Creative Asylum in Slovak countryside
From May 2024 we are launching Creative Asylum residency program that runs without a deadline. Residents can apply any time through a simple form and if the capacity of the centre allows it, they are granted their residency.
Because of a high interest for our residencies, we recommend you to apply ASAP.
Please read the following information about the residency program and its conditions.
Why choose Creative Asylum?
Our residencies take place in the building of the Centre of Arts and Creativity in the quiet rural environment of the village of Bátovce in Slovakia. 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.
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.
Accommodation and living
Poton offers 1 single room, 2 double rooms and 1 triple room. The rooms are equipped with sanitary facilities (toilet, shower). 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. 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.
Conditions and costs
Poton Art and Culture Centre invites artists of all art disciplines, as well as art theorists and critics to come and work on their new works. Residents are offered basic production and PR support. In the beginning of your residency, we provide you with a basic training about the use of technical equipment of the centre. If you need a professional technical assistance during your residency, you can bring your own technician, or we can invite an external technician from nearby. This must however be communicated in advance.
For those who wish to share the outcome of their residency we offer to organize a public exhibition or a presentation for a small, local audience in informal atmosphere. It is not obligatory.
Costs of the residency are:
- Accommodation fee: 15€/person/night
- Fee for the workspace and equipment:
- Studio space (with a basic technical equipment) – 55€/day for a residency up to 5 days, 50€/day for residency longer than 5 days.
- Main theatre hall (with a full technical equipment) – 200€/day for residency up to 5 days, 160€/day for residencies up to 10 days, 150€/day for residencies longer than 10 days.
In case you are a resident who does not need a special workspace with equipment, you will only pay the accommodation costs. This may happen to authors, multimedia artists, etc.
About us
Poton – Centre for Arts and Creativity is an art and residency centre and a professional theatre group that operates in a former culture house in the small village of Bátovce, Slovakia.
The building offers to artists 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. Poton has been hosting artists in residence since 2008. Since then, more than 1,250 artists from Slovakia, Czech Republic, Hungary, England, Romania, Norway, Liechtenstein, Austria, Argentina, Palestine, Israel, Ukraine, France, Germany, Russia, Poland, Iran, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland and Mexico.
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.
If you wish to apply for a Creative Asylum residency, please fill in this form:
If you have any questions, please contact Monika Deset Skojcova at skojcova@poton.sk.