Residencies as Spaces of Inspiration

When artists explore new horizons, spaces full of possibilities open up—places where ideas grow and cultural exchange comes alive. For the Goethe-Institut, such residencies are a central component of international cultural work: they not only foster artistic innovation but also mutual understanding and long-term cooperation, even in particularly unstable times.

By Emrike Knoche 

The Goethe-Institut supports more than 50 residency programs worldwide, enabling cultural practitioners to live and work in a different cultural context for a certain period. What makes these programs special is not only the international networking but also the opportunity to develop new ideas and deepen artistic processes without commercial pressure.

“Residencies offer a protected space where cultural practitioners can experiment and connect with local scenes,” explains Florian Römmert, who coordinates the residency programs at the Goethe-Institut. Collaboration with local partners is key: “Most programs are created in close cooperation with experts on site. This leads to sustainable relationships and often joint projects.” How these principles play out in practice is illustrated by Björn Lengers from the digital theater collective CyberRäuber, who was part of the bangaloREsidency in 2022. The invitation to the Attakkalari Dance Biennale was the starting point for intensive collaboration with local institutions such as Jaaga and the BeFantastic Festival. “The idea to do a residency with Madhu Natraj and the Natya STEM dance kampni was a very good decision,” Lengers recalls.
He describes the exchange with other cultural practitioners during the residency as “very productive and interesting.” It resulted not only in contacts with other residents but also with local artists and institutions. Particularly formative was his daily contact with the Natya Institute: “I was able to work with dancers and gained initial insights into Indian dance forms, culture, religions, and poetry.”
The city itself also played an important role: Bangalore, as a technology hub, offered numerous points of connection for CyberRäuber’s digital theater work. “We carried out two projects there after the residency and would like to continue this,” Lengers reports.

What stays from a residency? For him, it is above all the encounter with an “overwhelming, rich, and diverse culture” that left a lasting impression. “It makes you humble at first, but it also sparks completely new ideas.” And not least: friendships that last beyond the residency.

Artist Shilpa Nayudu, who worked at Weltkunstzimmer in Düsseldorf in 2025 as part of the Goethe-Institut’s bangaloREsidency-Expanded project, describes her time as profound and inspiring. “Every opportunity to learn, exchange, and grow excites me,” she says. She was particularly drawn to the interdisciplinary and participatory approach of the residency: “I was inspired by the format that encourages artists to engage with the public through workshops and dialogues.”

Her artistic practice revolves around exploring body and mind - their rhythms, resilience, and regenerative power. “I see the body as a vessel for hope and connectedness.” In Düsseldorf, she presented her work under the title Inner Cartography: The Fabric of Being-  a collection of paintings, hand-embroidered cyanotypes, material experiments, and sketches tracing the inner landscapes of the body. During her residency, she developed the participatory project We Are All One, inviting people to learn more about human cells through collective embroidery. “It became a wonderful opportunity to share stories and reflect on our shared humanity through art.”

Nayudu describes the exchange with other cultural practitioners as particularly enriching: “The residency and the Borderland program offered great opportunities to connect with artists from Germany, Armenia, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Israel.” Through open studios, shared meals, and visits to exhibitions and performances, she discovered diverse artistic practices and gained insights into curatorial processes in Germany. “Local museums and libraries also became valuable learning spaces.”
The location Düsseldorf played a central role in her work: “The city offers a vibrant and open art scene. Its proximity to Cologne and Krefeld allowed me to explore both the region’s textile heritage and contemporary art practices.” A particularly striking experience was meeting a professional embroiderer who gave her access to specialist literature on Schwalm embroidery and other German stitching traditions.
What does she take away from the residency? “This time was deeply transformative for me as an artist and as a person.” She was deeply impressed by the openness and support of the local artists towards her. “I return with the firm conviction that our cultural, linguistic, and creative diversity is a powerful source of inspiration. It reminds us that connection and compassion are at the heart of every meaningful artistic endeavor. To nurture peace, we must continue to celebrate this diversity in every possible way.” 

“Residencies enable a shift in perspective that goes far beyond the artistic,” concludes Florian Römmert. “They are spaces for reflection, dialogue, and shaping a shared future.”