Profile:

I am a cultural entrepreneur: cultural historian, art curator, writer and project manager. Internationally oriented and based in the Netherlands, I successfully initiate, develop and support new platforms and approaches and build bridges in practical ways. Analytical in mindset, yet excellent in presentation, uniting people around a shared goal.

Work experience:

           2023-present: Project manager of ArtHelpdesk, an intiative of ReconnAct funded bij AFAS Foundation. An unique social cultural experiment, where talented artists are coached by ‘business buddies’ – modern maecenases – who give their time and attention to help the artist to reach sustainable entrepreneurship and financial self-sufficiency.           2020-present: Concept phase of an extensive European art project.           2010-present:  Freelance author and lecturer on curating art, art history and cultural history. Guest lecturer, speaker and workshop leader at different  symposia, colleges and universities, e.g. in 2023 Honours Programme Leiden University and Pázmány Péter University Budapest, Faculty of Art History; in 2022 presentation for the Dutch National Office for Cultural Heritage (Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed) during the symposium 'Heilige Huisjes',  lecture at the HOVO Radboud University. Atelier visitor and coach to artists. Blogger (non)active on ArtWay, Lazarusmagazine and Nieuwij.           2020-2021:     Author and editor of the book 'Compassionism' Poetic Contemplations by Hansa Versteeg & Anikó Tóth,  introducing a new 'ism' in visual art.

2019-2020:     Co-curator and project manager of Art Stations of the Cross Deventer, an international contemporary art project presented in secular and religious heritage locations linking art, spirituality, justice and charity in the local community. News and blogs about the project: in English and Dutch.

2019-2020:     Curator of the exhibition Mysteriespel with the paintings of Gyula Somos in Museum Soest.

2017-2019:      Project partner and co-curator of the Art Stations of the Cross project, travelling from New York to Amsterdam in 2019. Reviews and a study about this project are to be read here. News and blogs about the project: in English and in Dutch.

2017-present: Cultural entrepreneur, founder of Visio Divina.

2016-2018:      Curator of the exhibition Song of Songs to celebrate the 700th anniversary of the city rights of Culemborg in 2018. 

2013-2015:      Co-editor and co-author of the Handboek voor Kunst in de Kerk (Handbook for Art in the Church) (2015, Buijten&Schipperheijn). Read a review here about this book.

1989-present:  Co-organized and designed more than 30 exhibitions as freelance art curator. Initially with the art of my Grandfather A. Tóth Sándor (Hungarian national heritage avant-garde painter and marionettist), today predominantly with contemporary visual art.

1989-present:  Member (vice chair) of the A. Tóth Sándor Foundation governing the national cultural heritage of my Grandfather. Assisted with the book  A. Tóth Sándor, Avant-garde Painter and Marionettist in Paris (published in Hungarian and in French in 2001). As curator of the foundation I was involved in many of the publications and exhibitions related to the work of the artist, e.g. the last extensive oeuvre exhibition at the Balassi Institute in Budapest in 2014.

2008-present:  As freelance cultural historian and entrepreneur I initiate, facilitate or support movements like Platform Kerk en Kunst (2008-2017); there e.g. I co-organized, facilitated and hosted two national symposiums and several visual art exhibitions. Read a review here about one of the co-curated exhibitions (N)ergens thuis ['(N)ever at home'] where among others art of refugee artists were exhibited.

2013-2014:      Interim Chairperson CNV Art and Culture (CNV is a national trade union in the Netherlands).

2010-2014:     Co-designed and curated an exhibition travelling around the Netherlands for four years, as member of the exhibition committee of CNV Expressive Arts.

2012-2014:      Member of the board CNV Expressive Arts.

2009-2012:     Member of the jury during the national annual exhibition of the members of CNV Expressive Arts.

2008-2012:     Responsible for the process of acquiring, legally documenting, presenting and auctioning dozens of works of art for a series of charity galas.

2009:               Editor of the television programme ‘God in de Lage Landen’.

2009:               Led an interdisciplinary student research on behalf of Museum Catharijneconvent organized by the Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of Utrecht.

2008-2009:    Led the concluding phase of the European pilot project ‘Converting Sacred Spaces’ on behalf of Museum Catharijneconvent. Besides working on a large database concerning European monasteries, co-wrote and co-edited the book Converted Monasteries.

2008:               Editor of the television programme LUX by the IKON.

1995-2007:     Moved to the Netherlands to be married to philosopher Evert Jan Ouweneel in 1995. Gave birth to Alma (1996), Elza (1999), Abel (2001) and integrated into Dutch society. Besides being a home manager I fulfilled many different voluntary functions, e.g. as the chairperson of the Cathedral Choir School (the primary school of our children) Sunday School of the St. Catharina Cathedral in Utrecht.

1994-1995:      Intern at Gordonstoun School (Scotland, UK). Besides acting as Assistant House Mistress to Gordonstoun House (House Mistress: Alexandra Dingwall-Fordyce), I taught Cultural History, English, Hungarian, Finnish and basic Russian. Initiated and led the Philosophy Society together with Greek and Latin Master Stephen Kirkwood. Coached the tennis team, sang in the choir, sailed in the Outer Hebrides and assisted the students at horse riding, skiing and several mountain excursions as teacher/mentor.

1992-1994:      Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE) Budapest: Assistant teacher on the faculty of English Literature and Linguistics (Applied Linguistics) as well as on the faculty of Finnish Culture and Language.

1990-1994:      As co-founder of the ‘Kazamata’ Foundation (to help art and culture flourish in post-communistic Hungary) hosted and presented several alternative cultural evenings organized by the foundation.

1988-1994:      Simultaneous translator Hungarian, English, Finnish.

1987-1988:      Lived and worked in Helsinki for a year.

 

Education:

2007-2008:    Cultural Heritage, University Utrecht

1999:                MA Finnish Culture and Language, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest

1998:                MA English Literature and Linguistics (cum laude) Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest  (extra courses on art history, cultural history, architecture)

1995:                Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (grade A)

1995:                Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English Literature (grade A)

1987-1988:     University of Helsinki Finnish language course

1987:                Final exams (cum laude) Kaffka Margit Gymnasium, Budapest

 

Languages:

Hungarian (proficient/native); English (proficient); Dutch (proficient); Finnish (proficient if in practice); French (intermediate); German (basic); Russian (basic)