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Walther Tjon Pian Gi (Paramaribo, 1947)

After obtaining a candidate degree in civil engineering at Delft Technical University in 1975 Walther Tjon Pian Gi studied modern dance in New York (1975/76) and Balinese dance and music on the island of Bali (1981/82), where he was granted participation in sacred temple dances. He belonged to the first nucleus of the Amsterdam theatre collective . Dogtroep. (1979/86), one of Holland. s foremost international groups that is specialized in site-specific theatre. A specialist in lighting and fire-sculptures, he also was the group. s financial manager.

From 1988 till 1997 he was director of the Scarabes Foundation, a service centre sponsored by the Dutch government, advising and coaching non-indiginous theatremakers and advising the regular Dutch theatre organisations on multicultural policy. In 1997 he became secretary with the national Dutch Fund for the performing arts. He recently was appointed financial director of MTNL Multicultural Television Netherlands which produces programs aimed at specific groups as well as the multicultural mix in the 4 largest cities in the Netherlands.

Walther Tjon Pian Gi held positions on the boards of, among others, the Amsterdam Dance Workshop, the Fund for the performing arts, Stoa Broadcasting and minorities; and a large number of advisory committees such as the National Arts Council, the Rotterdam Arts Council, Amsterdam local television network, the special 4 year Arts Program boards of Rotterdam and The Hague. He is a frequent speaker at national and international conferences on multicultural policies and the arts: e.g. . Human Rights and Cultural Policy. , Helsinki, 1993; Crossing Frontiers. , Ottawa, 1994; . Future of the arts and artistic work in Europe. , Straatsburg, 1995.

Publications include . Passen op het podium. (Caring for the stage/Steps on stage) . essays on theatre in a multicultural society, 1996 and . Quality and courage. on the criteria for quality in a multicultural perspective, 2000.

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Walther Tjon Pian Gi (Paramaribo, 1947)

After obtaining a candidate degree in civil engineering at Delft Technical University in 1975 Walther Tjon Pian Gi studied modern dance in New York (1975/76) and Balinese dance and music on the island of Bali (1981/82). He belonged to the first nucleus of the Amsterdam theatre collective . Dogtroep. (1979/86), one of Holland. s foremost international groups that is specialized in site-specific theatre.

From 1988 till 1997 he was director of the Scarabes Foundation, a service centre sponsored by the Dutch government, advising and coaching non-indiginous theatremakers and advising the regular Dutch theatre organisations on multicultural policy. In 1997 he became secretary with the national Dutch Fund for the performing arts. He recently was appointed financial director of MTNL Multicultural Television Netherlands which produces programs aimed at specific groups as well as the multicultural mix in the 4 largest cities in the Netherlands.

Walther Tjon Pian Gi held positions on different boards and a large number of advisory committees in the fields of the performing arts and broadcasting. He is a frequent speaker at national and international conferences on multicultural policies and the arts and has published different articles on the subject.