The Alegria Center for the Arts is dedicated to the support and development of arts and culture in Costa Rica. This non-profit foundation will be supported by the homeowners of Alegria, in addition to friends and supporters of the arts from all over the world. The Artist-in-Residence Program and The Gallery will be its primary mission.

While no one doubts the importance of art, it is easy to overlook the circumstances and conditions that allow art to grow and flourish in a society.

In 2004, the World Bank hosted an exhibition of Costa Rican artists. Why, you might ask, would the World Bank place such a high priority on art in a world where there is still so much need? What does art and culture have to do with economic development?

The answer is that art and culture are integral forces of development. They provide an opportunity for social cohesion and cultural identity in countries where meeting basic needs has demanded most, if not all, of the resources.

Costa Rica has been blessed with an abundance of natural resources, and the wisdom to protect it from exploitation. It has embraced healthcare and literacy for its entire population, choosing books and medicine over weapons and armies. It has welcomed a modern global economy and new ways of thinking with open arms.

The Alegria Center for the Arts is an opportunity to give something back to the people of Costa Rica who have done so much to help themselves, often sacrificing things that other more affluent nations take for granted. The foundation will provide a haven for Costa Rican artists to express their cultural identity in