Discover the Up Grants 2024 Jury

The Up Grants 2024 contest is on, with more than 100 cultural projects and initiatives promoting access and inclusion participating. Four of them will be rewarded with a small operating grant to help them implement their activities, and with an invitation to host a workshop at our annual conference in June. The winners will be selected based on a combination of popular and expert vote. Here are the members of the jury who will be assessing the projects:

Kirsi Mustalahti is the founder and chairperson of ACCAC Global, a network promoting access and equity through culture and the arts. Since 2011, ACCAC fosters positive change through inclusive festivals, seminars, global cooperation projects, and more.

Zita Holbourne is an award-winning multidisciplinary artist, writer, human rights and equality campaigner, community activist and trade union leader. Among other tasks, she is the co-founder and national chair of BARAC UK, and joint national chairperson of Artists' Union England and the Culture Workers Network.

Diana Anselmo is a LIS/Italian bilengual artist who debuted in 2021 with their first performance "Autoritratto in 3 atti", still presented in various Italian and foreign festivals. Diana is the accessibility manager of various Festivals, and one of the founders of Al.Di.Qua. Artists, Europe's first association of and for artists with disabilities.

Markku Turunen is a professor of Interactive Technology at the Master's programme in Sustainable Societies and Digitalisation at the University of Tampere, Finland. He also provides his expertise to the Tampere Accessibility Unit.

Piotr Michalowski is a jazz musician, a European projects consultant, and an independent expert for the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe programme, among other roles. At ENCC, he is a member of the Board of Directors and the coordinator of the network's working group on cultural centres and non-urban areas.

Sara Turra is the coordinator of ENCC. She has a background in International and Diplomatic Sciences and long experience in the coordination of international networks, as well as in managing programs, projects and teams.

Cigdem Ozdemircelik is an administration and project officer at ENCC, as well as the coordinator of the Up Grants programme. She has experience in communications, journalism, interpreting, and translation.

Sophie Dowden is a diversity, equity and inclusion consultant. At ENCC, she facilitates the working group on inclusion and accessibility in socio-cultural centres.

Discover more about the Up Grants programme here