Imagine doing something knowing from the start that it will never turn into a business, a career, or anything with a financial return. You already know there will be no return on investment. And you still do it.
Not because it’s smart or strategic. Just because you care.
That’s how Slovak Theatre London and Portraits of Slovak and Czech Britain started. From a genuine need to tell stories, to make people visible, to change narratives, because we believed it mattered. No hidden agenda. No side interest.
And it was incredibly hard.
We didn’t have resources, backing, or institutional support. Most big grant applications were rejected, some more than once. We had one bigger donor, a few smaller ones, around 30–50 people who supported us through crowdfunding, and one small grant. That’s it.
The rest, we paid from our own pockets. Robert invested his own money and resources. I did too. As freelancers and students, without much spare money, and without any safety net.
On top of that, we constantly had to explain what we were even trying to make. Not sell it. Explain it. Because it didn’t fit into a clear category, and the interest didn’t exist yet. We had to create it.
Only once the exhibition existed did people really see why it mattered. The feedback from visitors and participants made it worth it, even though there were many moments of doubt and exhaustion.
What stayed with me the most were the people I worked closely with. Robert
@robertviglasky , for his talent, generosity, and belief in the project. And Rebeka
@bekoslava , without whom I honestly don’t think I would have had the strength or motivation to finish it. Doing this together, and growing through it as friends, is what made it possible.
This project gave me doubt, but also courage. Because if I can build something like this with no money, no guarantees, and no promise of return, I know what I’m capable of.
And even if it never makes sense on paper, I know why we did it. And I would still do it again. 💪🏻🤍
#PortraitsofSlovakAndCzechBritain #slovaktheatrelondon #purpose #heart #project
