocate and Co-founder of Podyssey Podcasts (Canada)
William Smith: Chief Executive Officer for Merrion & Smith, Curator and Museum Specialist (United States)