He develops property, has been collecting contemporary art for decades and, with the Philara Collection, has created a venue that has been shaping Düsseldorf’s art scene. To mark the exhibition space’s tenth anniversary, Gil Bronner talks about his passion for collecting, entrepreneurial decisions and the responsibility that comes with private initiatives.

For over twenty years, Petra Schlieter- Gropp has worked with Schlieter & Friends to create events that bring people together, ranging from the Lovebird Festival to corporate events and new festival formats. VIVID editor Rainer Kunst speaks to the event manager about good ideas, working as a married couple, viewing crises as opportunities, the importance of Düsseldorf's creative industries and why face-to-face encounters are becoming increasingly important in the digital age.

From Washington D.C. and New York to Düsseldorf – Vanessa McMann studied marketing and business administration in the USA, worked for the Washington Post and international branding agencies and eventually met her husband, the managing director of Foto Koch, which is how she came to be living in Düsseldorf since 2014. Here, she initially founded and ran the juice bar ‘VeJuice’. Today, as a yoga, Pilates and Lagree instructor, she promotes a positive outlook on life and plenty of exercise.