They're young and idealistic, they're the next generation in the arts: the students of the "Class of 2012." We traveled across Germany to speak with the up-and-coming creative talent in Germany, including dancers, pop musicians, writers, and more.

Episode 1: The Designers

Part 1 takes us to Offenbach, where two young product designers are hatching dreams of beautifying the workaday world.

Episode 2: The Directors

This time we go to the German Film and Television Academy (dffb) in Berlin. Competition for places here is fierce, and getting admitted is an honor. But what happens with the students once they’re in? We talk to two young directors about their plans for the future.

Episode 3: The Writers

Here we go, visiting the German Creative Writing Program at Leipzig University. We sit in as Sandra Gugic and Choleda Jasdany discuss a project with their professor, the writer Michael Lentz.

Episode 4: The Visual Artists

In this installment, we present Vytautas Jurevicius, from Lithuania, and the sculptor Florian Auer, from Augsburg, who are both studying at Frankfurt’s famous Städelschule. Just under 200 young artists study here, more than half of them from abroad. The unconventional art school has established itself as a center of experimental art in Germany.

Episode 5: Pop Music

The search for young artistic talent takes us to the Pop Academy in Mannheim, an institution where hopeful artists can become professional musicians and earn academic degrees. We speak to Malte Horstmann, the keyboard player of the band "The Astronaut’s Eye" and E-bassist Angelika Schneider about their experiences and dreams.

Episode 6: Dance

This time we focus on two passionate young dancers. Dance has been the focal point of their lives for years. Lea Thomen and Cagdas Ermis talk about their inspiration, their training at Essen's Folkwang University of the Arts and their hopes for the future.

Episode 7: Classical Music

"Weimar – it's like winning the lottery," says Gonzalo Simonetti, who studies opera singing at the Liszt School of Music. For the native of Chile the city of Classicism has a very special aura. Another reason to study here is the presence of eminent teachers like cellist Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt. This is the final episode of  our series showcasing institutions throughout Germany that foster creative talent.