Kool Cult and SCHUNCK coach Heerlen talents

Based on peer coaching, eight talents in the so-called non-established arts, such as breakdance, street art, photography and filmography, fashion and music, are coached to develop their talents professionally. This project was born out of the need for better facilitation and support for such disciplines. Kool Cult, the hip-hop platform founded in 2023 and dedicated to enhancing the maturity of young hip-hop culture, collaborates with cultural partner SCHUNCK for this purpose.

Learning to excel

Jop Vermeesch, co-founder of Kool Cult, on the creation of Life Cipher: "Talents in non-established arts experience resistance in the transition from amateur level to professional. Whereas for traditional arts, such as singing and dance, a broad training path is available, there is none for these disciplines. Selected talents are skilled and aspire to professionalise, but get stuck in their artistic development due to lack of facilities. They are left to their own devices. Hence this initiative. The programme guides the talents to the next stage, where they can excel and learn how to share their knowledge and skills with others."

Fabian de Kloe, artistic director at SCHUNCK Museum, explains the collaboration with Kool Cult: "The exchange with a new generation of talented creators, who are as yet less widely supported within the existing cultural field, is essential. We learn from each other. They are the future."

Peer coaching

The emphasis of talent development programme Life Cipher is on peer coaching. This working method is in line with hip-hop culture and focuses on knowledge sharing, cooperation and community building. From this approach, the programme specifically includes individual coaching, group meetings, knowledge sessions and master classes. The focus is on developing artistic and entrepreneurial skills, work ethics and networking skills. Although the initiative is basically a collaboration between Kool Cult and SCHUNCK Museum, various cultural and social partners are collaborating in the implementation of the programme.

Participants Life Cipher

• B-boy Marciano van Kempen (1999) wants to create a development path for a new generation of breakers, through events, research and workshops;
• B-girl Zoë Zanders (2006) wants to increase her visibility on the international stage. She also wants to conduct research and share knowledge about her profile as a maker;
• Clothing designer Gianni van Kempen (6400 NAGI) (2002) wants to create a clothing line that tells the story of hip-hop and expand and deepen his brand;
• Photographer and clothing designer Miko - CRACKED OUT - (2000) wants to grow as a community builder and share knowledge about this, including through a photo exhibition;
• Dancer and photographer Luc Arnoldussen (1999) wants to explore how to grow as a choreographer and how to collect and portray stories;
• Videographer Noah Tanamal (2005), known by his stage name BENOAHEN, wants to make a video production about Moluccan and Indian culture, among other things, and explore the role of music within these communities;
• Writer and artist Noah, also known as SAINT PIERRE (2006), wants to release an album. He also explores the contrast between authenticity and success;
• B-girl Gwen Schoonewille (2007) wants to explore how to convey the value of streetwear and breaking during competitions and cyphers.

About Kool Cult

Kool Cult gives a voice to a new generation of cultural creators and athletes and supports them so that urban culture and sports can grow into fully-fledged cultural and sports disciplines. From a hip-hop state of mind, Kool Cult strives to make the impossible possible by deploying knowledge, concepts and connects. Founders Jop Vermeesch and Gert-Jan van Stiphout have years of experience in concept development, consultancy and project implementation. Now they are sharing their accumulated experience and knowledge with a new generation of culture makers and athletes, makers and enableers.