Art & Mindfulness Night Academy: The Conscious Experience

Image credit: Yellow Vlei, 2014 © Viviane Sassen

As modern life grows faster and more complex, mental health is under increasing strain. The Art & Mindfulness Night Academy is a new cultural format that consciously slows things down – and sharpens your perception.

This four-hour learning experience is designed to transform how we experience art and life – through neuroaesthetics, mindfulness, artistic experience and psychoactive insight.

During the evening, leading experts guide you through dynamic lectures, share hands-on tools and interactive exercises. Inspiring viewpoints from our artists add to the experience and unlock new perspectives while stimulating new ideas.

Each learning module delivers actionable, real-world takeaways – practical strategies and insights that can be applied to both personal and professional challenges.

Secure your Early Bird ticket until 31 January.

LEARNING MODULES

Saskia Wheeler, neuroaesthetics expert, on the effects of art on the brain, stress reduction, and empathy

Anne Philippi, journalist and founder of The New Health Club, on states of expanded states of consciousness and creative processes

Lukas Feireiss, curator and co-founder of the International Society for Arts and Medicine, at the intersection of art, healing and embodiment

Kathy Känzig, facilitator for embodiment and creative health

Yousef Hammoudah, mindfulness coach and identity strategist, with a secular, science-based mindfulness practice in the art context

Image credits: Saskia Wheeler © Alexandra Bruns / Anne Philippi © Joachim Gern / Lukas Feireiss © Jonathan Schmidt-Ott / Kathy Känzig © Raphaela Pichler / Yousef Hammoudah © Maxine van Endert

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Saskia Wheeler, MA, MSc — Psychology of the Arts, Neuroaesthetics & Creativity

Saskia Wheeler is a researcher, writer, and speaker in neuroaesthetics, exploring how art and design influence emotional experience, human connection, and psychological wellbeing. With a background in neuroaesthetics from Goldsmiths, University of London, she works at the intersection of neuroscience, psychology, and sensory design, supporting designers, brands, and cultural spaces in creating environments centred on lived experience. She collaborates with partners to translate scientific research into spatial experiences that deepen emotional resonance and connection. Her work includes collaborations with leading scientists, including Dr. Tara Swart, and creative teams at Mother Design and YourStudio on award-winning projects that foreground human perception and wellbeing. Grounded in science but guided by sensibility, her work focuses on how people feel in spaces - and how thoughtful design can bring about calm, connection, and belonging.

Lukas Feireiss, MA, Coach, Visiting Professor for Transdisciplinary Artistic and Design Education (UdK, Berlin)

Lukas Feireiss is a Berlin-based curator, coach, and educator with over two decades of experience in the international cultural and educational sector. Working across art, science, and holistic inquiry, he focuses on transdisciplinary approaches that bridge critical reflection and creative experimentation. He has curated major exhibitions, edited widely recognized publications, and is teaching at universities worldwide. As a founding member of the International Society for Arts and Medicine, he fosters dialogue between artistic and healing practices. In addition, he is a trained Reiki Master and supports individuals and organizations in creative, professional, and personal transformation through his coaching practice CURA VISION.

Kathy Känzig, Coach & Facilitator for Embodiment and Creative Health, Podcast Host (Modern Creativity)

Kathy Känzig is a facilitator, coach, and podcast host of Modern Creativity. She designs embodied experiences, helping people access self-awareness, clarity and creativity through personal inquiry.  In her recent work with the Institut für Zukünfte at the Kunstmuseum Wolfsburg, Kathy explored the exhibition theme Utopia as a catalyst for change. Through sound, meditation, movement, and self-reflection, she invited participants to engage with the exhibition as a mirror for personal inquiry – directly within the exhibition space. Her work is built on art as a medium – for reflection, sense-making, and a gateway to creativity. In podcast conversations, Kathy explores creativity touching on themes such as compassion, neuroaesthetics and creative health. Her podcast Modern Creativity has reached over 11,000 listeners across more than 69 episodes. Originally from Zurich, Switzerland she now lives in Berlin.

Anne Philippi, Journalist, Founder of The New Health Club and The New Health Institute

After 15 years in high-profile journalism covering Hollywood and tech for GQ, VOGUE, and VANITY FAIR, Anne Philippi had a transformative experience with psychedelics. In 2020, she founded The New Health Club Podcast, the first lifestyle-inspired psychedelic podcast, supported by leaders like Dr. Bronner’s and Christian Angermayer. The show connected her with top experts and expanded her network and became the first lifestyle podcast in in the psychedelic field. She speaks at conferences such as Horizons and Psychedelic Science, advocating for de-stigmatizing psychedelic medicine. In 2025, she launched The New Health Institute, a US-based nonprofit dedicated to redefining cultural narratives around psychedelics and increasing visibility and access amid social stigma and shadow bans. She remains deeply involved in the global psychedelic ecosystem and creating content beyond the industry.

Yousef Hammoudah, Mindfulness Coach and Identity Strategist with a secular, science-based mindfulness practice in the art context 

Yousef Hammoudah is a certified Unified Mindfulness Coach with over 20 years of practice and 30 years of experience in culture, coaching, and business. As the founding Executive Director of Fotografiska Berlin and now Global VP of Brand Development and Community, he blends psychology, art, and mindfulness to create transformative experiences. He is the author of Die sieben Säulen des Seins, highlighting mindfulness as a cornerstone for personal growth, and his meditations on Insight Timer have been played over 400,000 times.