2026 Berlin Program & Speakers
Schedule, Times & More Detailed Agenda announced soon
Thursday, May 28, 2026
WISE x HOUSE OF NORDIC VISIONS
VENUE: Felleshus, Nordic Embassies,
Program:
9:30
Registration & Morning Reception
Opening Words by Nordic Embassies & Philipp Grefer
1. A Blank Space: Rethinking (Cultural) Institutions
Imagine the last 2,000 years didn’t happen and we were to found a completely new cultural “space.” One in which different forms of cultural production (music, film, art, architecture, fashion, games, literature etc.) meet new ways of learning, technological possibilities, ethical thinking, and financial models.
A plural, sustainable ecosystem, free of historical ballast and oriented toward meaning, innovation, and positive future imaginaries.
What would this space look like?
We welcome ideas from the WISE community — on and off the stage.
Carson Chan
Chief Curator and Director of Curatorial Affairs, Architecture & Design Museum, FI
Beatrice Leanza
Cultural Strategist / Museum Director / Curator Author: The New Design Museum, IT
Hans Uszkoreit
Scientific Director at DFKI (German Research Center for AI), DE
Philipp Grefer
Founder of WISE, DE
more tba
2. Building intersectional Cultural Ecosystems & Institutions for the Future
Future-facing cultural ecosystems require new forms of collaboration across public, private, and civic actors. This panel examines best practices in building intersectional institutions and clusters that integrate diverse disciplines, and leaders from art, music, science, policy, to communities, and funding models.
Jesper Mardahl
MD Promus, Chief Secretary Music City, Aarhus, DK
Simon Kimmel
Project Lead Innovation Centers, Urban Tech Republic (BerlinTXL), DE
Martin Eyerer (tbc)
CEO Green City Development GmbH, DE
more tba
3. Live Events & Culture as medicine
We explore the growing scientific recognition of the arts as a vital component of public health. From mental wellbeing and social cohesion to preventative care, cultural (live) experiences are increasingly understood not as luxury, but as necessity. In the Nordics, UK Canada, Art on prescription is already a reality.
Thus culture has enormous impact on our economy far beyond the already known positive effects on tourism, employment and joy of life.
If culture improves health outcomes, reduces costs, and strengthens social cohesion—should it be funded not only as culture, but as healthcare infrastructure?
Anita Jensen (online)
Associate Professor, Nord University, NO
Researcher, Social Medicine & Health, Lund University, SE
Saskia Wheeler
MA, MSC Psychology of the Arts, Neuroaesthetics & Creativity, DE/UK
Steve Rimmer
Founder & CEO, Tickets For Good, UK
Arndt Scheffler (tbc)
Managing Director Germany, AXS, DE
Yousef Hammoudah (tbc)
Managing Director, Fotografiska, DE / SE
more tba
4. Cultural Capital – New Approaches to Funding
Culture needs new money and new models. This panel looks at how artists, cultural events and institutions are navigating beyond traditional funding: from brands and platforms to communities and new financial infrastructures.
Gregor Quack
Volkswagen Group Fellow, Neue Nationalgalerie, DE
Christoph Rohde
Head of Transactions at FASE, Impact Investing, DE
more tba
5. How AI is reshaping Creative Work: Stories from the Trenches
As AI tools rapidly integrate into creative workflows, the nature of authorship, labor, and value creation is shifting. This panel focuses on practical insights from creators working at the intersection of music, art, film and technology today. Do´s & Don´ts. What do clients want? What can and cannot be done? And how could these new tools be beneficial for moving culture forward?
Alexander Freund
Songwriter & Producer, VERSO Boardmember, DE
Matthias Storz
Co-Founder Storz & Escherich, DE
Alena Mayer (tbc)
Co-Founder, Caldo Worldwide, DE
more tba
Reception
MORE SPEAKERS TBA Soon