From 17 to 26 April, the Exchanges programme partnered up with Los Angles Collective, the Amsterdam-based, transfemme-run collective focused on showcasing and nurturing trans talent.
The programme brought together three Seed Awardees from the Fund’s network—Princesa Hardcore, Lucrezia, & Okyanus Çağrı Çamcı—and three artists through the Collective’s network—Aron Saxe, Rita Bifulco, & Ada Maricia Patterson—for three Lab days, various cultural visits, and two public events.
In a time where global attention to trans identity heightens and becomes ever more restrictive, this 10-day interdisciplinary programme asks us to take seriously how trans talent is best supported. From Los Angles Collective’s ‘T4T’ (Trans for Trans) ethos, the Exchange creates a small network of trans makers with a wide variety of life experiences, with trans cutting through all of these. Rather than focusing on representations of trans identity, this creates a space where transness is not questioned, but nurtured through community and shared understanding, allowing new collaborative approaches to blossom.
Curated by Los Angles Collective, artists have been paired across threads already present in their practice, moving between drawing, text, fashion, and performance. This culminated in two public events showcasing their works and ending on a true Los Angles-style celebratory note.
The programme created a platform for ongoing connections between trans artists and new audiences, supporters, and curators while creating safe spaces for international cultural collaboration among trans artists in Amsterdam and globally.
All images courtesy of Catalina Reyes Navarro taken throughout the studio days and public showcase.
