Kaaysá is an independent multidisciplinary art residency located in Boiçucanga Beach, São Sebastião, on the coast of São Paulo, Brazil, in the heart of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest and facing the ocean.

Founded in 2017 by Lourdina Jean Rabieh, Lebanese-Brazilian cultural mediator and former gallerist, Kaaysá welcomes visual artists, dancers, writers, musicians, curators, filmmakers, researchers, performers, architects, designers, scientists, and creators from diverse disciplines from around the world.

Over the past years, Kaaysá has hosted more than 800 Brazilian and international artists and over 40 curators, mediators, and cultural agents.

About the Residency

Kaaysá offers an immersive environment where artistic practice develops in direct dialogue with nature, local communities, and cultural exchange.

The residency is surrounded by the Atlantic Forest and the sea, while maintaining close relationships with Caiçara fishing communities and nearby Indigenous Guarani villages. Ecology, collective life, experimentation, and collaboration are central to the Kaaysá experience.

We believe immersion in nature can expand perception, sensitivity, and artistic processes, creating space for new discoveries both personally and creatively.

Kaaysá also develops ongoing educational and environmental activities with local public schools and community groups.

Residency Programs
Kaaysá Open

Continuous residency program available year-round. Artists may arrive at any time and stay according to their needs.
Minimum stay: 15 days.

Kaaysá Residency

Collective residency gathering up to 10 artists during the same immersion period, usually lasting one month.

Group Residencies

Programs designed for dance companies, theater groups, collectives, seminars, and multidisciplinary gatherings.

Since 2024, Kaaysá has included an in-residency curator offering guidance and support throughout the creative process.

Disciplines

We welcome projects in:

Visual Arts
Sculpture
Ceramics
Dance
Performance
Theatre
Music
Literature
Film & Video
Photography
Animation
Textile Arts
Printmaking
Circus & Movement Practices
Environmental Research
Interdisciplinary Practices
Facilities

Kaaysá offers complete infrastructure for artistic production and collective living, including:

Spacious private rooms with private bathrooms and balconies
Shared kitchen and laundry
Swimming pool
Extensive multidisciplinary library
Large collective visual arts studio
Professional dance studio with floating wooden floor
Video and projection room
Recording studio and musical instruments
Woodworking workshop and tools
Ceramic wheel and kiln
Sewing machine and production tools
Free internet access
Community bicycles
On-site parking

The residency can also accommodate large groups, seminars, and artistic gatherings.

Activities & Exchanges

Residents may participate in:

Studio visits and curatorial guidance
Dialogues with guest curators and artists
Workshops with local students
Atlantic Forest hikes
Visits to local cultural spaces
Encounters with Caiçara fishermen and Indigenous communities
Yoga, Afro dance, and contemporary dance sessions
Environmental education activities

Kaaysá does not require final exhibitions or productions. We value artistic process, experimentation, dialogue, and exchange.

Contribution

As an independent residency without public or private funding, we request the following contribution:

€1,800 — 1 month
€1,500 — 3 weeks
€1,000 — 2 weeks

The contribution includes accommodation, curatorial support, mediation, and access to all shared facilities.

Not included:

Transportation
Food
Health or travel insurance

After approval, we can provide official acceptance letters to support grant and funding applications.

Languages

Our team speaks:
English, Portuguese, French, Italian, Arabic, and Spanish.

Applications

Applications are open year-round.

Website: www.kaaysa.com
Application Form: https://www.kaaysa.com/en/application-1

For further information or questions, feel free to contact us:

Lourdina Jean Rabieh
Founder / Director

info@kaaysa.com
+55 11 98348-7849

Duration of residency

Kaaysá Open
Continuous residency program available year-round. Artists may arrive at any time and stay according to their needs.Minimum stay: 15 days.
for information about other residency programs please contact us br watsapp 11983487849 or by email info@kaaysa.com and follow us on instqagram @kaaysa_artresidency

Accommodation

Spacious private rooms with private bathrooms and balconiesShared kitchen and laundrySwimming poolExtensive multidisciplinary library

Disciplines, work equipment and assistance Visual ArtsSculptureCeramicsDancePerformanceTheatreMusicLiteratureFilm & VideoPhotographyAnimationTextile ArtsPrintmakingCircus & Movement PracticesEnvironmental ResearchInterdisciplinary PracticesKaaysá offers complete infrastructure for artistic Studio / Workspace Large collective visual arts studioProfessional dance studio with floating wooden floorVideo and projection roomRecording studio and musical instrumentsWoodworking workshop and toolsCeramic wheel and kilnSewing machine and production toolsFree internet ac Fees and support

As an independent residency without public or private funding, we request the following contribution:
€1,800 — 1 month€1,500 — 3 weeks€1,000 — 2 weeks
The contribution includes accommodation, curatorial support, mediation, and access to all shared facilities.
we offer 5% discount for antecipated payment at reservation.

Expectations towards the artist

Kaaysá does not require final exhibitions or productions. We value artistic process, experimentation, dialogue, and exchange.
Activities & Exchanges
Residents may participate in:
Studio visits and curatorial guidanceDialogues with guest curators and artistsWorkshops with local studentsAtlantic Forest hikesVisits to local cultural spacesEncounters with Caiçara fishermen and Indigenous communitiesYoga, Afro dance, and contemporary dance sessionsEnvironmental education activities

Application information

Applications are open year-round.
Website: www.kaaysa.comApplication Form: https://www.kaaysa.com/en/application-1
For further information or questions, feel free to contact us by email info@kaaysa.com
We are happy also to have a video call to explain better about our programs and answer all questions. 
Lourdina Jean RabiehFounder / Director
info@kaaysa.com+55 11 98348-7849

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