Founder & CEO of New Heroes Lucas De Man (Belgium, 1982) graduated from the KU Leuven with a Masters in Literature in 2004. He immediately applied to the Amsterdam University of the Arts (NL) to become a Theatre Director and won the Matthijs Prize, a young talent stipendium from Artemis and Young Talent Award from Theater aan Zee (BE) before graduating in 2008. Next to his job as artistic director of New Heroes, he works as a (freelance) director, actor and concept developer. He presents several art shows on Dutch national television. He often hosts large and small events in the Netherlands and Belgium, lectures and teaches. Awards & Recognition In 2011 Lucas and designer Pascal Leboucq were nominated for the renowned Wijnberg scenography award for their installation SKETCH. Lucas was awarded the honorary title city artist of Den Bosch from 2012-2016. In 2016 the performance De Man in Europe was selected to open EUROPE BY PEOPLE, the cultural program of the Dutch presidency of the EU. It was shortlisted as Best Show of the 2015/2016 season by TheaterFestival in the Netherlands and Belgium. And Lucas himself was shortlisted as EuroDutchman of the year. In 2017-2018 he was selected as the first artist in residence of the Rabobank.