Casa Uno Residency

About the Open Call

ABOUT THE ARTIST RESIDENCIES. APPLICATIONS FOR 2026 ARE NOW OPEN. Please make sure you read the full page before applying. Scroll down to find the link to be added to the waitlist for cancellations for the remaining 2025 residencies. Located in the Central Valley of Costa Rica, the residency takes place on a beautiful property that provides an opportunity for one to three artists simultaneously to have meaningful interactions and stimulating discussions while pursuing their own individual projects in an inspiring natural setting. There is no fee to apply and no fee for the residency. Artists provide their own food by cooking in a shared kitchen, They are also responsible for their own transportation to Costa Rica and local transportation in Costa Rica. The ideal participant is an artist who wants to be able to devote time to a project for 3 weeks in a beautiful nurturing environment in Costa Rica. Participants may be a writer, visual artist, photographer, filmmaker, storyteller, poet, composer, librettist, performer or dancer/choreographer. Sharing ideas about what you are doing and being willing to listen to what others are doing is an important component of the residency. Please note the residency is for people who seriously want to work on their project and is not meant for people who want to do some art and significant sightseeing and take a lot of time off property. On the last Saturday of the residency, each participant will be asked to share what they have done during the residency (or earlier related work) with members of the local community. Facility: Each artist is provided with a private room and bath. Two of the rooms are in the shared main house. One has a king bed and the other a queen bed. A separate casita has a bedroom with twin beds and a full kitchen. The kitchen in the casita is shared with the other artists. There are no separate studios. Each bedroom has a desk and a work table which can be moved to common areas or kept in the bedroom. This residency is not for an artist who needs a separate studio in addition to the private room. There is not a dance studio although the main house has open space. This is a no-smoking property, both inside and outside! There is good internet. While parking is available for two cars, cars are not recommended, as rentals are expensive. Taxi service and Uber is easily arranged and very reasonable. Arrangements are made for residents for transportation to and from the airport, food shopping on the Wednesday and Farmer’s Market on Thursday afternoon following arrival. A welcoming dinner and/or breakfast will be provided. The rest of the food is the responsibility of each participant and the full kitchen in the casita is ideal for making meals. Dinner time and evenings provide an opportunity to share ideas and talk about the project you are working on. Residents meet twice a week to check in and share ideas. Every Thursday from 10 AM to noon a writing group of local dedicated writers meet to share work at Casa Uno. Residents are strongly encouraged to participate. 2025: All residencies are currently full. Occasionally there is a cancellation. If you would like to be added to a wait list please fill out the following form and send an email to joannetuckerart@gmail.com. The dates of the remaining residencies are listed on the form. 2026: The dates for 2026 are: January 26 – February 15; March 2 – March 22; April 13 – May 3; May 18 – June 7; June 22 – July 12; July 20 – August 9; August 31 – September 20; October 5 – October 25 and November 16 – December 6. Applications will close on September 15th. All applications request two professional references, 3 preferred dates; sample of work; purpose for attending; artistic statement; and project to work on while at residency. A zoom call will be requested for finalists. Notification for acceptance will be approximately November 15th. Staff: JoAnne: Owner of the property and living full time in the main house. Oscar: a miniature poodle who loves to be played with and thinks the property totally belongs to him. (If you aren’t comfortable with a playful dog then this won’t be an appropriate residency.) There is no fee for the residency. There is a fee for airport pick up and return and that is usually $55 each way. Common areas are cleaned regularly. Cleaning supplies are available for your use for your private room/bathroom and there is a laundry room with a washer and dryer. Linen and towels are provided. The participating artist is responsible for travel to and from Costa Rica. The San Jose (SJO) airport is about 35 minutes from Atenas. Artists should bring all supplies and materials needed for their creative project to ensure availability of what they need. JoAnne has a printer and keeps a supply of paper and ink available. If you plan on printing more than a few pages, then you will need to make arrangements with JoAnne and contribute toward the cost of paper and ink. This residency is for the artist only and there is no space for spouses, partners, or children, unless they are applying as an artist for the residency, fill out a full application, and are seriously committed to working on their project. Each artist should have some kind of health insurance that covers them while in Costa Rica. On the last Saturday of the residency, the participating artists share what they have been doing with members of the local community. If you have any questions, please email JoAnne at: joannetuckerart@gmail.com. FAQ: What Makes a winning application: A well written and edited response to each question. Your best example of your writing, artwork, or video. Professional references. My Partner or Spouse wants to come with me but is not an artist: This is not an appropriate program for a spouse or partner to join you. Can I bring my three year old child? The facility is not equipped to handle children. Is this only for very advanced artists: This is for seriously committed artists who are use to working intensively on projects. You might consider yourself an emerging artist or are an established professional. I am collaborating with another person on a project can we come together: Yes. Each person needs to do their own application. Up to 3 people can be here at the same time working on a project. What is the main language of the residency: English is main language and fluency in English is important. I want to sightsee and explore Costa Rica: The 20 days of residency are for you to work on your project. Come a few days early or stay after the residency to sightsee in Costa Rica.

What is Offered

Casa Uno provides artists with a private room and bath, access to a shared kitchen, good internet, and a swimming pool. The property features a unique labyrinth for meditation and creative inspiration. A welcoming dinner/breakfast is provided, and opportunities for group discussions, check-ins, and participation in a local writing group are available. Linen, towels, and basic cleaning supplies are included.

Requirements

This residency is for seriously committed artists, including emerging and established professionals, who can devote 3 weeks to an intensive project. Participants should be open to sharing ideas, comfortable with a playful miniature poodle, and fluent in English. No separate studios are provided, only desk/work tables in rooms. The property is non-smoking. Artists must provide their own food, travel, art supplies, and health insurance covering their stay in Costa Rica. Spouses, partners, or children are not accommodated unless they apply and are seriously committed artists themselves.

How to Apply

Applications for 2026 are open and can be submitted via the provided Google Form (e.g., https://forms.gle/M3gCwboZjNoWPqwU6 or https://forms.gle/eHyaabXL9fVQ64uQ9). The application requires two professional references, 3 preferred dates, a sample of work, purpose for attending, an artistic statement, and a project proposal. Finalists will be requested for a Zoom call. Notifications for acceptance will be made approximately November 15th.