Why I Designed That Creative Retreat

Burnout and wanting something more

A few years ago, I was burnt out.

I was managing creative projects, managing people, constantly moving from one thing to the next — and not really doing anything for myself. I was surrounded by creativity, but not actually in it.

Traveling and experiencing a place differently

At the same time, one thing I’ve always loved is traveling.

Whether it’s Europe or the next town over, I’m curious about the place itself — its history, what makes it feel the way it does. I love trying new things, and whenever I can, I’ll take a class or workshop wherever I am. It’s one of my favorite ways to experience a place.

The retreat experience that stayed with me

About four years ago, I went on a collage retreat in Scotland.

One of the core ideas we explored was “sense of place.” It could be the physical location, the landscape, your internal world, or some combination of all of it. We used that as the starting point for a collage we created and shared at the end of five days.

That experience stayed with me.

Designing a retreat with intention

When I started thinking about creating a retreat for the studio, I knew I didn’t want it to feel overpacked or rigid.

I wanted it to feel inspiring, but also spacious. Structured, but flexible.

In many ways, I approached it the same way I designed the studio — creating something that can equally serve someone just starting out and someone with an established creative practice.

Creating space for different ways of showing up

As an introvert, I usually need time on my own to reset.

So I wanted to design something that gives people that flexibility — to do more when they want to, and less when they need to.

Who this retreat is really for

This retreat isn’t just for the burnt out city person who needs an escape.

It’s for anyone — even if you’re local to Beacon — who wants to step away from their everyday and refuel that part of themselves that’s been craving more creativity.

The future vision

My hope for this retreat is that this is just the start of an offering that can be put out seasonally. Not only as a 5 days experience but also to offer mini versions (1-2 days) for those people who just can’t get away for a week.