Mountain Lodges of Peru’s new creative initiative

How can we use art for good? Let MLP give you some ideas…

Mountain Lodges of Peru has strengthened their support for the native Andean community of Huacahuasi through a new creative venture aimed at providing lodge employees and community partners with new opportunities for inclusion and personal development.

The initiative saw more than 10 members from the remote Andean community take part in a photography workshop alongside Gustavo Vivanco, a celebrated photographer from Cusco. After being taught basic technical concepts of photography, participants were encouraged to choose a theme and given five days to shoot their chosen subjects. Two months later, Mountain Lodges of Peru returned to the lodge to select five finalists and award the winner with a digital camera so that they may continue their photographic endeavours.

 

 

Franklin Puclla won first prize for his black and white depiction of a llama grazing in the fields and all five finalists are set to have their photos printed and displayed in the rooms of Huacahuasi Lodge. Guests, who stay at this lodge during Mountain Lodges of Peru’s Sacred Valley and Lares Adventure to Machu Picchu program, will have the opportunity to purchase the artworks, with each piece offering a local perspective on traditional Andean lifestyles through a modern lens.

 

 

Mountain Lodges of Peru are thrilled with the results of their first photography competition, a project they embarked on to continue building a legacy of reciprocity in the mountain communities that they partner with and to continue developing the successful partnership they have established with the people of Huacahuasi.

“Our guests gain so much from being able to connect with the Andean people and their traditional art forms when they visit Huacahuasi. We are big believers in reciprocity at MLP so we wanted to give the community of Huacahuasi an opportunity to engage with a form of modern art that is very different from their own, whilst also empowering them to develop new skills and leave a tangible mark on the Huacahuasi property”

– German Sarmiento, Marketing Manager at Mountain Lodges of Peru.

 

About Mountain Lodges of Peru and Huacahuasi

The unique partnership between Mountain Lodges of Peru and the community of Huacahuasi, which later became known as Kuska Purispa (Walking Together), was born back in 2012 when the two parties began discussing how they could work together in the isolated hamlet. Mountain Lodges of Peru was given permission to build Huacahuasi Lodge on community land, which the community now co-owns, receiving 20% of yearly profits. Not only are the community members active investors in the lodge but they are also given the opportunity to work as part of the lodge personnel team, receive hospitality training and interact with international guests.

For more information go to www.mountainlodgesofperu.com or contact [email protected]

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