5 week Residency / General info

(PLEASE LOOK OVER THIS INFORMATION CAREFULLY!)

1, Housing & workspace

HOUSE & LOCATION

Non-local residents are housed in apartments within a larger, beautifully renovated home in central Oaxaca (photos here, location here) along with 3-4 other residents. The house includes a common work area as well as a large shared courtyard. The address is Ignacio Allende 415, three blocks west of Santo Domingo church

PLEASE THE LOCATION OF THE HOUSE HERE.

**Please note - we do not recommend shipping anything to the residency address unless you plan to be there to receive it! If there is something that needs to be sent prior to your residency, please check in with us.

AMENITIES

Each apartment includes cotton bedding, towels, dishes, and basic cooking utensils.

Rooms are cleaned midway through your time here. Sheets and towels are washed at this time as well. Any additional laundry is easily available at a laundromat around the corner.

If you are particular about your bedding or towels, you are welcome to bring your own.

The house is old, and, as with most homes in Oaxaca, hot water can be temperamental as can other things. The house is kept clean but it is simple and not modern. Utilities, such as water and gas, are delivered by truck in Oaxaca which means that they too can be inconsistent, although that is rare. Showers are solar-heated.

2, Planning & Schedule

ARRIVAL & DEPARTURE

For on-site residents, check-in is after 12 pm on the first day of the residency. We are able to welcome residents no later than 9 pm on arrival days. Check-out is 12 pm on the last day of the residency.

We will meet at 6 pm on the first day of your residency for drinks and botanas, and host a mandatory orientation talk the following Tuesday morning after breakfast.

TRANSPORTATION

Residents are responsible for their own travel to and from Oaxaca City. We provide airport pickups for resident arrivals the day of or the day prior to the residency, to locations in the city center. We do not provide transportation from the bus station but are happy to reimburse the 60 pesos for the taxi.

Residents are responsible for their return transport to the airport or otherwise.

SCHEDULE

Each resident creates their own daily work schedule depending on their project and work/research methods. Similarly, our schedule of meals, guests, and events varies slightly each month based on the group of residents.

We will meet at 6 pm on the first day of your residency for drinks and dinner, and host an orientation talk the following Tuesday morning after breakfast.

Residents meet for lunch Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays with other residents as well as varying guests. Presentations, conversations, and studio visits tend to take place Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 5 pm although this varies slightly each week.

Residents share their previous work or experience through presentations during the first week of the residency and share/discuss their residency experience, work, and research during the Open Studio happening on the final day of the residency.

Daily weekday breakfast (Monday-Friday) is provided but optional. Residents receive a final schedule (including meals and events) one month prior to the residency. This schedule is apt to change slightly. Our staff is available and in and out of the house from Monday to Friday, and readily available for any emergencies on weekends.

We are available for an optional meeting upon arrival in Oaxaca to assist in putting together a loose schedule for your time here, including local connections and other necessary trips, tours, and/or resources for your research. Our staff is also available to discuss and/ or any questions during your time here regarding your work or the area. If you would like to schedule additional meetings, or conversations, please feel free to reach out to staff via text or email!

It is encouraged to travel to communities, art spaces, and other locations outside the city, which we are happy to advise on and organize along with any other residents or guests.

We encourage a Spanish lesson or a few if you do not already speak the language to help you with basic navigation of Oaxaca and general conversation points. We are happy to help you arrange this as well.

3, Payment/deposit

A 50% deposit is required upon confirmation of your residency to hold your place. The remaining amount will be due one month prior to arrival. Deposits are non-refundable and residencies are non-transferable. We are a small, independent organization and rely on resident fees to keep us running, pay our staff, and ensure sustainability.

Your residency fee covers program costs, housing, airport pick-up, weekday breakfast, group meals, drinks, and events, as well as orientation and participation in varied group residency lectures and events. Food outside of group meals, as well as additional classes or travel expenses are covered by individuals.

4, Food/drink

Residents are encouraged to explore and enjoy the incredible and bountiful food and cuisine of Oaxaca. A list of dining suggestions will be provided, and the orientation to the area will include markets, groceries, etc. Groceries are very affordable as are restaurants. Each apartment has a small kitchen with a refrigerator, sink, and stove.

Regarding safety: do not drink the water. Purified water is provided, and all restaurants serve purified water to guests as well. Bottled water is easily available. Take precautions with raw fruits, vegetables and street food outside of “tourist” restaurants, especially upon arrival as the foods, flavors, and bacteria are different here and may be irritating to some. In general, be smart about your body and its tolerances. Restaurant food is usually fine, but some people take some time to ease in.

5, Getting here

Flights are available from the US to Oaxaca (OAX), generally laying over in Mexico City, Houston, Dallas or Miami. Please send your flight info when you book. A driver will be arranged to pick you up from the Oaxaca airport. He will wait for you outside baggage claim, holding a sign with your name, and will bring you directly to the house. Transportation is provided for arrivals the day of or the day prior to the residency, to location in the city center.

Residents are responsible for their return transport to the airport or otherwise.

6, Money

The currency here is the Mexican peso. In general, ATMs are the easiest way to get money. Most restaurants and cafes will accept credit cards, but you’ll find any smaller business probably won’t. It’s a good idea to carry change with you for a bottle of water or fresh fruit on the street.

There is an ATM near the taxi stand at the airport. The driver will be happy to wait for you. There are also many ATMs and banks not far from the house in central Oaxaca. You will pass by one on your orientation tour.

Note: We recommend calling your bank and letting them know you’re going to be traveling.

Note: Break 500/1000 pesos bills when you can (for purchases above 100 -200 pesos) as many places will not accept large bills for small interactions.

7, Insurance & liability

All residents are required to sign a waiver of liability prior to their residency. This waiver will be sent one month prior to the residency along with your final schedule.

Pocoapoco does not provide any form of medical, property or travel insurance for residents. Residents must purchase travel, health and evacuation insurance to cover the duration of the Residency. Residents travel, health and evacuation insurance must cover me for medical care received while traveling overseas and for medical care at home for any illness or injury that I receive while overseas.

Some travel insurance recommendations include WorldNomads, Allianz, and IMG.

8, What to bring, what to wear

October ends the rainy season and begins the dry season, though there are still occasional afternoon rainfalls. It is generally warm and mostly sunny during the day (high 70s, low 80s) and cools at night (low 60s)

November -March it is generally quite warm during the days (70s-80s) but cools at night (high 50s/low 60s) and you will want to bring something warmer for the evening.

April -May are the hottest months of the year. It is very warm during the days (80s with heavy sun) although it cools off a bit at night (low 70s) you will want to bring a cool dress and something for sun protection.

June - July begins the rainy season. It is still sunny till mid-day and therefore quite warm but the rains begin to cool things of with frequent afternoon showers.

August - September are the last months of the rainy season and it tends to rain daily, though only for a few hours in the afternoon. It is generally warm during the day (high 70s, low 80s) and cools at night (low 60s)

In terms of clothing, nearly anything goes. Dresses, jeans, or anything else you feel comfortable in are suitable. Most restaurants are casual, but you would not look out of place wearing something a bit nicer either. It is a walking city so bring shoes that you are comfortable walking around in (even on cobblestones.) You may want to bring some personal supplies for your work or documentation (notebooks, cameras, fibers, paints, etc) but in general, most things you may need you can find around the city.

Please email Dafne (contacto@pocoapocomx.com) with questions.