About us
Poton – Centre of Art and Creativity is an art and residency centre and a professional theatre group that operates in a small village of Bátovce, Slovakia.
Our residencies take place in the quiet rural environment. There lies the most appreciated benefit of the space – picturesque Slovak countryside, which offers many options for walking and wandering, beautiful sunsets and peaceful creative escape.
Residencies in Poton are sought out by artists who want to flee from the hectic world of the city. Being located in countryside, Poton offers a calm and intimate space for reflection and concentration on creative process. Moreover, artists live and work in the same building, which provides them with an option to comfortably adapt their working schedule to their needs and wishes.
The building provides more than 1,500 m² of living and working space. It has complete sound, light and projection equipment. During the calendar year, it provides spaces for 20 residential groups – for more than 80 artists.
So far, Poton has hosted over a thousand artists from all over the world.
When selecting residents, the residency centre focuses mainly on visual art, site-specific projects, new media and performing arts, including contemporary dance and physical theatre, but also on music projects and literature. Both emerging and established artists are welcome. Since 2015, it has also hosted residencies of art theorists and critics.
Options of workspace and equipment
Residents have 2 options as work space – main theatre hall or a smaller studio.
The main theatre hall is designed as a classic black box theatre hall with a stage, space for an auditorium (without elevation), a balcony and stage background. Above the playing area there are traverses with a load capacity of 500 kg of lights. There is a mobile elevation with height levels from 20cm to 70cm. The whole space is black. Dimensions of the hall are: width: 9m, depth: 18m, height: 9m.
The Studio space is mainly intended for smaller productions, seminars, discussions and work meetings. It has a maximum seating capacity of 50 people. For workshops and trainings, the maximum capacity is 10 people. The space is multifunctional with the possibility of projections on one of the walls. I tis equipped with a black dance floor. The studio provides blackout curtains. Dimensions of the studio are: width: 5m, depth: 10m, height: 3m.
The centre has extensive light, sound and projection equipment. The residents are instructed about the use of technical equipment in the beginning of the residency. They are welcome to invite their own technician. If necessary, we can invite an external technician.
Housing
Poton offers 1 single room, 2 double rooms and 1 triple room. The rooms are equipped with private or shared bathroom. There is a WIFI connection throughout the building. The centre is equipped with 2 kitchens for preparing meals.
Our room capacities allow us to host you with your family members for additional fee (15 €/person/night). (Pets are also allowed, if communicated in advance and for an additional fee (10 €/night).
Poton has a beautiful garden with a terrace and a fireplace. It is used as a place for exhibitions and relax. The residents can enjoy its peaceful premises any time they wish.
In case of bad weather they can socialize in the lounge area with a sofa and dining area.
There is a food delivery service and a supermarket in the village. In the wider area there are several tourist attractions (historical, architecture, spas, swimming pools, shopping) – town Banská Štiavnica (30 km), town Levice (16 km), town Nitra (60 km), swimming pool Santovka (13 km), Dudince spa (25 km). The capital city of Slovakia – Bratislava – is 163 km away.
If you have any questions, please contact Monika Deset Skojcova at skojcova@poton.sk.