About the Open Call

Applications are open to all those who have an interest in developing their works and research in a rural context, surrounded by abundant nature. Under the shade of an old Fig tree, a house with four bedrooms, large communal spaces, a studio, kitchen, bathroom, terrace, a vegetable garden and an open air shower. São João Farm is located near the mountains of Teresópolis and Petrópolis in Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. We produce agroecological coffee and foment creative immersions, residencies, retreats and rituals for over a decade. The idea of Casa Figueira programme is that residents are as autonomous as possible in managing the space. We are located in a rural environment, 20 minutes by car from São José do Vale do Rio Preto. The town offers basic services such as supermarkets, pharmacies, stationery, and construction materials, amongst others. If your project requires specific materials, we recommend that you let us know in advance to understand the local availability. Preferably, we suggest you bring all that you will need. We have a bamboo external shower in the house garden and there is a small waterfall about 15 minutes by foot, where you can refresh ideas and take a butterfly shower! The house is equipped with a cooker, fridge, and washing machine at the resident's disposal, who are also fully responsible for their food and kitchen use. Since we are surrounded by the forest, be ready to live with small animals and insects such as spiders, frogs and occasionally, snakes may visit. Mosquitoes are vibrantly happy, especially at dawn and over the summer. We recommend you bring repellent if that bothers you! We also have a few dogs circulating around the farm, they are all docile and friendly and love new residents! At the back of the house, there is a vegetable garden with lots of edibles, herbs and spices, available for residents to eat! The variety of species depends on the season and on the resident’s commitment to collaborate with its continuity. We count on your help with the daily watering and maintenance if you are making use of it! It's part of our proposal to create an engaged community atmosphere within the Figueira space, with other residents on the farm, and with the whole environment around it. It’s worth reminding that we’re located in a remote rural area, so the electricity may suffer cuts, especially over the summer. From October to March it rains frequently and it’s hot. From July to September it’s essentially dry and quite cold at night, with lows of 10ºC. It is important to arrive with supplies for at least the first week. We have a good network of friends and partner producers of agroecological foods. You can place your order with the Feira da Associação Agroecológica de Teresópolis (https://organicosaat.com.br/), which delivers to the farm every Saturday, or directly with the agrovila Terra de Guaxo (@terradeguaxo), neighbor and partner of the Farm (30 min on foot), which integrates AAT, and are open for visits and participation in planting and harvesting efforts, if you are interested! We do not have public transport to the city, but it is possible to make the journey with a taxi driver for R$55 each way or moto-taxi for R$25 each way.

What is Offered

Individual accommodation, communal workspaces, internet, water, electricity, gas, and promotion of work done during the residency. Residents have access to a vegetable garden with edibles and a small waterfall. The house is equipped with a cooker, fridge, and washing machine.

Requirements

The residency welcomes a wide range of professionals including artists, musicians, filmmakers, writers, activists, teachers, scientists, dancers, performers, researchers, agriculture related people, and other creatives. Residents are expected to be autonomous in managing the space and responsible for their own food and kitchen use, as well as transportation. It is recommended to bring specific materials needed for projects and insect repellent. Participants should be prepared for a rural environment, including small animals and insects, and potential power cuts or internet oscillations. Collaboration in vegetable garden maintenance is encouraged.

How to Apply

Applications are submitted via a Google Form. Required information includes: Email, Full Name, Artistic Name (optional), Date of Birth, Phone/Whatsapp (Country Code + No), Nationality and City of Residency, Motivations for applying and intended activities during stay, Trajectory/Biography, Links to project/portfolio/website (non-expiring), Social Media links (Instagram/Facebook etc), Preferred residency dates in 2025 (September 26/09 to 19/10, November 31/10 to 23/11, December 12/12/2025 to 04/01/2026, or other flexible dates), and how you heard about the residency. If accepted, confirmation will be sent by email (check spam or add rsj.casafigueira@gmail.com to contacts).