Publication: 09/07/24 | Photo: Tengbeh Kamara, Rachel Ecclestone, Rawi Media
Three ambassadors will be working for the program Oog voor Impuls! Gyonne, Maartje, and Rajiv will share their experience and knowledge about topics such as disability and pension from their perspective as self-employed individuals in the cultural and creative sector. They would like to introduce themselves to you.
The Oog voor Impuls program stimulates self-employed individuals in the cultural and creative sector to set up a healthy and sustainable professional practice. We find it especially important that as many self-employed professionals as possible insure themselves against disability and create savings for later. We help you with financial subsidies such as Zelfverzekerd and Nu voor Later and tools such as Zoë de Ziener, De Pensioenkijker, and the Zelfverzekerd Zelfcheck. From now on, ambassadors will contribute to this support!
Whether it concerns determining rates, drawing up a quotation, or taking out a pension provision; many self-employed individuals indicate that they prefer to receive input on these topics from other self-employed professionals. After all, they are in the same boat. For input on setting up a healthy professional practice, you can therefore now follow our ambassadors closely. What experience do they have as self-employed, who have taken out disability and pension provisions? Or with the Zelfverzekerd and Nu voor Later subsidies? What do they think is the importance of taking out a provision? And which one have they taken out? And why?
Get to know our ambassadors:
Gyonne Zafira
Program maker, podcast maker, editor, subsidy and policy advisor, applicant Zelfverzekerd
“My name is Gyonne. For some time now, I have been working as a freelance experienced programme developer, podcast maker and editor, and subsidy and policy advisor in the arts and culture sector. Nowadays, I do this not only in the Netherlands but also in Aruba. I like to seek collaboration in the broader ABCSSS diaspora. I do this via Counter/Narratives and Be Right Back | Bai Bin Podcast.
I am pleased to announce that I am now collaborating with the ‘Oog voor Impuls’ program of Platform ACCT as an ambassador.
This platform focuses on issues such as financial inequality and safety nets for freelancers in the cultural sector. I strongly believe in their mission and am excited to use my expertise and experience to contribute to their goals. In the coming period, I will tell you more about Platform ACCT, my connection with what they offer, and what they can do for you too!”
In her role as ambassador, Gyonne would like to delve deeper into the organization of the freelance professional practice. In doing so, she also pays attention to the fact that not everyone in the cultural and creative sector chooses to become a freelancer. Follow Gyonne on Instagram @muchadiawa and LinkedIn.
Photo: Tengbeh Kamara
Maartje Valk
Advisor, fundraiser, and business manager, applicant Zelfverzekerd en Nu voor Later
“As a freelance fundraiser, I have raised over 1 million euros for various projects and clients in recent years. I have also been involved as an advisor to various funds over the years to advise them on the applications they receive: the Cultuurfonds, Cultuur Eindhoven, Kickstart Cultuurfonds, VSBfonds, and Fonds Podiumkunsten.
At the moment, I am the business manager of the Prinsengracht Concert and director of the Noorderkerk Concerts in Amsterdam.
In addition, I am a member of the Cultural Council in Eindhoven and the advisory committee for multi-year subsidies in The Hague. In the past, I was involved with the Eye Care Foundation, Kamerata Zuid, Theater De Krakeling, Wishful Singing, and various other funds.
On my Instagram @maartjevalk.nl, I give tips on fundraising and teach creative people to write good and promising applications themselves!”
Photo: Rachel Ecclestone
Rajiv Bhagwanbali
Host, presenter, and entrepreneur, applicant Zelfverzekerd en Nu voor Later
“Hi! I am Rajiv Bhagwanbali, one of the newest ambassadors. After 15 years of professional dancing, I developed a talent for presenting. Since then, I have done commercial and cultural events and occasionally some documentaries on TV! In addition, I direct theater performances with a multidisciplinary and multicultural starting point, and I am the artistic director of the Rotterdam Street Culture Week festival. Recently, I also became chairman of the Makers Coalitie, a party that stands up for the interests of professionals within the creative industry.
I also have a massage practice and a beautiful family with two kids! And…. soooometiiimes I sleep.
Within my versatile professional practice, I constantly hear from creatives around me that they want to organize their affairs better, but lack the knowledge and skills to do so. I’ve already helped several of them achieve better financial security. This gives me a lot of satisfaction, and so I felt called to do this more structurally. That is why I became an ambassador! I hope that I can also do something for you, so do not hesitate to contact me if you think that is necessary!”
At the many events that Rajiv organizes, presents, or attends, he tells you more about Oog voor Impuls. He also likes to talk to you about financial security. Follow him on Instagram: @jivan_arazzi.
Photo: Rawi Media