Plans For The Future

In this special episode of Plans For The Future, LIFT's founders, Lucy Neal and Rose Fenton, and LIFT's current leaders, Kris Nelson and Stella Kanu talk about the past, present and future of the festival. They discuss why it was - and continues to be - essential to bring international work to London, to take risks, push boundaries, and connect global art and artists with Londoners in meaningful and impactful ways.

Meiyin Wang is the Producing Director of The Ronald O. Perelman Performing Arts Centre, a new space set to open in 2023 on the World Trade Centre campus. She spoke to LIFT artistic director and CEO Kris Nelson live from New York about the state of the arts there and what her most hopeful vision for the future of arts and culture is.

Giorgia Ohanesian Nardin is an artist, researcher and queer agitator of Armenian descent. They chatted to Kris Nelson, LIFT's artistic director and CEO about what's happening in culture in Italy right now and what the future of the arts globally might look like.

Juliet Knapp is co-director of Kyoto Experiment, a festival that's changing what's happening in the Japanese independent scene. She joined LIFT Artistic Director and CEO Kris Nelson to live from Kyoto to talk about experimental performance, the experience of co-directing, what's inspiring her right now and what the future of the arts might look like.

Renowned Argentinian theatre and cinema artist Mariano Pensotti joined LIFT CEO and Artistic Director Kris Nelson live from Buenos Aires to talk about the future of culture. In this episode, Mariano discusses how he's been working during the pandemic - including directing an opera remotely, offers insights into his current projects, and shares what's inspiring him right now.

Artist, writer and feminist thinker Dr. Njoki Ngumi joined LIFT Artistic Director and CEO Kris Nelson live from Nairobi to discuss the state of arts in Nairobi, and what the future of culture could look like.