ÚNETE A NOSOTROS EN LA ECO HOUSE

The Mauser EcoHouse is an Artist Residency program where artists from all over the world come to work on their personal projects; for a minimum of two weeks. We accept all kinds of focus areas and mediums: Visual art, installation art, fiber and textile arts, performance art, writing, and more.

We are located in the foothills on the central pacific side of Costa Rica; In between Jaco and Quepos. The drive from the Airport in Alajuela (SJO) is approx. 2.5 hours. We are up a hilly dirt road 10km away from the closest town, named Parrita. **It is important to remind you that we are secluded up in the jungle with only one restaurant (40min) within walking distance** Some artists choose to rent a car if they are interested in doing more exploring of the area. We are partnered with a tour company that offers day trips for an additional fee. Please see Day Trips below for more details.

We accept applications year round. Our application document is linked on this website and can be submitted via info@mauserfoundation.org. Additional info will be sent per request and questions answered.

The day to day at our residency program looks different for everyone, depending on your personal projects, work and downtime activities. Coming as a Grant Winner or an Artist in Residence the days are yours to navigate and plan trips. For the House Volunteers there are responsibilities at the beginning and end of the day during the week, with time for working on personal projects and art throughout the day. Weekend trips and day trips to natural sights, beaches, hikes, and tours are available to be organized.

What is included depends on whether you are a Grant Winner, a House Volunteer Artist, or an Artist in Residence. The details are broken down and listed below, and will be given in more specific detail after your application to the residency is approved. Artist's in Residence -there are different bedroom accommodations available, including the deluxe suite, a private room, or shared bedroom, details of each are listed below: * Deluxe Suite includes a king bed, attached private bathroom, and a private studio (21’x14’) with a secluded garden area and a private entrance. * Private rooms have a double/full bed, attached private bathroom, desk and chair * Shared bedroom has 2 TwinXL bunk beds (with pillow top mattresses), and a large bathroom with Jacuzzi tub, sleeps 1-4 people Included Accommodations for Artist's in Residence * Sheets and towels ARE included. * Toiletries not included. *Fully Vegetarian breakfast and dinners during the week, full paying artists will be responsible for their own lunches and weekend meals. There will be the opportunity to take a trip to the grocery store at least once a week for their food/drink needs. There is also a restaurant within walking distance of the residency house. * Shuttle service from the airport (SJO) on the 1st, 15th and last day of the month. * Free WIFI * Bed linens and towels laundered and room cleaned weekly. * Washing machine available for personal use ($2 per load including soap) and line dry. * We offer a variety of seasonal excursions (2-3 times a week) such as beach days and local tours for an additional cost. Prices fluctuate depending on a number of factors including but not limited to the number of artists on a given trip, distance and length of time etc. The average price can be anywhere from $10-85 per person per trip. * Main Studio (20’x 22’) with up to 4 spaces available, natural light, large wooden doors with view to backyard gardens. * Studio spaces available on covered veranda overlooking jungle. * Work Equipment: Dremel, hammers, wrenches, screw drivers, 6ft. x 2.5 ft. work tables, and comfortable chairs Equipment and supplies (for all): * It is recommended you bring all your own art supplies, if this isn’t a possibility, supplies can be ordered WITHIN Costa Rica from Art Depot in San Jose, they ship to our local post office in Parrita. *Shipping to Costa Rica from abroad is discouraged highly* Included in the Residency for Grant Winners and Volunteer Artists: * Shared bedroom has 2 XL bunk beds (with pillow top mattresses), large bathroom with Jacuzzi tub, sleeps 1-4 people * Sheets and towels ARE included * Toiletries not included. * Shuttle service from the airport (SJO) on the 1st, 15th and last day of the month. * Free WIFI * Bed linens and towels laundered and room cleaned weekly * Washing machine available for personal use ($2 per load including soap) and line dry * We offer a variety of seasonal excursions (2-3 times a week) such as beach days and local tours for an additional cost. Prices fluctuate depending on a number of factors including but not limited to the number of artists on a given trip, distance and length of time etc. The average price can be anywhere from $10-85 per person per trip. * Main Studio (20’x 22’) with up to 4 spaces available, natural light, large wooden doors with view to backyard gardens. * Studio spaces available on covered veranda overlooking jungle. * Work Equipment: Dremel, hammers, wrenches, screw drivers, 6ft. x 2.5 ft. work tables, and comfortable chairs. *Fully Vegetarian meals included breakfast and dinner seven days a week.

Included food in the residency depends on whether you are here as a Grant Winner, a House Volunteer Artist, or Artist in Residency. More details are listed below, and will also be broken down in detail once you are accepted into the program. Artists in Residence and Grant Winners: Self-serve continental breakfast Monday thru Friday from 7:30-8:30am. Includes a combination of the following: eggs, beans, rice, bread, butter, fruit, granola, oatmeal, plantains, potatoes, yogurt, coffee, tea and sugar. Prepared foods and ingredients are set out and you can make yourself a plate for that moment or later in the day. Prepared gourmet vegetarian dinner served Monday thru Friday between 5-6pm Lunches, snacks and meals on weekends NOT INCLUDED. Bins in kitchen and refrigerator for artist’s private food All food to be kept in kitchen either in shared fridge or personal bin Access to fully equipped kitchen with cold press Breville juicer, crock pots, rice maker, Vitamix, food processor, and coffee makers. Weekly trip to the local bakery/fruit and veggie stands/grocery store Organic produce delivery truck weekly House Volunteer Artists: All fruits, veggies, grains, eggs and dairy products are shared among the volunteers and House Managers. Volunteer Artists will be responsible for preparing their own meals mid day and on weekends. Weekdays they will be part of supporting the making on some level of the continental breakfasts and gourmet vegetarian dinners. Specialty items NOT included (i.e: vegan alternatives, nuts, sweets and non essential/treat yourself products) All food to be kept downstairs either in shared fridge or personal bin Access to fully equipped kitchen with cold press Breville juicer, crock pots, rice maker, Vitamix, food processor, and coffee makers. Weekly trip to the local bakery/fruit and veggie stands/grocery store Organic produce delivery truck weekly Mauser EcoHouse Trading Post/ For sale area: Coffee, cooking oils/vinegar, rice/beans, specific spices, peanut butter, chocolate, and seasonal items.

Mauser EcoHouse Artist Residency: 300 m este del Cementerio de Chires Puntarenas Province, Parrita 60901 Costa Rica

The house itself is a 6,000 sq. ft Spanish style, on 1.5 acres of land with a greenhouse, chickens and large garden areas. It has five bedrooms, (one deluxe suite, two single rooms, one shared bunk room, and the onsite office. All have individual bathrooms. The wrap-around veranda is a great lookout into the jungle and can be used as a communal, yet individual studio space. The main shared studio (20’x 22’) has space for 4 seated individuals to work or for dancers to collaborate; It has natural light, large wooden barn doors with view to backyard and the cute doings of the chickens. The private rooms have desks and chairs in for a secluded work space. The deluxe suite has a (21’x14’)personal private studio, and a garden sitting area with private entrance. There is a large shared kitchen and dining area in the center of the residency house, and there are multiple spaces for relaxation and alone time including hammocks on the veranda and a couch in the main living area. Your specific accommodations will be broken down in more detail once your application is accepted and we know which private or shared room you will be occupying.

We are partnered with Santina Tours and Transportation. They offer a variety of excursions such as beach days, yoga classes, and local tours for an additional cost. Prices fluctuate depending on a number of factors including, but not limited to the number of artists on a given trip, distance, and length of time etc. The average price can be anywhere from $10-85 per person per trip. Popular trips include: local waterfalls, monkey mangrove tour, rainmaker waterfall and suspension bridges, beach days, Manuel Antonio National Park, the Gold and Jade museums, and more. To learn more about Santina Tours and Transportation follow their Instagram account: @santina_tours

Airport pick up/drop off from SJO, is only included to and from the airport on the 1st of the month, the 15th of the month, and the last day of the month. **JUNE 2023 THIS PROTOCOL WILL BE IN PRACTICE** For included pick-up: 11am pick up at the SJO Airport, meeting at the little deli/cafe to the left of the main exit in arrivals. We recommend that you give yourself 90min to 2hrs for getting through the gates, baggage claim and customs. Though sometimes it can take an hour or less. If your flight is not available to co inside with am 11 am pick up, we suggest that you plan come a day or two in advance to allow you a good nights rest, explore the area and/or some down time before the journey to the Residency. We can recommend hotels, hostels and bed and breakfasts, that have airport shuttles for your convenience, for the 11am pick up. The pick up will also include a stop or two, to stretch legs and to get the first round of groceries for the week. OR... If you have to schedule your flight outside of these dates and time frames, you will be responsible for making your own way to the EcoHouse. However, for these instances, we can connect you with a driver of a priviate car. There are also taxi services from outside the Airport, Uber is available in the city, and public transportation. Rental cars have better rates in San Jose, and if you book a month or more in advance.

* It is recommended you bring all your own art supplies, If this isn’t a possibility, supplies can be ordered within Costa Rica from Art Depot in San Jose and shipped to our local post office. *https://www.artdepotcr.net/Default.asp is the website of the art depot in Costa Rica that you can buy supplies from, some supplies you need may not be carried or available so please keep their product availability in mind when deciding what to bring. *Work Equipment Available at the Residency: power tools; drills, electric saws, Dremel, hammers, wrenches, screw drivers, machetes, easels, 6ft. x 2.5 ft. work tables, and comfortable chairs

*lots of cool clothing (shorts and tank tops or T-shirts-natural light weight fabrics) *long pants and sleeves to prevent sunburn or bug bites (if this is your preference) *no warm clothing is necessary, -it doesn’t get cool here during the night *It is very humid here, so pack with that in mind *bring bug spray!!!! *sunscreen if you burn easily / sun hat *reusable water bottle to stay hydrated *any art supplies you may need while you’re here *specialized toiletries *portable phone charger for day trips (optional) *your own bed pillows (optional) *beach towel and swimsuits *a variety of shoes- at least one pair of tennis shoes, and one pair of sandals- some people like to have water shoes and a pair of hiking boots or rainboots. *rain jacket during rainy season (optional) -we provide all the sheets, pillows, blankets, and bath towels

Although there is ATM access in Jaco for Debit Cards, it is not always possible to go to the ATM - It is suggested that if you want to participate in our day trips, occasionally go out to eat, and have money for souvenirs / specialty items, $100 in cash for each week of your stay will generally cover it. As far as exchanging goes, feel free to exchange any or all of the cash you bring to Costa Rica at the airport, but almost every store and resturaunt in Costa Rica accepts american dollars-so if you are bringing USD, the exchange isn't always necessary. That being said, Colones will always be accepted anywhere you go, including side of the road stands and local farms/ businesses, so it is safer to exchange your money for Colones when you arrive. As far as debit cards go, most bigger stores and resturaunts will accept any Visa or Mastercards, but there are many resturaunts, local stores, and excursions where cash is the only method of payment, thats why bringing cash is highly suggested for your stay.

The Residency house has solid and strong wifi signal, but to make calls, use data, and use your phone in general outside of the house, a costa rican sim card is reccomended. To purchase a Costa Rican Sim Card, it is reccomended that you buy one at the airport after arriving. They will speak english at the kiosk, and you will need to request that the sim card you purchase is not only for phone calls and text messages, but also data usage. They will help you decide what kind of sim card and how much to load onto the sim card based on the duartion of your stay. It is also reccomended that you have the tech install the SIM card there at the kiosk, and attempt to make a call before leaving, to ensure that it works. This is much cheaper than turning on roaming data or paying for an international plan through most phone companies. If you are not planning on using your phone outside of the residency house a SIM card is not required.

-We create professional/independent work environments, for max of 8 residents at one time, with a communal home experience. -Facilitating collaboration on how this looks, feels and functions on a group to group basis. Open and constructive communication is key and expected. -Music played aloud should be kept at an appropriate volume, and no music should be played in shared studio spaces or after 8pm, unless it is agreed on by all residents. *Bringing noise canceling headphones can be nice for shared spaces* -When making your meals, or snacks/smoothies, your dishes must be done within the hour of creating them, as to keep away fruit flies and not leave work for the other residents. -Generally keeping your studio space straight and clean, and cleaning up after yourself in shared rooms and spaces is important etiquette in the house -Be respectful and aware of others personal boundaries and requests!

yes, the tap water in the house is safe to consume and is of drinking water quality standards. Bringing a reusable water bottle to stay hydrated is always reccomended.

The climate in Costa Rica is tropical and humid, Midday tempuratures can reach up to 80-95 degrees farenheit, but the temperature rarely drops below 70 degrees, even at nighttime. The dry season is November - April, and the rainy season is May - October. Please take a look at our suggested packing question in this FAQ section if you want more information on suggested clothing / accomodations to pack based on the weather.

Traveling to/from Costa Rica: There are new and ever-changing COVID policies and requirements to travel in and out of Costa Rica. These requirements will be listed clearly and will be up to date at this link: -https://www.visitcostarica.com/en/costa-rica/planning-your-trip/entry-requirements All additional necessary links can be found within this webpage, including options for COVID travel insurance, the health pass, and visa information. COVID Test Information Currently, there is a requirement to receive a negative COVID test to return to the United States after your stay here. There is a rapid COVID test available at the San Jose airport, and you should arrive at least three hours early to the airport on the day of your return flight. Click on the following link, select SJO as your airport of departure, and follow the additional steps to set up your COVID one hour antigen test appointment for three hours before your flight boards. https://covid.morphotr.com/lab.cfm?fbclid=IwAR0TTqIO1oKoVccN53F7Ilqy_jW4rZXNrSU5OGI4vCqQy0S3h-3KlRXsP7o&gclid=Cj0KCQjwlMaGBhD3ARIsAPvWd6jWC9qhkpjK_TW1AsClkOejqY-kyaiBZFGCnfa1rkJKOJLYxsq1PMcaAmZ5EALw_wcB Mask Policies and Social Distancing in Costa Rica For most outdoor activities, like visiting the beach, going to waterfalls, and hiking, a mask is not expected or required, however - any restaurant, indoor check-in, shopping, or public taxi outing will require a facial covering. Make sure you bring at least one comfortable face mask for any of these circumstances! COVID protocol in the house -Vaccination is not required to join us -we are in a rural environment with lots of open air and space between us and our neighbors -the private rooms and even shared room provide plenty of space for social distancing if you so choose, and day trips that will expose you to many people are always optional -it is your choice whether or not to leave the residency house at any time -Although there has been no instances yet, in the event that a resident gets sick, they will be immediately transported to a hotel for quarantine which will be covered under the COVID travel insurance you purchased through the first link on this page -any special requests or concerns about our COVID protocols can be directly addressed with Heather through WhatsApp before arriving to the residency house

"the U.S. Department of State ranks Costa Rica a level #1 safe country for travel. A level #1 is exercise normal precautions- lowest advisory level for safety and security risk"

Margarita's Guesthouse-Close to the airport, and our current pick up and drop off location that is not SJO. Welcoming, warm, local family house vibe, family style meal options for breakfast and dinner, friendly and wonderful service. Adventure Inn-a boutique hotel that offers: breakfast, a pool with jacuzzi, and an airport shuttle. It is also walking distance from several restaurants. Hotel 1915- only a 5 minute drive from the airport, this beautiful hotel sits on property dating back to 1915. It offers a tranquil and calm environment with lots of shops and restaurants nearby. Ruta Verde- 20 minutes to the north of the airport in the foothills. This scenic Bed&Breakfast is for those who would like to come a day or two before the scheduled pick up date to unwind and acclimate after travel. They have breakfast included, Wifi, A/C and Airport Shuttle.