Get Inspired. Get Energized. Get Creating.
"Creative support can absolutely be accomplished virtually."
In the midst of a global pandemic, you need your creativity more than ever.
The energy it brings you when you do your creative thing.
The sheer joy.
And remember the inspiration of being with others doing their creative thing? How creativity feeds creativity?
We may not be able to gather together in person to make art and play and laugh…
But that doesn’t mean we can’t gather together to make art and play and laugh!
It’s a Virtual Creative Sandbox Retreat!
Advantages of a virtual retreat:
- No need to pack!
- No travel hassles!
- No fuel/airfare costs!
- You have access to all your own supplies.
- No stressing about forgetting something.
- You get to eat the food YOU like.
- You get to sleep in your own bed.
- You don’t have to leave your family or your pets!
True, we don’t get to hug each other, take hikes together, or laugh uproariously around the dining table…
But…
- We still get to create and share.
- We still get the accountability of creating with other people.
- We still get to connect with each other.
- We still get to inspire each other.
- And we still get to play games!
The games are different on Zoom, but I’ve been collecting games that work great on Zoom, and I’ve got a ton of ’em. 🙂
And the results?
That’s what really matters. And check out these faces:
Let’s do this thing!
Join me at one or more of the dates below.
My biggest takeaway was seeing how much energy I had for the rest of the day following the retreat! What would I change? Make it longer!
Half-Day Retreats
- 4-hour Virtual Retreat
- Name Your Price (suggested price: $75-$100)
Half-Day Retreat Dates:
TBD
Approximate Agenda
- 45-minute welcome and introductions
- 30-minute Creative Catalyzing session, to loosen up, laugh, and dismiss the gremlins
- 2-hour co-working time to work on the art/writing/music/craft project of your choice
- 45-minute facilitated group celebration and show & tell (this is a love-fest and a chance to see your work through other people’s loving eyes, NOT a critique!)
- Afterparty! (optional)
It was really nice to see everyone working on their projects. I loved the exercises at the beginning. I would recommend this retreat to my friends who need a chunk of time. Also, to writers and other non-visual artists. I want to do it again!
Full-Day Retreats
- 8-hour Virtual Retreat
- Name Your Price (suggested price: $100-$200)
Full-Day Retreat Dates:
TBD
Approximate Agenda
- 45-minute welcome and introductions
- 30-minute Creative Catalyzing session, to loosen up, laugh, and dismiss the gremlins
- 2-hour co-working time to work on the art/writing/music/craft project of your choice
- 45-minute facilitated group celebration and show & tell (this is a love-fest and a chance to see your work through other people’s loving eyes, NOT a critique!)
- BREAK! 60 minutes
- 20-minute Creative Catalyzing session, to loosen up, laugh, and dismiss the gremlins
- 2-hour co-working time to work on the art/writing/music/craft project of your choice
- 40-minute facilitated group celebration and show & tell
- Afterparty! (optional)
Creative support can absolutely be accomplished virtually. I loved seeing the amazing and diverse work we made together and separately. We need this type of supportive gathering.
Five-Day Retreats
Before the pandemic, I led 5-day in-person retreats three times a year. Intimate gatherings, never more than 9 people. Most of whom returned year after year.
They were the best kept secret in the creativity world.
We can’t gather in person right now, but I wanted to give my loyal retreaters a way to continue to connect, which is what led to my trying out offering the virtual retreats.
I gave my in-person retreat regulars first dibs at a virtual retreat during the week we would normally be gathering in person.
The few spots left over I’m making available to the public.
Five-Day Retreat
- Five-Day Virtual Retreat
- Name Your Price (suggested price: $350-$700)
Five-Day Retreat Dates:
TBD
Approximate Agenda
Exact timing subject to change
Wednesday:
- 30-minute welcome, introductions
- 30-minute Creative Catalyzing session, to loosen up, laugh, and dismiss the gremlins
Thursday-Saturday:
- 45-minute welcome, connecting, storysharing
- 30-minute Creative Catalyzing session, to loosen up, laugh, and dismiss the gremlins
- 2-hour co-working time to work on the art/writing/music/craft project of your choice
- 45-minute facilitated group celebration and show & tell (this is a love-fest and a chance to see your work through other people’s loving eyes, NOT a critique!)
- BREAK! 60 minutes
- 20-minute Creative Catalyzing session, to loosen up, laugh, and dismiss the gremlins
- 2-hour co-working time to work on the art/writing/music/craft project of your choice
- 40-minute facilitated group celebration and show & tell
- Afterparty! (optional)
Sunday:
- 30-minute Creative Catalyzing session, to loosen up, laugh, and dismiss the gremlins (recorded)
- 2 ½-hour co-working time to work on the art/writing/music/craft project of your choice
- 45-minute facilitated group celebration and show & tell (this is a love-fest and a chance to see your work through other people’s loving eyes, NOT a critique!)
- 15-minute closing
- Afterparty! (optional)
Pricing
To honor everyone’s different circumstances, I’m offering this program on a “Name Your Price” basis.
I’m putting a great amount of thought and time into designing the program, setting up the registration and email reminder technology, holding the space for you, bringing everyone together to make this happen.
Ask yourself, would you be making your art and connecting with these humans if I didn’t do this? (I don’t know the answer to this—I’m merely posing the question.)
I ask you, in deciding how much to contribute, to consider how much are those things worth to you—human connection and your precious creative expression?
Especially right now.
The feeling you get when you’ve actually spent a day in connection and creativity—is it worth more than takeout from your favorite restaurant? Or a new handbag? Or that killer pair of designer shoes?
You decide what an afternoon, a day, a week immersed in your creativity is worth to you.
I can’t wait to create with you!
xo,
Melissa
I’m Melissa Dinwiddie, and my superpower is helping people unleash creativity. I’ve led online workshops and gatherings since 2010.
MELISSA DINWIDDIE, CREATIVE SANDBOX SOLUTIONS™