WORK: LUNDS MUNICIPALITY

After years of working in the independent cultural art sector and the cultural and creative industries, I realised I wanted to develop a new way of understanding the cultural sector in Sweden. I wanted to keep on facilitating creatives to develop and execute their projects but from another position.
So when the job as Grant Administrator for Cultural Support in Lund appeared, it felt like a sign. I applied and joined the team in September 2021.

Coming from the independent cultural field into a politically governed organisation has given me a valuable perspective on how culture is both created and sustained. The independent side taught me to think fast and collaboratively, while the municipal side has shown me the importance of structure, transparency, policies and long-term responsibility.

Since then, my focus has been on broadening access to Lund’s cultural support by establishing lower thresholds and creating opportunities for competence development for the cultural actors of the city of Lund, in order to make our grants more democratically accessible.

I’ve also initiated several projects to strengthen dialogue and learning within the sector:
Fika med en handläggare:open conversations about funding and project development.

FIKA MED EN HANDLÄGGARE

Once a week throughout the Project Grant application window, I host drop-in hours at Stadshallen in Lund, to discuss your project ideas, the support you can apply for with us, and point you to other relevant funding, organisations or people you can contact to develop and execute your project.

Collective Knowledge: a lecture series with STPLN, promoting diversity and practical know-how in the cultural sector.

Collaborations between supported organisations: encouraging exchange, visibility, and shared learning.

MUSIC MIX: NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR US

Oyuki Matsumoto · Mix for Kitty Crowther

PLAYLIST:

Mix for Kitty

When Debora Voges from Lunds Konsthall and Kristina Wåhlin from Litferalund invited me into the early curatorial planning of Nothing Is Impossible for Us – 20 Picturebook Makers at Work. I got stucked on Kitty Crowther illustrations- I loved the strokes and the colorful representation of these creatures on any surface that would accept some intervention. I didn’t get to be part of the whole production of the exhibition as I started another position in a different municipality but, I got invited to create a Mix for Kitty Crowther’s hand picked songs for ther performance at the opening. The mix became both a companion to her live presence and a narrative thread through the exhibition’s opening moment.

For me it was a way of quitely lift not only the peformance and the opening but the great work behind this amazing exhibition and all the artists and people involved behind it.

SONGS:

• Tsinktskaro - Hamlet Gonashvili

• Skocne - Black Ox Orkestar

• El Bueno y el Malo - Hermanos Gutiérrez

• Demon Host - Timber Timbre

• Slowly Forgetting, Barely Remembering - Martyna Basta

• Roger - Damien Jurado

• Omaya, Pt.3 - Babx

• Prepare - Stimming

• New Abundance - Omar Enfedaque

• Teardrop - Massive Attack ft. Elizabeth Frazer

• Maraqopa - Damien Jurado

WORK: STUDIO ANRK

It’s been truly inspiring to work with Studio ANRK, not least because of how much I’ve learned in such a short time. I first met Anrick Bregman years ago through The Hoxton Window Project, which I later brought to Malmö and reimagined as The STPLN Window Project with his consent and collaboration.
Getting to know Anrick was one of those creative encounters that begins with curiosity and ends up reshaping the way you think and work.

When I later joined his Studio ANRK, I stepped into a world where art, technology, and storytelling merge in real time. I collaborated with Anrick and his team on a range of immersive projects, including Ralph Lauren’s AR experiences during the 2020 Olympics and Being Waves, an experimental, music-driven VR installation created with Kinkajous and supported by the British Council.

Kinkajous

Being Waves was conceived as a multisensory experience where music becomes a destination. My role focused on assisting Anrick in creative production and process coordination, bridging between artists, technologists, and international partners. The British Council’s support enabled the studio to pilot and further develop the concept, exploring how sound and motion can translate into immersive emotional space.

Working with Anrick Bregman taught me how digital tools can serve poetic, artistic ends when guided by empathy and clarity. It expanded my understanding of interactive design and real-time production, but more than anything, it reshaped how I think about collaboration across distance and discipline.

WORK: DOMESTIKA

When Domestika reached out, I saw an opportunity to connect artists and designers with a global audience, not through promotion, but through education. Each course became a bridge between creative practice and public learning, between studio process and storytelling.

As Content Producer, I was responsible for developing and delivering over 45 online courses across creative disciplines, from furniture design and illustration to fashion and photography. I oversaw the full production journey: concept development, instructor onboarding, filming, editing, and publishing on Domestika’s international platform

How do you translate a deeply personal creative process into something teachable without losing its authenticity or rhythm? Every artist had their own pace, habits, and world of references. My role was to shape that into a coherent, engaging learning experience while trying to keep their voice intact. This role refined my skills in creative direction, content strategy, and project leadership, but also in something less visible: The ability to listen deeply to an artist’s process and translate it into something that feels alive online. It also expanded my international network within the creative industries and reaffirmed my belief that education can be a powerful cultural medium.

Here are a few examples of the courses and the creative individuals I had the privilege to collaborate with:

WRITTING: Since 66 MX

POSITION: Guest Blogger.

After returning to Mexico following many years in Scandinavia, I realized that my written Spanish had become a bit rusty. So when I was invited to be a guest blogger for Since 66, a platform celebrating the culture around the iconic skate brand VANS, I saw it not just as a creative opportunity, but also a personal challenge.

The editor was looking to bring in more female voices and perspectives within skateboarding culture, and invited me to contribute. I wrote about everything from representation and gender to identity, drawing from my own experiences, including my time as the first female chairperson on the board of Bryggeriet Skate, one of Scandinavia’s most established skate organisations.

I contributed regularly for a full year, writing articles that focused on women in skateboarding and the broader cultural narratives surrounding the scene. Thanks to this collaboration, VANS later went on to support the UCANSKATE initiative.

Since 66 was discontinued by the brand a few years ago, so the blog and my articles are unfortunately no longer available online. Still, this experience remains one of the many examples of how I move across disciplines, languages, and formats, always looking to bridge perspectives and create space for underrepresented voices.

Durante el más reciente Vans Royal Side Stripe tuvimos la oportunidad de entrevistar a tres de nuestros invitados especiales: Steve Van Doren, Chris Russell y Tony Trujillo. Chequen este Recap.

Uploaded by since66.mx on 2018-04-03.

PROJECT: UCanSkate

UcanSkate Logo designed by Spanish artist Fernando Elvira.

UCanSkate is a community-based initiative I co-founded together with an incredible group of female Mexican skateboarders. The idea was born in November 2017, during a women’s skate competition in Mexico City sponsored by Nike.

I’ve been fascinated by skateboarding for as long as I can remember, even if I’ve never considered myself a great skater, I’ve always been involved in one way or another in the scene. Watching the energy and talent at that competition, I thought: what if we could create something that connects these girls beyond a single event?

So I reached out to a few of the skaters I met there, and together we began shaping what would become

UCanSkate, a community built to uplift, support, and give visibility to women skateboarders in Mexico. Our goal was simple: to help each other grow, share resources, and show the world what’s really happening in the Mexican skateboarding scene.

Over the years, the community has grown into something far bigger than we imagined. We’ve traveled together internationally, supported skaters to compete abroad, and collaborated on projects that combine creativity, empowerment, and movement.

Although I’ve since stepped back from the project, UCanSkate continues in the hands of an amazing team who are now developing initiatives for indigenous girls in southern Mexico, helping them discover confidence and joy through skateboarding.

First Demo with the whole crew

Ucanskate Instagram

Ucanskate Facebook Page

Ucanskate YouTube Channel

Article about the premiere of Polar Skate Co video We Blew it at Some Point, brough to Mexico City by UcanSkate

PROJECT: SESAME PLAY WORKSHOP

Behind Sesame Street is Sesame Workshop, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping children grow smarter, stronger, and kinder through educational media, family programs, and community events.

I was brought on as both producer and workshop designer for Little Adventurous (Pequeñas Aventureras), a multimedia initiative developed in partnership with Dubai Cares and the Inter-American Development Bank. The project aimed to ito strengthen STEM education for young children, especially girls.

My role combined production and creative workshop design, developing playful learning tools such as:
– a memory game featuring Mexican women in STEM,
– a poster activity exploring gender and perception,
– and a role-play game where kids dressed up as STEM professionals.

The prototype was tested in schools in Mexico City and Monterrey, and taught me the importance of designing with cultural awareness. Working in rural contexts revealed how much education depends on understanding local culture, identity, and everyday reality, a lesson I carry forward in every project I do.

TALK: How Work Works

I had the opportunity to participate in a three day conference organized by Nova Iskra and the consortium of ECHN project partners. The three main sessions are dedicated to the questions of space, community and businessmodels of creative hubs. As a part of each session, three organizations will be presented, and then take part in a short panel discussion.

The international conference How Work Works is a part of the European Creative Hubs Network project, initiated by the British Council’s Creative Economy department, in which Nova Iskra participates together with partners from Greece, Spain, Germany, Belgium and Great Britain. More than 150 delegates, hub leaders and a number of European and regional stakeholders will come together in Belgrade at the first of the three forthcoming forums, in order to map the European eco-system of hubs active in the fields of education and entrepreneurship, and support their networking, knowledge exchange and capacity building.

The conference will be attended by managers of some of Europe’s leading creative hubs from more than 25 countries, including Betahaus (Berlin, Sofia), Waag Society (Amsterdam), Taktal (Glasgow), Fabrica Cultural(Madrid), Sektor5 (Vienna), Todos (Lisboa), Cable Factory (Helsinki), Stpln (Malmö), The Roco (Sheffield), The Trampery (London), La Vallee (Brussels), Bios/Romantcho (Athens), Republikken (Copenhagen), Poligon, Roglab (Ljubljana), MOB makerspace (Barcelona), Atoyle Labs (Istanbul), The Fusebox (Brighton), Frappant (Hamburg), Design Terminal (Budapest) as well as numerous others, including all relevant local and regional initiatives.

TALK: WORK @ CREATIVE MORNINGS

Position: Speaker.

Creative Mornings is a breakfast lecture series for the creative community. I was invited to participate at their sessions in Guadalajara, Jalisco. The subject was one of my favorites: WORK.

It was nice to be back in Guadalajara, the city where I studied university and where I also started working as a producer. Talking infront of a Public is always challenging for me as I’m so used to be behind the scenes. But I like to share my experiences with others so I guess in that sense it was fun and giving to be there and to participate in this incredible network of inspiring people.

Below you can find the whole conference in Spanish though. Maybe one day I get myself to make subtitles to it, until now... if you can...enjoy!

I even created a play list for the occasion in case you need some inspiration to WORK IT!

PROJECT: Fabriken, Sweden's first maker-space

Position: Project Manager, concept developer and content creator.

Fabriken, now called Malmö Makerspace, was Sweden's first Makerspace, started as an experiment with a strong pull from Malmö University. In the beginning Fabriken was managed just by a group of people that gathered and experimented with the machines, but we realized that the space and the machines were deteriorating and we needed to find a way to make the project sustainable. We went through a deep cleaning and process of renovation and in August 2013 we opened again with a new membership system, several new machines and a unique partnership with the company Arduino Verkstad that helped us to continue to be first with the latest technologies.

Part of my work with the project was to lead the renovation and the changes made in the methodology of Fabriken as well as the partnerships. The membership based workshop allowed many of the members learn how to use machines such as laser-cutter, 3D printer and CNC-Miller. We also created workshops where we mixed crafts and technology both for children and adults. 

As a project manager for Fabriken I get even to work with a fantastic team of people that were key to the development of Fabriken becoming not Swedens first Makerspace, but the best!

As a part of the project we were interested in finding comercial partners, Conrad Elektronik gave us a sponsorship in exchange of content creation, and these are some of the videos we created for them:

BOOKING: Tree of Hands

During the first half year of the opening of Malmö Live, I had the chance to produce and book different events. One of it was the booking of Tree of Hands, an interactive piece by an artist duo formed by Varvara Guljajeva and Mar Canet, their work is often inspired by the digital age.

"Tree of Hands, creates a digital illusion of immersive and mysterious landscape,which flirts with the ideas behind Anthropocene discussions. The post-human landscape forwards the fears of today: rising sea level, the danger and insecurity of technology, and unpredictable effects on us and our nature of biotechnology"

BOOKING: House of Voga

Voga is a concept created by Juliet Murrell and it consist in a  a fusion of Yoga and Voguing, Fitness and Fashion. She runs House of Voga which delivers Voga Workshops in London, India, Edinburgh, Ibiza, Buenos Aires, just to name a few.

I first had the opportunity to work with  Juliet Murrell during the time I was a guest producer at Malmö Live. We booked 2 workshops with House of Voga on august 2015. Both workshops were fully booked and they were a success.

At the moment Im collaborating again with Murrell, this time as her booking agent for a great event, Vans 50 year anniversary in Mexico City, where we will be having 5 presentations in different locations around the city. 

PROJECT: ANIMITAS

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Animita is a diminutive of the Spanish word for soul.  Markers of small, unofficial saints’ cults, animitas remember tragic deaths. They memorialize people taken suddenly, often as victims of auto accidents, but also in drug violence or political violence

I grew up in Culiacán, at the epicenter where the Sinaloa Cartel has its origins. I moved from Mexico 13 years ago, and I never end to get surprised every time I travel there  and I see the streets and public spaces populated by all these Animitas, mainly of people killed as a result of the ongoing narco-war that is taking place in my country, where  death is an everyday thing.

I might read about it in the newspaper but it’s not until I pass by these shrines that I see the human that was involved in this tragic event. I get to know a little bit about the person that died there, sometimes there’s a photo, or a candle light, sometimes a poem, a t-shirt, things that give you an idea who that person was. For me is culture, maybe cause now im an outsider, but for others, for those who live there it’s a reminder of the constant violence they are exposed to.

Not so long ago the world got shaken up by the photo of Aylan Kurdi, the syrian 3 year old boy found dead on a beach in Turkey. We got to know his name after the spreading of his photo  on social media. He will be remember as the child that changed the course of the discussion about the refugees coming from Syria.

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So I invited 5 artist and asked them the following questions: how would you like to be remembered if dead would take you tomorrow? What would your family would had to say about you, your friends and even your enemies? What are the objects they’ll see and think about you, the smells, the sounds, the images. What is your reflection about dead and what would you like the people that doesn’t know you, would get to learn about you once you are gone?

I produced this project for Malmö Live in cooperation with creative studio Little Finger.

Artists: Loana Ibarra, Aleksandar "Sasa" Skoric, Julia Hansen, Maja Hydbom & Jonas Liveröd.

Here lies the memory of the five artists Julia Hansen, Jonas Liveröd, Loana Ibarra, Sasa Skoric and Maja Hydbom. In a fictitious death, they created their Animita -a house for the soul and a portal for you to their immortal person. As part of the exhibition there is also an altar open to visitors to remember those loved ones who have left this world by giving a thought, a flower or object to their memory. Animitas is a project I produced for Malmö Live in cooperation with Little Finger. Video by: Cesar Ortiz Music by: Ryan Little "The Winds" Before Dawn (Instrumental Album) (Ryan Little) / CC BY 4.0

TALK: A conversation about urban meeting places

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Photo by: Artscape

I was invited to participate in a panel where we discussed the future of urban meeting places. The discussion took part at Malmö’s Modern Museum of Art. It was interesting to share thoughts with people that work in culture but maybe worked in bigger or more conservative institutions and have a different approach and public than we’ve did at STPLN.

It seems like we drifted away a little from the subject from time to time, but I guess that’s what happens in these kind of panel discussions. The panel was formed by: John Peter Nilsson from Moderna Museet Malmö, Jaana Järretorp from Region Skåne, Björn Carne Ore from Cirkulationscentralen, Katarina Olsson, from Malmo city and I.

TALK: Dear Nerd things are gonna get easier

Oyuki Matsumoto, creative producer and Christian Svensson, Project Manager

We were invited to participate in the conference Storstadens Hjärta & Smärta -Mind the gaps. So we created this talk to tell about our experiences with the development of educational materials and training to work with schools and young people interested in technology. About how a vibrant maker movement can be involved in creating a wider range resulting in the development of the digital society. While creating added value and raise awareness of the world around us.

PODCAST: Vi Tackar

Vi Tackar (We Thank) : A thankless pod from a bunch of almost sympathetic people!

As a producer you are not use to be the center of attention. Last year  I decided I should take more place and dare to expose myself  more to public opinion. I got invited by my good friend, designer Alexander Castro from Pocketsize Webbyrå and artist Tobias Törnblom to participate in their project Vi Tackar, a podcast about friends, food and beer.

I attended first as a guest but we realised we had such a great chemistry that they invited me to stay in the project. Unfortunately we reordered only 10 episodes due lack of time, but we got great feedback from friends and listeners. I loved being part of this project!

The podcast is in Swedish, you can listen to the episodes here:

Photo by: Max Alm-Norell

Music by: Joaquin Martinez

Mastered by: Martin Thalström (NBS records)

PROJECT: ARDUINO ROBOT

I had the opportunity to work with the Arduino team in Turin, USA and Sweden coordinating  the development of the Arduino Robot prior its release under Maker Fair in San Francisco.

"Arduino is an open-source electronics platform based on easy-to-use hardware and software. Arduino boards are able to read inputs - light on a sensor, a finger on a button, or a Twitter message - and turn it into an output - activating a motor, turning on an LED, publishing something online".

PROJECT: The STPLN Window PROJECT

I started with The STPLN Window Project  in January 2013 where we went out with our first Open Call for artists. The project is rooted in Unit 9 The Hoxton Window Project, which is based in East London. Just as Unit 9 grants STPLN its large windows blank canvas and we welcome all types of art from illustration and graphic design to interactive installations.

In 2013 we produced the project itself, but in 2014 we started a collaboration with the art magazine and Creative Studio Little Finger, cooperation was giving and we in nowadays still curate the project with them.

Under 2015 we received an exciting cooperation, the project was sponsored by Posca Sweden.

The project has the following guidelines:
The dimensions of the main window is H: 170 cm, W 160 cm, the above-fitting windows is 160 wide and have varying height between 23-42 cm.

- All material which does not leave marks or damage is allowed.
- The windows need not be filled.
- Up to 4 days are given to complete the work.
- We stand for material costs and food during the working day
- We will strive for a balance in gender among artists.

Until now around 34 different artists from different countries, mainly the scandinavian countries have intervened STPLN's Windows.

You find all of the STPLN Window Projects HERE