Costa Rica Monkey Tours and host Michelle Jones took their cameras to the Museum of Art and Design in the renovated liquor distillery of old in San Jose, Costa Rica.

The Museum of Contemporary Art and Design near Costa Rica’s National Park, which is also where many other museums and cultural attractions are found, is one of the epicenters of the art movement in Costa Rica. Young designers, aspiring youth, mentors and old masters of their trade all come together at the Musuem of Contemporary Art and Design to showcase, teach and create new and varied art for the people of Costa Rica and its visitors.

The museum opened its doors in 1994, and it had served as a part of the national liquor distillery of Costa Rica many years before the renovation. The complex where MADC is found is now known as the National Center for Culture, and the entrance is in front of Parque España. The museum itself lies at the back of the culture center, and houses a permanent collection of art that comprises some 900 pieces of art by national artisans, an open air space called the Pila de la Melazza and two or three (depending on the number of participating artists) temporary galleries.

The workshops available to young artists include video development, graphic design, music and more. The museum also houses a Video Library where artists can make use of the many videos on file to aide them in developing their own productions. The MADC website also offers incite into the many faceted museum and its artists.

The museum serves as a focal point for many downtown events including Noche en Blanco and Transitarte. The Mela de la Pilazza open air gallery is where many graphic designers go to showcase their work while the festivals of San Jose take place throughout the year. The doors to the museum are open to the public on special occasions, and there is no charge for entrance to the museum on Mondays. The cost of admission is 1000 colóns for residents and citizens, 500 for students and $3 for foreigners. Senior citizens and children get in for free.