The city:
Antofagasta is located in the north of the South American Andean state of Chile. The name of the city comes from the Quechua language and means something like village at the great salt lake. Like many other mining towns in the area, Antofagasta had its heyday in the mid-19th and early 20th centuries as a supplier of saltpetre. Today, the city is still important because of its copper mines. The adjacent desert is considered the driest area on earth and is known for the clearest starry skies in the world.

Special features:
The residency has a clear focus on nature, ecology, and environment and allows to conduct various research in cooperation with the local research institutions (NASA, Casa Museo Alberto Baeriswyl, Catholic University of the North's School of Geology, etc.) as well as to get in touch with the indigenous population of the Quechas.

The studio/apartment:
The ISLA Artistic Residence Centre is a place set up by our partner SACO Cultural Corporation for its guests - usually curators, artists, teachers, researchers, etc. Taking into account the regional economic and mining context as well as the environment and operations, ISLA/SACO supports the visiting artists and facilitates their connection and networking with northern Chile and its cultural scene. The residency has two bedrooms, one double and one triple, a shared bathroom, a fully equipped kitchen, a room for meetings and interviews, a workspace, a library specialised in visual arts and northern Chile, Wi-Fi and a small courtyard for presentations and educational activities. The accommodation is close to supermarkets, public transport, universities, and the coast. SACO is well connected to San Pedro de Atacama, a city known for its archaeological sites, as well as Chiu Chiu and Quillagua - all places less visited by tourism and therefore more «untouched», where you can experience nature and the desert in all its immensity. Quillagua is also considered the driest place on earth, according to NASA.

Requirements:
Staying in Antofagasta requires an interest in the topics of nature and environment. It is absolutely important that the guests can get involved in the living situation (shared flat!) typical for the area. The project management of SACO would like to see active participation and exchange with the local people. The residency is suitable for artist duos.

Adress:
SACO, Ubicación ISLA y Oficina SACO, General Lagos #0874 Sector Playa Blanca, Antofagasta
www.proyectosaco.cl