Level Up | Year Program

Level Up – Year Program

Level Up is a year-long program that supports emerging artists in developing their professional practice. Through talks, workshops, and speeddates, participants explore key aspects of entrepreneurship in the arts and gain practical tools for their careers.

This ticket grants you access to all events included in the Level Up Year Program. One ticket is all you need to participate in the full series.

For whom

Fresh out of art school or a design academy and ready to take your practice to the next level? Or are you a self-taught artist eager with great aspirations? This event is for you: graduating artists, artists who have recently graduated (less than 3 years ago), or professional self-taught artists (with a practice younger than 5 year).

PROGRAM 2026

January | Online Speeddates

In January, we organize online speeddates for emerging artists, designers and creatives, offering one-on-one conversations with experienced art professionals. These 15-minute sessions provide an opportunity to ask focused questions on topics such as marketing, grant applications, and building a professional network.​​ In January, you will have the opportunity to speak with Zippora Elders (curator at the Van Abbemuseum) and Lucette ter Borg (art critic at NRC), as well as professionals of your choice: Based on the registrations and your wishes, we curate a diverse group of professionals from the art and creative field who are ready to engage with and advise the participants.

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March 27 | Prospects @Art Rotterdam

During Art Rotterdam, the Mondriaan Fund annually presents the exhibition Prospects, which aims to increase the visibility of emerging artists. The 2024 participants of Prospects have each received financial support from the fund through the Artist Start grant, intended for artists who have been working professionally for one to four years. This stipend supports the development of new work and artistic practice, including research, materials, equipment, and projects both in the Netherlands and abroad.

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June | Online Speeddates

In January and June, we organize online speeddates for emerging artists, designers and creatives, offering one-on-one conversations with experienced art professionals. These 15-minute sessions provide an opportunity to ask focused questions on topics such as marketing, grant applications, and building a professional network. Based on the registrations, we curate a diverse group of professionals from the art and creative field who are ready to engage with and advise the participants.​​

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September | NAP+ Meet the gallerists

In September 2026, meet the gallerists of art fair NAP+ kicks during our Breakfast Speeddates. Over coffee and croissants, you’ll join 20-minute rotations with participating gallerists: an informal yet focused way to ask everything you want to know about collaboration, representation, pricing, visibility, and navigating the art market. This is your chance to connect directly with professionals and sharpen your understanding of the dynamics of artist–gallery relationships. When the sessions wrap up, participants get free access to the NAP+ art fair, where you can discover new work at your own pace.

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November | Level Up Day

Join us for our annual Level Up day in november of 2026: a packed programme with talks, speeddates, workshops and network opportunities! This event is part of Level Up, a year-long programme for emerging artists, designers and creatives, to boost your professional skills. The day ends with an informal networking drink. The event is English.

About us

Level Up is a project by Kunstmest.Consulting and Stichting Art Projects in partnership with Nieuwe Instituut. Level Up is generously supported by VandenEnde Foundation, Pictoright Foundation, Ondernemersbelangen Rotterdam and Droom en Daad.