July 31-Aug 7,2025
GROUND-TRUTHING
An Immersive Arts Retreat
with Hannah Viano & Klara Maisch
Do you yearn for immersive time in the wild to dive into your creative work?
Do you wish to connect with other like-minded folks and see a new place through a variety of lenses? Have you been feeling an itch for adventure? Do you need time to just be?
then this retreat is for you.
Join Hannah Viano and Klara Maisch for an extra special creative retreat in northern Norway.
Experienced educators, artists, and guides, Viano and Maisch have designed an expedition-based retreat focused on connecting with each other and the landscape through thoughtful activities and facilitation; while also providing plenty of time and space to explore your own creative mediums- whatever they may be.
Permission to Learn
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Permission to Stay a Little Longer.
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Permission to Connect
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Permission to Explore
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Permission to Learn • Permission to Stay a Little Longer. • Permission to Connect • Permission to Explore •
The Location
The island
Arnøya is roughly a 25km x 25km square with a couple tiny villages and 300 total residents. For the first part of the retreat we will roam and camp in the mountainous interior of the island. We will stroll, hike, and openly wander through tree-free alpine meadows dotted with icy lakes and navigate around steep slopes that fall towards the long fjords along the coast.
There are two tiny grocery/post offices on the island and that is all. Sheep sleep in the road and reindeer roam the mountains and mudflats. The weather is dynamic with rainstorms blowing through often and daylight lasting for 24 hours all through the summer months.
The place
Called Singla by locals, your home after the expedition, is a historic homestead that is in the process of being re-imagined as a base for arts, research and adventure.
First developed in the 1850s it consists of a handful of buildings from generations of fiskerbonde or the fisherman-farmers life, including an old boathouse, barn, cottage, and small working lighthouse, complete with all of the tools and treasures of years gone by.
Accommodations
The first floor of the big blue fjøs (barn) will be our space for creating when we finish our expedition. The small farmhouse cottage has snug double occupancy rooms and a kitchen and living room for eating group meals and relaxing by the cozy woodstove.
The house provides very rustic accommodations along the lines of a backcountry hut, trading modern conveniences for the rich stories and charm of the spaces. We do have running water for cooking and washing, but encourage sea dips paired with sauna for bathing. The bathroom contains an incinerating toilet.
The kitchen is small but mighty and we look forward to sharing Scandinavian traditions like fika (afternoon coffee with fresh baked treats) and foraged wild favorites from fjell and fjord.
Our Days
The week will include approximately 4 days/nights on expedition in the wild interior of the island, traveling with packs and camping in tents. The final two days/nights will be spent at our base, Singla, where we have a large barn studio space to work and spread out in and the cozy comforts of beds, fresh baked goods, and a sauna by the sea.
Klara and Hannah will lead activities and share tools designed to connect participants to the landscape through observation and place-based creating, as well as facilitate conversation and cross-pollination within the group. Time will also be set aside for personal work and exploration in your own mediums. Creatives of all types are encouraged to register.
what’s included:
6 nights double occupancy accommodation at the house or in tents on expedition
All meals for the seven days of the retreat
On-island transportation
All class materials & instruction
A curated kit of our favorite art tools to take home with you.
cost: $2000
includes a $500 Deposit to book your spot
Registration for this retreat will open at 9 am PST on November 15th.
A Few Important Notes:
Participants will need to provide their own personal backpacking gear such as sleeping bags, packs, and sleeping matts. We will have group gear such as tents and cooking equipment (though you are welcome to bring your own). A complete gear list will be in your participant info packet.
Our living areas will be very close quarters and we will be sharing food, space, and activities in an intimate, supportive group environment (6 students plus instructors).
We make family style food in a small kitchen (and on even smaller camp stoves!) so are not always able to accommodate all dietary needs. If you are considering this retreat and require accommodations please contact us in ADVANCE to discuss details and see if this retreat is a good fit for you.
We encourage folks who are comfortable traveling in the backcountry, living simply, and looking for this type of collaborative experience to register.
Your Teachers
“You created such a special place and gave us permission to look.”
-Retreat Participant
Cancellation Policy
Deposits are non-refundable, and the remaining balance is due on April 1. Because of the nature and location of this retreat, we have a strict cancellation policy, please consider purchasing your own travel insurance if needed. For cancellations made after fees are paid in full, we may be able to offer you a partial refund (75%) if someone from our waitlist is able to take your place. If we are not able to fill your place we will only be able to refund 25% of your fees. Cancellations made less than 14 days before the start date will not be eligible for a refund. We will email a reminder in March and a link for paying the balance.