Dean Bowen is a poet, writer, performer, programmer, and critic. His work explores the dynamics of composite identity and how these relate to the political and social positioning of the individual. His powerful performances have made him a welcome guest at various spoken word stages both in the Netherlands and abroad. Bowen won the 2015 Van Dale SPOKEN Award in the poetry category, and his debut collection Bokman (2018) was nominated for the C. Buddingh’ Prize. He served as the city poet of Rotterdam from 2019 to 2020. He teaches performance literature and poetry in the Creative Writing program at ArtEZ in Arnhem, and his second collection Masc:r will be published in January 2026.

Markus is a multidisciplinary artist whose work focuses on the intersectionality of identity—Gender, Spiritual, Collective identities. And it continues to evolve as an ongoing research process. Under the artist name MARICXS BATSHEBA they make music, originating from self-written poems and compositions. Through their Ceremony (trancending time; past-present- future), MARICXS poems become a tapestry of emotions, woven with threads of healing intention and soothing vibrations. Inspired by the ancient practice of call and response, they use repetitive words and ambient sounds to amplify the urgency for transformation—mantras and poemscapes that point the way to inner peace.

sausy is an Amsterdam-based dj, poet & cultural worker with a keen ear for rich & groovy basslines, percussive rhythms & ethereal soundscapes. Deejaying has become a way of honoring, researching, and connecting with their Surinamese-Dutch heritage and the queer & BiPOC communities that have shaped them. Their sets drift from sexy and sassy vocals to dreamy wobblers and bassy floorshakers, centering sensuality, experimentation and playfulness. Their selections are of a buoyant and intentional nature, guided by curiosity, emotions, and an interest in narrative. Genres they gravitate to include bass music, dub, house, left-field club music and Caribbean & Latin-inspired sounds like bouyon, dembow & Brazilian funk. One thing is certain: they love a bounce and a bass face and will work to see those on the dancefloor.