Residencia Raíces is a contemporary art residency focused on experimentation and research, held in the Aconquija Valley (meaning “Snow that forms at the height next to the moon”), a region rich in the ancestral cultures of northwestern Argentina. The residency aims to decentralize the artistic and cultural programs of the region, bringing artistic practices closer to natural (rural) contexts, and linking artists with landscapes, local communities, and intimate explorations. The residency encourages a profound break in the daily routine of artists’ practices, shifting their perception of silence, and fostering a deep engagement with self-awareness.

Located at 1700 meters above sea level, the residency spans a valley approximately 40 kilometers in length. The diverse surrounding biomes—ranging from the yungas zone (mountain forests) at Cuesta del Clavillo to the desert zone, home to cardones, tuscas, and algarrobos (on Cuesta de la Chilca)—offer a sensory experience for participants. The area boasts privileged views of the snow-capped peaks of the Aconquija Mountains, whose summits rise above 5600 meters. The valley is home to the Pukará, an archaeological site that forms part of the Inca trail (Qhapaq Ñam), which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage site. This region is historically significant to the Alamito, Condor Huasi, Cienaga, and Diaguita cultures.

Since 2015, the Policarpo Cultural Center has been working with the local community, artists, artisans, and educators from the NOA region to organize various cultural activities, such as agro-ecological fairs, artistic gatherings, and community-based projects. One of its key activities is community-based audiovisual experimentation. In 2017, the center launched the Raíces residency program, which celebrated its sixth edition in 2021. Fue declarada de interés público y cultural en la región (2018) y obtuvo el reconocimiento institucional del CRNC, (organismo que nuclea a las secretarías de cultura del noroeste argentino-2019). A su vez, recibió la beca Formación en la categoría de Arte y Transformación Social que otorga el Fondo Nacional de las Artes (2019).