Level brings together exceptional experts who believe in the power of art to initiate personal transformation. We provide high-quality lectures that enhance cultural competence and expand our own emotional intelligence through art.

Our Story

We embarked on our journey in 2020, right in the midst of the pandemic and during a time of numerous societal debates and clashes. Social distancing became our way of life. It felt as though we were all treading on thin ice, dealing with substantial divisions. Out of this arose the concept of a unifying space that would embrace all viewpoints, ideas, and perspectives. We chose to centre our focus on art and culture, recognising its capacity as democratic mediums that allow for liberal self-expression. While the pandemic is now behind us, the need to listen, learn, and embrace the world, along with its diverse range of opinions, remains.

Our Mission

The aim of the project is to explore various meanings, philosophies and values through art. We believe that dismantling stereotypes, clichés and prejudices through peaceful learning offers a beautiful potential to build compassion towards others.

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Our Team

We collaborate with an incredible team of art historians, linguists, cultural specialists, philosophy educators, artists and thought leaders.

Azumi Uchitani

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Azumi Uchitani is an Intercultural business consultant, keynote speaker, writer, artist and founder of Japanese SALON art & culture in Netherlands. She is a two-times TEDx speaker, appearing Dutch TV and media and delivering talks to an international audience in Europe and in the US.

Azumi is on a mission to build an essential bridge between Japan and Europe, helping global leaders discover Japanese ancient wisdom beyond culture, teaching how to apply its wisdom in everyday life, act with inner peace and create
conscious leadership and fulfilling life. Azumi decodes the complexity of Japanese culture, tradition, philosophy, spirituality and unspoken rules into a simple essence of wisdom. She was born into a traditional spiritual Japanese family and raised with the teachings of Shingon Buddhism and Shinto. The spiritual and cultural practices, such as tea ceremony, flower arrangement, calligraphy have always been a part of her life, besides that, her grandmother was a kimono maker.

Her insights, a series of talks are available on her YouTube channel ‘5 minutes on Japanese Wisdom‘ on YouTube.

http://www.azumiuchitani.com | http://www.japanessalon.nl

Bojana Popovic

Bojana Popovic
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Upon completing her Masters in Curating at The Courtauld Institute of Art, Bojana worked at TATE Britain and The Serpentine Galleries before seeking experience in the private art sector. For a few years she worked for private art galleries in Zurich and Paris before moving to the leading auction house, Christie’s, in London. During her four years at Christie’s she worked as a Specialist in the Post-War and Contemporary Art department where she also led art history lectures in collaboration with Christie’s Education MA programme. Since then, Bojana has been working as a freelance art consultant, Art History lecturer and writer.

Catherine Xiang

Catherine Xiang
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Catherine Xiang (MEd, PhD) is an established author and applied linguist with rich experience in the higher education as well as high profile consultancy industry to businesses that wish to engage with China. She is Coordinator of East Asian Languages at LSE, Programme Director for BSc International Relations and Chinese; as well as UK Director for LSE Confucius Institute for Business London. Originally from Shanghai, she is skilled in intercultural communication, translation, foreign languages, lecturing, TV and public speaking. She is also an expert in e-learning and innovation in language learning. Her recent publications include ‘Mastering Chinese: a Complete Textbook for Beginners’, ‘Cases on Audio-visual Media in Language Education’ and the forthcoming ‘China Ready! Chinese for Tourism and Hospitality’. In addition to her roles at LSE, she is an executive member of the British Chinese Language Teaching Society, a school governor and chief examiner of Charted Institute of Linguists. She has recently launched her own YouTube channel ‘å­—espresso‘ teaching the relationship between Chinese characters and words.

Elsa Gomis

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Elsa Gomis holds a Critical PhD by Practice in Film Studies from the University of East Anglia. She teaches European Cinema at Oxford Department of Modern Languages and is a Visiting Researcher at Maison Française of Oxford where she co-organises the webinar series New Imaginaries of Migration.

Fabio Tononi

Fabio Tononi
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Fabio Tononi is a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at the Centre for the Humanities
(CHAM) in the Faculty of Social and Human Sciences (FCHS), NOVA University of
Lisbon. He is the editor-in-chief of The Edgar Wind Journal and a steering committee member of the Centre for the Study of Cultural Memory at the Institute of Modern Languages Research, which is part of the University of London’s School of Advanced Study. His research interests include the essence and tasks of philosophy and science, the writings of Aby Warburg and Edgar Wind, the aesthetics of Sigmund Freud, the relationship between art and cognitive neuroscience (specifically as they relate to memory, imagination, empathy, the unfinished, motion, and emotion), the interconnection between art and ideology, and postmodernism. For more information about Fabio Tononi’s work – please, click here.

Inna Didenko

Inna Didenko founder and director of LEVEL
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Inna is a founder and director of an educational space that promotes intercultural exchange and understanding – LEVEL. Inna has always been fascinated by art and culture, and she has spent the last decade exploring the ways in which they can enrich people’s lives. Previously, she ran an online art gallery promoting emerging artists around the world and has traveled extensively, immersing herself in diverse communities and lifestyles. Inna believes that any artistic expression hides clues to better understanding of cultures, philosophy, world views and our own emotions. LinkedIn

Lydia Kaye

Lydia Kaye
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Lydia Kaye is a lecturer and doctoral researcher at internationally acclaimed art
college Central Saint Martins. After receiving a First Class degree in Art History,
Lydia went on to study a Master’s Degree in the History and Culture of Fashion at
the London College of Fashion. Following a stint of working in contemporary art
galleries in London, Lydia moved back into academia to embark on her PhD. The
project examines how posthuman theory is being revealed through conceptual
fashion designers and performance artists. Now a lecturer in Fashion and Cultural
Studies, Lydia’s areas of expertise lie in gender, posthumanism and queer practice.

Matthew Peter-Carter

Matthew Peter-Carter
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Matthew Peter-Carter is an actor, writer, children’s educator, and the Creative Director of Book Club Bunch. Matthew studied BA English Language and Literature at the University of Oxford, graduating with a First Class (with Honours), before completing a MA in Music Theatre at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, where he graduated with Distinction. He is particular fascinated with etymology, the latency of Romanticism in the Victorian era, and all things Gerard Manley Hopkins – as well as a good fantasy novel!

He is currently a Finalist of Penguin Random House’s ‘WriteNow’ programme, finishing his debut children’s middle-grade adventure novel ‘Arthur Saves Christmas (In August)’ as part of a trilogy under the mentorship of a Penguin editor. Acting credits include ‘Brass’ (The Union Theatre), originating the role of Dean in ‘Sing for your Supper’ (Chiswick Playhouse), various UK touring shows, and many a panto… 

Matthew is also a singer, trumpeter, marathon runner, and conscientious vegetarian with a penchant for a great burger! You can follow him on twitter at @matthewp_c.

Mihaela Manolache

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Mihaela Manolache has completed a MA in Art History, Criticism and Display at the University of Nottingham in UK and has worked as a Museologist and Curator for both public and private museums and art galleries in Europe. Her main focus in on modern and contemporary art and as a freelancer, she is involved in community art projects, lectures, writings and art therapy.

Peter Wyss

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Peter is a philosophical practitioner with more than fifteen years experience in higher and continuing education. For Oxford University and the Open University, he teaches a broad range of philosophical topics, yet his main interest is in ancient philosophy. When working, he is keen to raise awareness for the idea that philosophy is, or can be, a useful tool for reflecting on our everyday lives, and so for helping us to live well. Peter holds a PhD in philosophy and is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Samantha Allen

Samantha Allen
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Sam is an arts engagement specialist, working internationally with audiences, museum and heritage professionals to transform meaning and provide authentic engagement in programming, events and external communications. She is an innovator who combines strategic marketing, education and arts administration to catalyse change and has run her own international arts organisation since 2014. Sam is passionate advocate of racial activism and has a BA in Classical Studies and an MA in Arts Administration and Cultural Policy. 

Sarah Jaffray

Sarah Jaffray
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Sarah Jaffray holds a BA and MA in Art History with an emphasis in 19th/20th century France and a minor in the Italian Renaissance. She holds a second MA in Cultural Theory from Goldsmiths, University of London. Sarah was a lecturer for several colleges and universities in the Los Angeles area before relocating to London in 2012. She has worked in curatorial roles at the British Museum and Wellcome Collection. Sarah is currently a lecturer at the University of Arts London and Coordinator for City Lit’s Art History programme. Her art historical practice focuses on experimental narratives, artistic process, art pedagogy, politics and philosophy. Sarah’s current research is focused on translation and empathy.

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