NEWS FROM OTHER FUTURES - December, 2024

ANNOUNCEMENT NEW DIRECTORSHIP OTHER FUTURES

Other Futures is pleased to announce the appointment Katayoun Arian as the new artistic director to lead the festival's third edition and Maria Nikolaidou as the newly appointed business director.

Building on the solid foundation established by Brigitte van der Sande –the founder and artistic director of the festival's first two editions– Katayoun brings a wealth of expertise, experience, and an adventurous spirit, making her the ideal choice to guide Other Futures forward.

Christina Li, board member Other Futures: The Board of Other Futures is excited to welcome Katayoun Arian as the new Artistic Director. We are eager for the festival’s upcoming third edition, where Arian will bring her distinctive interdisciplinary vision—one that explores the deep connections between art and society—to imagine worldviews that are urgently needed in these discordant times. She has already begun shaping the vision for the festival's next edition, which is set to take place in Amsterdam in 2026. Arian will be supported by Maria Nikolaidou, the new Business Director of Other Futures, whose strong business background and experience in festival management will help to jointly guide Other Futures into a generative new chapter.

Katayoun: I am thrilled to step into the role of Artistic Director for the much-anticipated next chapter of the Other Futures Festival. Building on the festival's foundational principles, I see this as an exciting opportunity to investigate the transformative potential of multidisciplinary, speculative world-building through collaboration. In line with much of my other work, my goal is to create a platform that amplifies and celebrates voices from diverse backgrounds while deeply engaging with practices that transcend boundaries, merge disciplines, and stimulate the senses—exploring the thresholds of the visible, audible, and thinkable. Alternative worldings of the future—those that challenge dominant historical narratives—can emerge from sensory and decolonial imaginaries, overlooked archives, and practices of storytelling and deeper listening. As we embark on a journey of examining new approaches and formats for the festival, much of the work will unfold behind the scenes. In the coming period, I very much look forward to the testing phase, which is set to pave the way for a gradual unveiling of the next chapter of Other Futures.

Maria: I am delighted to take on the role of Business Director for the Other Futures Festival. Collaborating with Katayoun as Artistic Director, I am deeply inspired by her vision of leveraging art as a transformative tool to imagine alternative futures while critically reflecting on the past and present. In this position, I will apply my business expertise to foster meaningful relationships with artists, performers, cultural institutions, local communities, and partners. Additionally, I will focus on coordinating departments and leading the planning, marketing and logistics to ensure the festival’s seamless execution. I look forward to bringing the Other Futures next chapter’s vision to life and ensure the festival continues to inspire for years to come.