Kai is an arts and research residence located in the community of Arin, Sacred Valley of the Incas (Cusco, Peru). An area known for its natural beauty and rich cultural heritage. The residence is 200 meters away from a natural waterfall and 1 km. away from the hillside of the Pitusiray, one of the two “guardian” mountains of the Calca province. In addition, the residence is located in a unique environment where visitors can work surrounded by inspirational landscapes and without distractions.
The focus of Kai residency programs is to grant the facilities and amenities necessary for the development of creative projects, research and educational projects (audiovisual, photographic, design, research in social or natural sciences, educational workshops, etc.) with special emphasis on the Andean region. In addition, Kai residence is also open to artists of all disciplines and researchers of different fields, who are seeking for an appropriate, natural and unique place where they can develop their projects and get in touch with other professionals, all in a rural context of the Peruvian highlands.
In addition, Kai residence seeks to facilitate the exchange of local and foreign knowledge as a key input for the residents’ projects. Through the advice or support we offer them we intend to promote such exchanges may occur. Also, Kai seeks to promote the image, culture and richness of content of the Sacred Valley and its surroundings, through the projects produced at the residence and the testimony of residents.
THE RESIDENCE
Since its conception, Kai has been designed to provide facilities that can fit the needs of their residents. In an area of 2 800m2, we have closed and open-air workspaces such as: a reading and exhibition room, an editing room, 2 spacious studios, gardens, a crop area, a kitchen and a main dining room.
We also have various types of accommodation, both houses and private bedrooms (single and group), all equipped for the comfort of our residents. Our residential spaces and facilities allow us to accommodate professionals involved in individual and collective projects, as well as groups of students from national and international institutions.
It is also noteworthy that Kai has been able to preserve and consolidate the original features of the land on which it is located. The space has paid special attention to the local building techniques, the use of local materials and the reuse of gray and/or black water, as part of its efforts to protect the environment. Moreover, from its architectural design to its continuous process of implementation, Kai has involved specialists in architecture, interior design, textile design, photography and sustainable techniques as “Earthship Biotecture”.
WHO WE ARE
Carlos Garavito Herrera
Director and founder
Degree in Cinematography (Universidad Nuevo Mundo – México), studies in Music Composition and Film Editing (Centro Universitario de Estudios Cinematográficos – UNAM). He has worked for various national and international production companies, producing and photographing various documentaries in Mexico, New York, India, Sweden, among other countries. He has 8 years experience working in cultural projects in the Andean region and the Peruvian jungle, projects that include both documentation of both regions and production and collaboration in audiovisual and photographic independent projects. He has also organized free art workshops in collaboration with other artists at the Sacred Valley.
Fiorella Garavito Herrera
Head of marketing
Business manager, graduated in Marketing (Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas – Peru) and Master in Fashion Promotion and Communication (Istituto Maragoni – Milan, Italy). She has worked for several Peruvian and International fashion brands, showing special interest in those brands that develop sustainable fashion products and also the collaboration with artists on their proposals. She has given fashion communication lessons in Cusco and is now developing her own fashion communication project, which involves the Sacred Valley region.