Lawrie Breukel is 24 years old, lives in Groningen, and graduated from the Academy of Pop Culture three years ago. She is now pursuing a master’s degree in Media, Art, Design & Technology at the Frank Mohr Institute of the Minerva Art Academy. In this interview, you’ll learn why she chose to pursue a master’s degree and how she has developed as an artist.
“At the Academy of Popular Culture, you can try out anything you want. It was precisely this experimentation that shaped me.”
At the Academy of Popular Culture, you can try out anything you want. It was precisely this experimentation that shaped me.
Why did you choose the Academy for Popular Culture back then?
“For me, the Academy for Popular Culture was the only programme that offered interdisciplinary art. I was interested in both film and music and had attended various music and visual arts programmes. It was precisely the combination of those disciplines that appealed to me. That’s what made the programme interesting to me.”
What did you hope to achieve when you started the programme? Has that changed over time?
“I was only 18 when I started, so everything still felt exciting. My plan was to focus on film and work primarily with visual media. During the programme, I discovered a growing interest in meaningful art, such as activism, a theme that’s also close to my heart. At the Academy of Popular Culture, you collaborate a lot with other creators. That inspired me to step out of my comfort zone and discover new disciplines. That’s how I made the transition from singing to producing and from moving images to 3D art. It was precisely that freedom to experiment that helped me get to know myself better as a creator.”
How did the programme contribute to your professional development?
“During my studies, I was selected for the Up North talent development programme. I was able to combine this with my graduation project: an interdisciplinary show featuring seven songs, three spoken-word performances, and accompanying visuals. The presentation took place at the Grand Theatre Groningen.
Thanks to the programme and my graduation show, I was able to build a network in the professional field even while I was still a student. With guidance from the programme, I was able to transition into the creative sector fairly quickly.”
What are you working on right now?
"I’m currently pursuing a master’s degree in Media, Art, Design & Technology at the Frank Mohr Institute at Academie Minerva. The programme focuses on innovative art and new technologies, such as interactive installations and autoreactive designs.
During my bachelor's, I got selected for the Co-Write elective. As part of that, we met three times a year for a week in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Finland to write music with other musicians. At the end of each week, the best songs were selected and pitched to professionals in the music industry. This was an incredibly valuable experience. I can recommend it to every musician. It’s wonderful to collaborate across national borders and develop yourself further in that way. After that, a master’s programme felt like a logical next step.”
What has the Academy for Pop Culture done for you professionally?
"For me, the greatest strength of the programme lies in the freedom to try everything. That can be pretty intimidating at first, but it’s precisely that freedom that gives you the chance to discover what truly suits you. You can experiment with different art forms and develop your own artistic vision. Now that I’m working on my master’s degree, I truly realize how valuable that period has been. I’ve been able to develop myself as an artist and now have a better sense of the direction I want to take.”
What is your dream for the coming years?
"I think it would be wonderful to become part of an artists’ collective. Collaborating with other artists on large, interdisciplinary projects really appeals to me. My experiences at the Academy of Pop Culture have shown me how much more beautiful a project can become when you bring together different disciplines and perspectives.”