Bringing Art To Life – Writing Retreat With The Great Masters
Writing retreat with art
Have you ever wondered what Mona Lisa’s secret smile is about? Wanted to walk beneath Van Gogh’s starry skies? Guided by an author and art historian, this writing retreat will take participants across time through iconic…
Creative Activity
Creative Writing
Group Activity
Workshop
Description
Have you ever wondered what Mona Lisa’s secret smile is about? Wanted to walk beneath Van Gogh’s starry skies?
Guided by an author and art historian, this writing retreat will take participants across time through iconic paintings.
Using paintings and other art pieces as sources of inspiration, we will join art history and creativity through guided writing exercises. During ‘Bringing Art To Life’, participants will have a chance to turn curiosity into creativity, learn more about art history, and enter a creative flow state as a group.
Benefits
By making art history simple, and writing into joy, we will develop cultural awareness, analysis skills, and historical knowledge. As informative as an art history lesson, and as immersive as a writing workshop, 'Bringing Art To Life' will consist of five exercises, around different art pieces, and a chance to share our writing and reflections as a group.
Team relations, strengthened by the awareness of unknown creativity and inspiration in others, will grow with new mutual trust, respect and curiosity. Writing about art pieces, and historical moments beyond ours, widens our scope of human empathy, opens up new perspectives, and creates the ability to face current stresses more clearly.
Relaxing, creative and immersive, this workshop has the benefit of making timed-challenges into engaging moments, strengthening the skills and motivation of participants.
Hosted by Maria Duran
About the Host
Maria Duran (she/her) is an artist and PhD candidate in Art History from IHA-NOVA FCSH in Lisbon, Portugal. She holds a Master's Degree in Art History from the Lisbon School of Arts and Humanities, and a graduate course in Art Curation. She was one of the curators of the 'The horizon marks the line' exhibition, and a contributor for the feminist archive project 'It's an ocean, not a puddle from which you only drink once'. Her artistic research focuses on linguistic experimentation and visual collage. Her visual essay has been the cover of Sophon Lit Magazine. She was a finalist of the 2024 Lisbon Poetry Festival, and has been nominated for the 2025 Best of the Net Award. Her upcoming poetry debut will be published with Urutau Press. She has hosted writing workshops, and is developing several collective creative projects.
Travel Locations
I am willing to travel to anywhere in Portugal, and beyond that, in the European Union, with according expenses. For instance, if I were to travel to Spain (+200), Benelux (+400).
Certifications & Credentials
I am currently an Art History PhD student at Nova University, Lisbon. I have certificated of participation from the Lisbon Poetry Festival of 2023 and 2024, and was a Finalist for the writing contest in 2024. I have attended a writing workshop at Escrever Escrever Academy. I am currently nominated for the 2025 Best of the Net Award in Poetry, an international award.
Focus Areas
Creative/Culture
Location
Baixa de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
Languages
English, Spanish, Portuguese
Corporate Experience
Not Yet
Session Types Offered
Interactive (eg. improv, group-art, yoga etc.)
Past Experience Doing Sessions
Yes - Interactive
Client Requirements
From clients, I would require that they have some surface to write with, ideally pen and papers, but digital documents work just as well.
Past Clients
I have hosted for cultural associations, and will host a workshop for EGEAC - Municipal Galleries of Lisbon.
Photo Gallery