“I left changed—finally knowing, not just sensing, that I am an artist.”
our experiences
We offer two distinct, carefully curated experiences at our permanent home, Eona, on the island of Chios, each designed to support artistic growth, cultural immersion, and meaningful connection. Whether you're seeking the energy of collective experimentation or the stillness of focused solitude, our retreats and residencies provide space, time, and inspiration to evolve your practice.
Both paths are rooted in our ethos of cultural exchange, creative freedom, and collective care. Participation is limited to ensure depth, intimacy, and impact.
Our Retreats offer a three-week, immersive creative journey for a handpicked group of artists to experiment, exchange, and reset within a vibrant, communal environment. This is an experience for those seeking creative revival and connection—an opportunity to step out of the ordinary and into a space of artistic possibility.
AT A GLANCE
AT A GLANCE
Our Residencies are highly selective, self-directed programs offering space, solitude, and structure for artists engaged in research, deep creation, or site-specific work. Designed for those ready to dive inward while engaging with the cultural and natural rhythms of Chios, the residencies are a chance to develop work with intention, depth, and place-based awareness.
OUR Retreats
Descoverartists hosts immersive, three-week art retreats on the island of Chios designed to encourage artists to question and explore their creative processes. Rooted in collaboration and experimentation, our retreats offer a rare space where creators can step away from routine, live communally, and engage deeply with their practice while surrounded by nature, history, and a vibrant artistic atmosphere.
All artistic disciplines are welcome. These retreats bring together a dynamic, international community of creatives who live and work together, sharing their processes, exchanging feedback, and learning from one another. The emphasis is on collaboration, not competition.
While the program is curated, it leaves space for personal exploration and solitude. The retreat provides structure and flexibility, with access to indoor and outdoor creative spaces supporting experimentation, rest, and reflection.
Our home base in Chios is more than a location—it’s an integral part of the experience. With its medieval villages, citrus groves, coastal trails, and warm local community, the island offers a setting that nurtures personal inspiration and collective growth. We also give back to the community through restoration and sustainability initiatives, allowing artists to contribute meaningfully during their stay.
Whether you want to reignite your creativity, build lifelong connections, or simply make art in an inspiring setting, our retreats are a place to create, collaborate, and come alive.
OUR Residencies
Our art residency is a highly selective program with a mission to foster innovative creativity, preserve Chios's heritage, and expand access to the island’s unique cultural and natural environment.
It offers time and space for creative exploration and provides an authentic island experience enriched by stunning natural landscapes and vibrant local traditions.
Each resident is given a private room and full access to shared workspaces, including indoor studios, gardens, and communal areas. By bringing creatives together in a collaborative environment, we aim to cultivate a space where inspiration, experimentation, and meaningful connections thrive. Each participant becomes an integral part of a collective that enriches the residency experience and the local culture.
Our mission is rooted in three core intentions. First, we aim to foster innovative creativity by giving artists the time, space, and support to push boundaries, explore new ideas, and take creative risks within a nurturing environment.
Second, we are committed to preserving and responding to Chios's cultural heritage. Through thoughtful engagement with the island’s history, traditions, and natural beauty, we encourage artists to create work informed by and respectful of its surroundings.
Finally, we strive to build bridges between local and global artistic communities. By welcoming international artists and cultivating meaningful exchanges with the people of Chios, we create a vibrant cultural dialogue that extends beyond the residency and into the wider world.
Our residency focuses on four thematic categories that align with our mission:
1. Documenting Chios: Dive into the rich cultural heritage of Chios by documenting the island's unique history, traditions, and local community through your creative lens.
2. Site-Specific Projects: Develop installations or artworks tailored to the distinct character of Eona, our residency home, merging creativity with place.
3. Eona Initiatives: Host or participate in free events designed to bridge cultures, inspire fresh ideas, and connect the local community with global perspectives.
Through these categories, we aim to inspire artistic innovation while celebrating Chios's cultural heritage. Join us in crafting meaningful work that resonates within the residency and beyond.
Differences
our retreats
3 weeks
Collaboration
creative reset
experimentation
Curated GROUP schedule including free time, workshops, group activities, and excursions
Medium to large group setting; highly interactive
Artists seeking fresh perspectives and community-driven creativity
our Residencies
1 TO 6 WEEKS
work, research
cultural engagement
site-specific projects
Self-directed AND SELF-LED with optional community AND involvement GROUP ACTIVITIES
intimate group with space for solitude and shared moments
Artists developing a project, research, needing focus and independence
“Never would I have imagined that a place I had previously never travelled to could possibly offer me, after such a short amount of time, the unmistakable sense of belonging.”
