Myrthe Niens
Myrthe Niens, she/her, is project leader of the projects Entrepreneurship (AHK) and Fair Practice (ATD). She got her Bachelor’s degree in Theatre & Education at HKU (2009) and graduated from the Master of Arts Education at the AHK (2016). As a specialist in theatre education and maker in special needs education, accessibility & inclusion are central to her way of thinking.Among other things, she conducted research for Stichting 5D on creative access. Making plays accessible to - in this case - people with visual impairments. She also developed tailor-made art projects for (special needs) education and set up training courses for art teachers in primary education. 

‘My first play teacher at theatre school once said: ‘from now on you are a professional and you won't work anywhere for a book voucher’. This is where the seed was planted for pursuing an honest working practice in which we have to take ourselves seriously as artists.’ 

Kim Verduijn
Kim Verduijn, she/her, is education coordinator of the AHK Entrepreneurship project and the Academy for Theatre and Dance's Fair Practice project. She graduated from the Netherlands Film Academy (production design), has a Master’s degree in Film Studies and runs a hybrid working practice. Kim is an entrepreneur and works as a (production) designer and scenic artist in the cultural creative sector, next to a freelance career in art education. 

'Why the AHK Starterscafé is important to me? Exploring your own entrepreneurship as an artist and getting to know your position in the work field creates more room for creativity. The AHK Starterscafé gives the creator the opportunity to lay a nice foundation of business knowledge and thus create peace of mind and hold space to creative ideas.’ 

Maarten Heijnens
Maarten Heijnens, he/him, recently started as Junior Project Officer at the AHK Starterscafé. He graduated from the Performance Program (Toneelacademie Maastricht) in 2019 and the Master DAS Theatre (AHK) in 2024. Since then, he has been working as a maker/performer at the intersection of performing and visual arts. He recently became part of Platform Nexus: a new artistic work and maker space. Besides his own artistic practice, he is also involved in various ways in creative processes of other makers. 

‘After graduating, I found myself in a working field that is constantly changing and where you have to reposition yourself as an entrepreneur every time. The AHK Starterscafé offered help by offering ‘tailor-made’ advice regarding my projects or me as a maker/entrepreneur and the exchange of knowledge. I am very much looking forward to working as a Junior Project Officer and thus helping students find their own path within the artistic field of work.’