Retreat to Art
Retreat to Art
Gozo, Malta
Up to 15 in group
Sep 4 - 10, 2026
Retreat Highlights
- Work alongside British artist Pete Codling
- Studio sessions in a traditional farmhouse with pool
- Accommodation next to the studio with breakfast included
- Experience a local festa in Xagħra during Marija Bambina week
- Witness village preparations, from decorations to fireworks-making
- Create within an active, community-driven cultural setting
- Meet with local artisans
About this Retreat
Details of this retreat
Join us for five days of art-making in a Maltese village during its biggest annual celebration. Make art in the mornings, explore the streets and festivities in the afternoons, and share meals with fellow participants in the evenings.
Retreat to Art is a programme run by the Bored Peach Club in Gozo. Each edition is shaped by a lead artist who defines the week’s focus, working framework and direction according to their practice.
Participants work in a shared studio environment while engaging directly with the island’s surroundings. Landscape and cultural context become active material within the work as mornings are dedicated to sustained making.
Afternoons move outward to explore, depending on the edition’s emphasis. And evenings allow for conversation, critique, and reflection, reinforcing the link between experience and practice.
Across seven days, the program provides structure, proximity, and exchange. Creating the conditions for work to deepen in response to the place.
Retreat to Art is a programme run by the Bored Peach Club in Gozo. Each edition is shaped by a lead artist who defines the week’s focus, working framework and direction according to their practice.
Participants work in a shared studio environment while engaging directly with the island’s surroundings. Landscape and cultural context become active material within the work as mornings are dedicated to sustained making.
Afternoons move outward to explore, depending on the edition’s emphasis. And evenings allow for conversation, critique, and reflection, reinforcing the link between experience and practice.
Across seven days, the program provides structure, proximity, and exchange. Creating the conditions for work to deepen in response to the place.
Schedule
Mornings spent working at Bored Peach Club, creating alongside Pete Codling
Afternoons exploring Xagħra and observing festa preparations across the village
Evenings immersed in the local feast atmosphere, from band marches to gatherings
Time to connect with locals, share conversations, and absorb daily village life
Ongoing creative reflection, drawing inspiration directly into your practice
Afternoons exploring Xagħra and observing festa preparations across the village
Evenings immersed in the local feast atmosphere, from band marches to gatherings
Time to connect with locals, share conversations, and absorb daily village life
Ongoing creative reflection, drawing inspiration directly into your practice
Note: Schedule is approximate and may change
Getting Here
Bored Peach Club, Gozo, Malta
Directions
Book your flight to Malta International Airport (MLA), Malta. Upon arrival, a dedicated coach transfer will be arranged to take you from the airport to your chosen ferry departure point for the journey to Gozo.
Two transfer options are available:
Option A — Standard Ferry (Ċirkewwa)
The coach travels to Ċirkewwa Ferry Terminal, located at the northwestern tip of Malta, approximately 45–55 minutes from the airport.
From there, you will board a Gozo Channel Line ferry to Mġarr Harbor in Gozo, with a crossing time of around 25 minutes and departures approximately every 45 minutes.
Upon arrival, a 20–25-minute transfer will take you to Xagħra.
The estimated total travel time is approximately 2 to 2.5 hours.
Option B — Fast Ferry (Valletta)
The coach travels to Valletta Ferry Terminal, approximately 25 minutes from the airport.
From there, you will board the Gozo Fast Ferry, which reaches Mġarr Harbor in around 45 minutes.
On arrival, a short transfer of 20–25 minutes to Xagħra continues.
The estimated total travel time is approximately 1.5 to 2 hours.
Two transfer options are available:
Option A — Standard Ferry (Ċirkewwa)
The coach travels to Ċirkewwa Ferry Terminal, located at the northwestern tip of Malta, approximately 45–55 minutes from the airport.
From there, you will board a Gozo Channel Line ferry to Mġarr Harbor in Gozo, with a crossing time of around 25 minutes and departures approximately every 45 minutes.
Upon arrival, a 20–25-minute transfer will take you to Xagħra.
The estimated total travel time is approximately 2 to 2.5 hours.
Option B — Fast Ferry (Valletta)
The coach travels to Valletta Ferry Terminal, approximately 25 minutes from the airport.
From there, you will board the Gozo Fast Ferry, which reaches Mġarr Harbor in around 45 minutes.
On arrival, a short transfer of 20–25 minutes to Xagħra continues.
The estimated total travel time is approximately 1.5 to 2 hours.
Accommodation
Private and Shared Rooms available.
Retreat Price - Private Room
Retreat Price - Shared Room
Venue & Amenities
A/C in Rooms
Free Wifi
Spa
Sauna
Pool
Towels
Free Parking
Kitchen
Tour Assistance
Hot Tub
Coffee/Tea
Cafe
Restaurant
Fitness Center
Yoga Studio
Housekeeping
Bicycles For Rent
The workshops and morning session happen at the Bored Peach Club. Accommodation on bed an breakfast basis is at the Cornucopia Hotel in Xaghra (walking distance from the centre).
Meals
Menu Types
Vegan
Vegetarian
Pescetarian
Ayurvedic
Includes Meat
Organic
Gluten Free
Dairy Free
Nut Free
What's Included
- Accommodation
- Six nights at Hotel Cornucopia in Xagħra, Gozo, on a bed and breakfast basis.
- Airport Transfers
- Return transfers between Malta International Airport and Gozo
- Artist Led Studio Programme
- Daily studio sessions led by Pete Codling, including structured prompts, shared discussion and opportunities for group reflection as work develops.
- Lunches
- Two communal lunches hosted at the Bored Peach Club. All other meals are at leisure, giving you the freedom to explore local dining.
- Materials
- All drawing and painting supplies for the sessions will be provided.
- Welcome Pack
- A welcome pack provided on arrival, offering practical information about the programme and village, alongside a small selection of thoughtful items chosen to support and mark the week together.
- Organisation and Production
- Full retreat coordination, including local logistics, scheduling and on-site support.
What's Not Included
- Travel, Life insurance, Transportation for at leisure activities, Extra dinners and lunches.
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