Basic Information
The Foundry is a collective and self-organized project, where we are all using and taking care of a shared space in a non-hierarchical way. This is a work in progress and we are not claiming to have a perfect system. We try to put this vision in practice through the following principles:
• Doers decide. You don’t need to ask permission to show a movie or plant a tree. Communication is important, but feel free to develop initiative; that’s what the space is for!
• Make things possible for others. Leave space for others; don’t occupy all the physical space. Support other’s initiatives. Keep, help and take care of other people’s work, and work together to keep the space clean and organized. This also means there are limits to freedom, and we expect you to take others needs into account when you organise something.
• Act as host and guest at the same time. Some know the place better than others, but we all use and care for the place together. When new residents arrive those who already know their way around are expected to welcome them and show them around. When neighbours drop by, please represent the Foundry as best as you can.
Making a horizontal space like the Foundry work requires more communication rather than less, and a willingness to question your own position. We are all socialised in cultures that are steeped in patriarchy, capitalism and colonialism. None of us are pure and perfect, and we invariably reproduce patterns of exploitation and oppression, often without realising. Living together is an opportunity to learn about our selves as well as the kind of society we hope to see in future. This does not have to be revolutionary and complex. We can start by serving the aim of the Foundry to become a vibrant commons - not owned by anyone in particular. Those who make use of the space take care of the space; they renovate it, maintain it, and pay for its expenses. If you want to spend time here, think of what you want to contribute, whether it’s physical labour, organizational work, a nice meal for everyone, or simply help out with the costs.
The Foundry does not receive public funding and is unable to provide financial assistance to its residents, but we are happy to support members that apply for grants to develop projects here (if you need an association to sign the application, for example). The space of the Foundry is available for events as long as they do not go against the ethos of the project, and the organizers take care of the space (which includes cleaning up after the event). Contact us if you want to organize something.
Racism, sexism, bullying and other forms of (physical or non-physical) violence are not tolerated at the Foundry. If, while at the Foundry, you experience something you would like to address with someone not living there, you can write Oli at lastresort@bravosfoundry.com. She lives nearby and is happy to provide confidential assistance.
Membership and costs
The Foundry is not a tourist lodging, but a space where people work, either on their own projects or on projects related to the Foundry. To stay there, you need to become a member. Membership costs 20 euros per year. As a member, you can participate in the events at the Foundry, and you will be invited to the annual general assembly. You can read the statutes of the association here.
To complete registration, fill out the form and transfer 20 euros to the bank acocunt indicated after filling out the form. Your membership will be valid for one year. When you renew it, please fill out the form again so we know until when it's valid.
There are currently four types of residencies at the Foundry:
Residents who contribute money. The contribution for your share in the expenses is:
Camping area: 10 eu per night, 50 eu per week, 150 eu per month.
House accommodation:Per person: 20 eu per night, 100 eu per week, 300 eu per month in lean season (Sept 16th - June 14th).
Per person in high season (June 15th - Sept 15th): 30 eu per night, 150 eu per week, 450 eu per month .
We will allocate a room on arrival. There are single, double and family rooms
This is in addition to the annual 20 eu membership fee. Children don’t need to become members, but other than that they pay the same. The Foundry is non-profit, but this money helps us pay the bills. For those who can't afford these rates please talk to us and we can look for a way to make it work. For example, we can propose a solidarity price during summer time which would bring it down to winter rates. Our intention is not to maximise income but build a fund that can help this project meet its objectives.Volunteers. New guests always pay for the first four weeks. If someone wants to stay as a non-paying volunteer after that, we can figure out whether it’s a good fit and what that person can work on during these first weeks. Volunteers are expected to put in about 20 hours per week, and there will be a monthly meeting to coordinate. If a volunteer does not do the work he or she committed to, he or she will be asked to pay for the month (or leave as a volunteer). Volunteer work includes construction, craft, forestry and gardening; keeping the space organized is everyone’s responsibility.
Stewards. These are people who stepped in to act as "Board" after the founder of the Foundry handed over management in 2025. They don't live on site permanently, but take turns to be present and act as coordinator between projects and long term aims of the project.
Invited guests. These are people we invite to the Foundry because their work adds something to the space (all residents can suggest who to invite). They give a concert, organize an event, produce a site-specific artwork, teach something, etc. They stay for free and their membership fees are waived. The maximum duration of an invited residency is one month, but this can be extended if everyone agrees.
We currently have six bathrooms, 12 bedrooms with electricity and WiFi, a professional kitchen, several large rooms, and a huge field where people can pitch a tent. The Foundry is located in a valley surrounded by a river and a forest. For our regular groceries we go to Viveiro, a seaside town at 10 kilometers distance. We have a car that can be used for anyone with a drivers license (cost eu 0.30/km).
We generally organize food together, but you don’t have to join this system (which involves sharing bills and cooking once in a while) if you don’t want to. We want to keep the Foundry as cheap as possible, so we have no staff; guests are expected to take care of the space together. To coordinate this, there are usually assemblies every few weeks.
There an application procedure for projects and events. Please fill in this form: https://forms.gle/Dezph8Zt4VJVcrcX7
For everyone who wants to come, please let us know when you plan to arrive by sending an email to foundry@bravosfoundry.com and we will let you know if there’s space available. We can't guarantee without reservations.
Getting there
Viveiro and Merille are the nearest places with access to public transport, and we are happy to pick you up from there. If you travel by land, you might come through Lugo, which has good connections to other parts of Spain. From Lugo you can take a bus to Merille (Ourol), which is very close by; for the schedule, see https://arriva.es/es/galicia/para-viajar/buscador.
If you travel by air, there’s four airports with a decent connection to Viveiro: A Coruña, Santiago de Compostela, Porto and Madrid.
Santiago de Compostela: From Santiago airport, there is a bus to Merille, at a few kilometers from the Foundry. The bus leaves every workday at 19.13 and arrives about two hours later (it costs about 10 euros). At 14.42 there’s another bus that goes from the airport to Burela (at 35 kilometers from the Foundry). Both buses are operated by Arriva and only run on working days (see schedule). There’s also a bus connection between Santiago and Ferrol (see www.monbus.es or www.flixbus.com), and from Ferrol you can take a train to Viveiro. This train goes four times a day (see schedule). There are also regular blablacars from Santiago to Viveiro.
A Coruña: To get from A Coruña to Viveiro you have two options: 1. a direct bus, that takes two and a half hours but unfortunately only goes twice a day, and only on weekdays (https://arriva.gal/), or 2. get a train or bus to Ferrol (there’s many connections and it takes about an hour) and from there take the train mentioned above.
Porto: Porto is about four hours away by car (blablacar?), but there’s a flixbus that goes from there to Ferrol. From Ferrol you can take the train mentioned above.
Madrid: Finally, you can take a direct bus from Madrid to Ferrol (www.alsa.es) and take the train from there, or look for a blablacar. Or take a train or bus to Lugo, and a bus from Lugo to Merille or Viveiro (see schedule).