Meet Carmina Lacruz, a Leisure and Event Management student at WdKA who is about to graduate. With a passion for community-building and cultural exploration, Carmina's graduation project, "SET THE TONE" embodies her commitment to uniting new-generation creatives. As she approaches the end of her time at WdKA, Carmina's endeavor promises to redefine collaboration and innovation in the city's vibrant artistic landscape.
What's the focus of your graduation project?
"My graduation project centers around my ongoing project 'SET THE TONE'. It's an extension of an event I worked on last year. With this project, I aim to create a community for new-generation creatives in Rotterdam, pooling creative forces together. I see a wealth of talent in the city and believe in the power of community to spark new ideas. 'SET THE TONE' encompasses various aspects. Last year, I focused on connecting people through nightlife, using music and low-key interactions. But now, I want to delve deeper into fostering relationships within the creative industry among makers. I'm keen on bringing new-gen makers together to inspire one another. I want to create an open space for interaction and connection among makers."
Why did you go for this subject?
"I've seen the positive impact the project had last year, and I'm curious to further develop it. Graduation provides me with frameworks to make choices and acts as a motivator and focus to continue with it. For me, 'SET THE TONE' is more than just a graduation project."
Do you feel pressure graduating?
"Yes. I'm the first in my family to pursue higher education, which brings its own set of pressures. I feel like I have a lot to prove. It means a great deal to me. I aspire to be successful, and this seems like the beginning of that journey. I want to make my family proud. Having an HBO diploma is crucial for me to advance in my career. I want to give back to my family, create generational wealth. I want to take advantage of the opportunities available here, which my parents and ancestors didn't have."
What are you most excited about?
"I'm excited about those 'aha' moments. It could be something small, like seeing a graphic that perfectly aligns with my vision or learning how to better organize something. I'm eager to gain more insight into solutions for issues facing new-gen artists."
What are you most scared about?
"The deadlines. As a creative, I'm good at procrastinating, poor at organizing, or being overly perfectionistic. I'm afraid I won't be able to work within those constraints and end up not graduating but still having an interesting project."
How did your years at WdKA shape you and your artistic development?
"The freedom we have here, along with the abundant facilities and accessible guidance, has allowed me to better understand myself. Also, in collaborating, handling criticism. Through that freedom, I've developed as a critical and creative student, gained more self-confidence, and moved past perfectionism. Looking back now, I think I could have made even better use of it, dared to fail more. It's been a rapid journey."
What is the biggest difference between you now and first year?
"A huge difference. WdKA has changed a lot in me as a person, through projects and collaborations. It's influenced my style and perspectives on things. Also, Rotterdam has altered my perspective on who I am and what I enjoy. At the moment, I'm very content with who I am."
How did your time at WdKA shape you?
"The network I've built over the years has meant so much for my development. I came to Rotterdam during the pandemic, which was quite intense. I lived here already. I spent a year locked in my room, broke, friendless, very lonely. In the second year, I started meeting people slowly, making connections through projects. In the city, with businesses, going out, building a network through acquaintances. That has brought me a lot. School, for me, is about absorbing information and remixing it into what suits you."
What are your plans after graduation?
"It's tricky. I want to further develop this project, with grand plans for the future. I'd like to expand it. But it's also important to have a stable job for security. I'd enjoy working at WdKA, LEM department. I find working with young people very rewarding. Production in nightlife. I want to do many different things, in a dynamic environment with diverse projects."
