The Revenge of the Bad Students: Ivana Nedeljković on Resilience,Art, and the Struggle for Culture

In turbulent times, when cultural institutions are often left at the mercy of politics and bureaucracy, local theaters face challenges that go far beyond the stage. Ivana Nedeljković, one of the founders and director of Puls Theater in Lazarevac, describes a harsh reality: in many local administrations, culture is treated the same as entertainment, and positions are often awarded not based on talent or expertise, but on political connections. Yet, despite these obstacles, Puls Theater continues to create, resist, and inspire. Ivana’s story is a testament to the resilience, courage, and unwavering commitment required to keep the spirit of art alive in Serbia today.

Interview

If we could go back in time, would you act differently? How did your personal journey shape your view of culture and art?

„If I were sent back, with this knowledge and experience, I am not sure how I would act. It is not the same to fight for some values and your ideals at 22, at 32, and now at 52 years old. The path has always been difficult, uncertain, insecure, dangerous. But as a young person at that time, I had no choice but great perseverance and struggle; the great desire never failed.

You know, it is hard, for example, to validate your employment record at the labor bureau while your schoolmates already have at least five years of work experience. And in cultural institutions, by the old good custom, the wrong people were settled, without the right qualifications and without the knowledge they could have gained while working there. Because in culture, especially locally, the authorities always treated it as entertainment. Today it is the same, but even dirtier and more primitive.

Those wrongly settled are still my colleagues—I mean cultural workers—but in the meantime, they have secured diplomas and certificates in various fields. Then, younger people are settled in the same cultural institutions, exclusively along political lines, with the same diplomas, without conscience, with much impudence and audacity, without knowledge, but with a kind of inflated self-confidence, with looks saying ‘do you know who I am?’

Let’s be clear, the whole world has gone to hell, but what I am talking about has no name, and it is especially felt in small towns. Between those 22 and these 52, a whole ascending line was happening to me, which, nonetheless, encouraged me. One thing I am sure of: talent and knowledge, just like water, always find a way.

And despite the collapse around us, and the ruined state we live in, we are obliged to work on ourselves, personal development, and improvement, more than ever. It is important that what is our greatest enemy – fear – is annulled. Without fear, we are obliged to live. And I have been nurturing that feeling for some time now. It is indescribable. Fantastic. Awakening.“

You have openly spoken about challenges in local cultural institutions, political interference, and the struggle for talent. How do you survive and keep creating in such conditions?

„Strength is within us. Strength is in truth, justice, beauty, love. Strength is also your personal choice, in a way.

Strong people work in art and culture and live from it without fear. As for success and awards – our awards are deserved. We did not buy them, like some doctoral dissertations or ordinary diplomas. Because ignorance sooner or later causes collapse. Just like in the case of the tragedy in Novi Sad, which was an attack on one’s own people.

And then evil becomes cyclical. We encounter it face to face again. And without a doubt, we are all responsible for the evil around us.“

Do you think Serbian cultural institutions still provide space for young artists and creative dialogue?

„I am not sure we have thought enough about the young, because if we had, they would not be correcting our mistakes today.

But I would tell them that any diploma is less important than a sense for family, friends, empathy, respect for justice and honesty, true work on oneself. And I would tell them that only what they earn with their own two hands – is theirs. And it is up to them which path to take. They must listen to themselves and their heart. It will be difficult; life is hard by itself, but the harder path is always fairer and more fundamental.

I give them my full and unconditional support, even if they make mistakes. Because their mistakes are more honorable than the truths of bad students taking revenge on us.“

Can the Theatre be a space of resistance, dialogue, and truth today?

„The stage has always been, and still is, a space of resistance, justice, truth, and beauty, and in wise societies it can even be a form of atypical dialogue. This has been true since ancient Greece until today.

But for a successful dialogue, wise leaders, political and cultural elites, and a healthy society are needed. The last two are millions of light-years away from us.“

What are your plans, personally and professionally, moving forward?

„I am an ordinary citizen who loves the city she lives in, loves her audience, and loves the creativity within herself. My plans are ordinary: as the director of the theater, I plan for the works on the Small Stage to finally be completed, to return to the ensemble, and deal only with what I was trained for.

All other plans are related to family, friends, and the small circle of ‘my great’ people. And if life places new challenges in front of me, I will be there; I will not run away. That’s it for plans, and it is not proper to reveal some of your own plans. Silence is wiser.“

What message would you like to leave for readers, young artists, and those fighting for culture in difficult times?

„The whole world is collapsing, but we are obliged to work on ourselves, our personal growth, and improvement, more than ever. Fear must be annulled. Without fear, we are obliged to live.

Talent and knowledge, just like water, always find a way. Strong people work in art and culture and live from it without fear. Their mistakes are more honorable than the truths of bad students taking revenge.

Listen to yourselves and your hearts; the harder path is always fairer and more fundamental.“