On Residency in New York: Jana Kuffová Popovicsová Talks About the Opportunity She Received Thanks to Malý Berlín

Through its collaboration with the cultural center Residency Unlimited in New York, Malý Berlín offers internship opportunities in this city. Jana K. Popovicsová took advantage of this chance and shared in an interview what she managed to accomplish during the residency – and how she continues to draw from the experience to this day.

Can you describe what your life looked like during the residency in New York?

During my residency stay in New York, I had quite a packed schedule.

The organization Residency Unlimited, which hosted the residency, arranged 14 individual hour-long meetings with artists who were also taking part in their artist residency program at the time. This gave me the opportunity to meet fourteen top-level artists from around the world, with whom I discussed their work and potential collaborations. In addition, Residency Unlimited regularly organized workshops and group visits to galleries and museums for residents, and I actively participated in those as well.

I also actively helped the resident artists with the production of their solo or group exhibitions in various venues across New York City. In my free time, I visited various large and small, public and private galleries and museums on my own and explored public art, which is abundant in the city.

What is your main occupation, and how did you find out about this opportunity?

I currently work at the Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra as a community activator in the European project IN-HABIT, funded by the Horizon 2020 call. In addition, I serve as the program director, dramaturge, and producer of the independent cultural-community center Hidepark Nitra. In the past, I’ve worked on several European cultural projects. For instance, I was part of the team that prepared Nitra’s candidacy for European Capital of Culture 2026 (we made it to the final round), as well as part of the Creative Centre Nitra team, where I worked as a fundraiser and partnership coordinator.

I’ve been in close contact with Malý Berlín for years, as our center Hidepark Nitra is also a member of Anténa – a network for independent culture. So I’ve known for a long time that Malý Berlín has a formal partnership with Residency Unlimited in New York City. I had been considering this opportunity for a while, and last year I finally decided to apply. And it worked out!

What did this residency bring you personally and professionally?

The stay in New York City gave me a chance to look at my work from a different perspective. I had the opportunity to present what I do to the public and discuss it with professionals who helped me think differently about the projects I’m currently working on. It was fascinating to find myself in a completely different cultural world. Free from the weight of my daily work, I could observe a completely different approach to art and culture, a different way in which institutions – and individuals – function. I also managed to form partnerships that could lead to future joint projects.

Are you still drawing from the contacts you made during this residency?

I made a number of useful contacts during the residency. Not only am I now connected to the team at Residency Unlimited – who regularly send past and current residents new opportunities for further residencies – but I also met fantastic artists from around the world. With some of them, I discussed the possibility of exhibiting or doing artist residencies at our center, Hidepark Nitra; others invited me to their exhibitions in various parts of the world. I formed the closest collaboration with Beatriz Manteigas from the Portuguese artist farm Quinta das Relvas – by the way, I just returned from there a week ago. Together with this center, we’re already planning joint projects under Creative Europe this year.

How long did the residency last?

My residency lasted four weeks – all of October 2024 – but I extended my stay in New York City to five weeks.

Ján Janočko
Photo: archive of Janka Kuffová Popovicsová