Creative C h a n g e s

When visitors encounter the tiny coastal village of

Islita, located in a remote cove of Costa Rica’s Ni-

coya Peninsula, they are surprised by the colorful

murals, sculptures, and installations that grace the

community’s public spaces. What many don’t real-

ize right away is that this ubiquitous art visually

communicates Islita’s unique character as a living

example of one of the world’s most successful and

longest– running responsible tourism models.

Set in motion when Hotel Punta Islita opened its

doors in 1994, this synergistic program has been

instrumental in the recovery of an economically

and environmentally depleted region where ac-

cess to education and professional opportunities

were severely limited. Reforestation, local em-

ployment, and local purchases contributed to heal

the tropical dry forest and reverse urban migra-

tion. Later programs have embraced art and com-

plimentary education. With the creation of The

Villafranca-Zurcher Foundation, Hotel Punta Islita

fully articulated its sustainability initiatives and

championed groundbreaking programs like the

Islita Contemporary Art Museum and the Islita

Day Care Center.

Today, the Villafranca-Zurcher Foundation contin-

ues to develop innovative partnerships with the

community, enlisting the generous support of like-

minded corporations, individuals, other private

foundations, government institutions, and NGOs.

Cooperation, entrepreneurship, and creativity re-

main the underpinnings of an exciting responsible

tourism model that was jumpstarted seventeen

years ago. We believe this model will continue to

strengthen Islita as a healthy destination that wel-

comes visitors in heartfelt and sincere hospitality.

You are cordially invited to learn more about our

most recent project: The Islita Creative Center.

The Islita Creative Center will expand

the complementary education initia-

tives set forth in Hotel Punta Islita’s sus-

tainable travel program. It seeks to

build upon the success of the Islita Day

Care Center and its early stimulation

didactic program by developing a fully-

outfitted learning space to strengthen

after-school opportunities that foster

creativity, social skills, and critical think-

ing through the use of electronic media

and targeted art and playful activities.

It has the potential to benefit close to

200 elementary school children and ad-

olescents from Islita’s neighbor

communities.

Hotel Punta Islita has donated the site

and basic infrastructure to house the

Center. Through its Villafranca-Zurcher

Foundation, Hotel Punta Islita is provid-

ing human resources, management ser-

vices, and fundraising activities. Thus

far, it has secured the generous support

of the American and German embas-

sies, corporations, and private citizens.

The Project

The site for Islita Creative Center is locat-

ed in the heart of Islita, across from the

soccer field and adjacent to the Islita Art

Museum Amphitheater. The facilities do-

nated by Hotel Punta Islita will be refur-

bished and fully outfitted with the latest

didactic technology including computers,

high-speed internet, and multi-media

equipment. Staff will include a full-time

The Islita Creative Center

Hotel Punta Islita has donated the Creative Center’s site and basic infrastructure.

educator and cleaning and maintenance

personnel.

Goals

By creating a welcoming, nurturing physi-

cal space, the Islita Creative Center will be

able to host a broad range of after school

programs that foment creative and criti-

cal thinking, flexibility, self-esteem, and

inquisitive drive. Attendance will be vol-

untary and tuition will be waived. Art,

creative play, and research will be instru-

mental to the Center’s curriculum and ac-

tivities.

Why?

Data from the Costa Rican Census and

Statistical Institute paint a worrisome pic-

ture of the region with illiteracy indexes

that double the national average. Ele-

mentary school attendance is 58%, high

school attendance barely reaches 17%.

These staggering figures can be partly ex-

plained by the isolated nature of many

communities and lack of public transpor-

tation. Education is commonly limited to

one-room schools with very limited re-

sources. The Islita Creative Center’s after-

school programs will be accessible to six

local communities, benefitting close to

200 children and young adults.

Art will be pivotal to the Center’s programs.

Funding Needs

The initial funding necessary to

remodel and refurbish the do-

nated infrastructure totals

$14K. A second stage, $3K

funding will furnish the Center

and outfit it with computers,

games, books, and audio visu-

al equipment. The total invest-

ment of $17K will mean that for

less than $100 per child, we

can fully provide a state-of the-

art learning facility.

Third stage funding will cover

the Center’s ongoing operating

expenses, estimated at $4800

per year.

Nancy Arias

Executive Delegate

Villafranca-Zurcher

Foundation

Lic. Psychology

Islita Community

Loida Pretiz

Director/Curator

Islita Art Museum

Artist Laureate

Winner of the Aquileo

Echeverria National

Art Award

We’d love to hear from you!

To learn more about the Islita Creative Center or ways to become involved as a donor, vol-

unteer, or sponsor, please contact us at:

narias@fundacionvz.org / lpretiz@fundacionvs.org +506 2296-8412 or 2296– 8428

Project Leaders: About The Villafranca-Zurcher Foundation

Created in 1994, the Villafranca-Zurcher Foundation has been the executive arm of Hotel Punta Islita’s ongoing Responsible Tourism and community outreach pro-grams targeting It has been instrumental in the creation, development, and growth of the Islita Art Museum, the Islita Day Care Center, and re-lated human betterment initiatives. As a fundraising entity, it has been able to leverage Hotel Punta Islita’s contributions by encouraging donations from socially-conscious private individuals, government, NGO’s, and corporations.