Host Your Own
Retreat in Fez
Retreat in Fez
A framework for artists to develop, position, and deliver their own retreat in Fez.
Designed to support a more intentional approach to how your practice is shared and experienced.
Fez Medina - Where Practice Meets Place
For centuries, Fez Medina has been the heart of Morocco's craft heritage, a place where artisans shape materials, processes are repeated, and knowledge has been passed through the generations. More than just a backdrop to your retreat, it's a working environment founded on artisanal tradition.
Increasingly, artists are coming to Fez not just for inspiration, but to work and develop their practice within this environment.
Hosting a retreat here places your practice within this context, while offering others a more direct connection to your work. At the same time, the Medina provides new references and ideas to support your growth as an artist.
Increasingly, artists are coming to Fez not just for inspiration, but to work and develop their practice within this environment.
Hosting a retreat here places your practice within this context, while offering others a more direct connection to your work. At the same time, the Medina provides new references and ideas to support your growth as an artist.
Your Vision. Our Setting
Our Host a Retreat programme is designed to support artists, creatives, and cultural practitioners in bringing their practice and their community into this context.
Whether you’re a painter, writer, textile artist, photographer, or working across disciplines, we provide the setting, local knowledge, experience, and on-the-ground support, so that you can focus on designing and leading the retreat you want to create.
How We Help
Our role is to support you in making your retreat work, both practically and in context.
From assistance with initial planning and local arrangements, to accommodation and on-the-ground support, we provide the infrastructure that allows you to focus on what matters most: designing and leading your retreat.
We don’t dictate the programme. Instead, we offer the guidance, local knowledge, and experience needed to help everything run smoothly whilst in the Medina. This allows you to concentrate on your participants, your programme, and the experience you want to create.
From assistance with initial planning and local arrangements, to accommodation and on-the-ground support, we provide the infrastructure that allows you to focus on what matters most: designing and leading your retreat.
We don’t dictate the programme. Instead, we offer the guidance, local knowledge, and experience needed to help everything run smoothly whilst in the Medina. This allows you to concentrate on your participants, your programme, and the experience you want to create.
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Accommodation
- A historic dar on the edge of Fez Medina designed to host creatives
- Options for shared or private rooms (tailored to your retreat needs)
- Wi-Fi, bedding, daily essentials, and traditional Moroccan cuisine
- Rooftop and courtyard spaces for relaxing and gathering
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Logistical Support
- Local host on hand to assist during the retreat
- Airport transfer coordination
- On-the-ground logistics: taxis, day trips, event and restaurant bookings
- Optional: local guides, translators, artisan visits, chef-prepared meals
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Optional Elements
- Creative space and materials sourcing
- Guided excursions (pottery village, dyeing, souks, Sufi night, etc.)
- Cultural workshops with local craftspeople
- Photographer/videographer for retreat documentation
Morocco’s cultural capital, a place where centuries of making continue to inform the present.
Dar Drouj
Spacious and full of character, Dar Drouj accommodates up to 10 guests in five well-appointed bedrooms, offering a comfortable and cohesive environment for small groups.. Located just beyond the Medina walls, the house is close enough to remain connected, yet removed enough to offer space, calm, and perspective. Our team is on-hand throughout your retreat to make sure everything runs smoothly.
Your Role
It all begins with you, your practice, your story, and the way you want to share it with your community. Your creative direction guides everything from the retreat’s theme to the daily pace, creating an experience that refelcts your practice.
Your Community
Your community lies at the heart of your practice, and your retreat is an opportunity to bring them closer. By inviting he people who actually meet your art and support your work, you’ll create a group of people who are excited to learn from you and be part of your creative world.
You can host:
- Dar Drouj can accommodate upto 10 people in shared ensuite bedrooms but 6 to 8 people is a good number
- With a co-leader (split income and responsibilities)
- As part of a larger group residency or retreat that also includes accommodation elsewhere in the Medina
Your Story
No one can tell your story better than you. Whether it's face to face or through social platforms, we'll help you share the vision and theme of your retreat, invite the right people, and set the tone for the creative experience they’ll join alongside you.
You’re responsible for:
- Sharing the story behind your retreat
- Telling people what they will learn and experience
- Sharing why Fez and Dar Drouj are the right place
We’ll provide:
- The best way to think about this and how to plan
- Support with images, social media and websites
How Your Retreat Can Be Structured
There are different ways to structure your retreat, depending on what you are planning and how you prefer to work.
We walk you through the different ways you can build your retreat to accommodate your creative programme, the people you want to bring, our involvement, and how you want to position it.
Depending on your approach, you may prefer to work independently, share responsibility, or develop a structure that reflects a specific collaboration and a tailored approach. We can talk through these options and find what feels most appropriate for you.
We recognise that each retreat is different. The intention is not to maximise output, but to find a structure that supports the experience you want to create, both practically and in a way that supports your longer-term development as an artist.
We walk you through the different ways you can build your retreat to accommodate your creative programme, the people you want to bring, our involvement, and how you want to position it.
Depending on your approach, you may prefer to work independently, share responsibility, or develop a structure that reflects a specific collaboration and a tailored approach. We can talk through these options and find what feels most appropriate for you.
We recognise that each retreat is different. The intention is not to maximise output, but to find a structure that supports the experience you want to create, both practically and in a way that supports your longer-term development as an artist.
- Shared ModelIn this approach, the income from participants is shared after the core costs of running the retreat are covered. This creates a more balanced structure, where both sides share responsibility and outcome.
Often suited to those who prefer a lower upfront commitment and a more shared approach. - Flexible ArrangementsSome retreats don’t fit a standard structure. In these cases, we work with you to develop an approach that reflects the nature of the project.
This might involve collaborating with another artist or organisation, shaping a co-hosted programme, or building something that sits between a retreat and a residency.
These arrangements are built through conversation, with the focus on creating a format that supports your intentions, rather than forcing them into a fixed model.
Questions to Help You Get Started
If you’re thinking about hosting a retreat with us in Fez, we expect you to have many question. These are some of the more common ones we get asked, to help you understand how it works, what to expect, and how to plan your stay.
The first step in joining us to host a retreat is to submit a proposal. This should outline your creative concept, tell us who you are as an artist, and who your retreat is intended for.
Once we have reviewed it, we will invite you for a video call to discuss you proposal in more detail which helps us decide if this is the right fit for both.
Once we have reviewed it, we will invite you for a video call to discuss you proposal in more detail which helps us decide if this is the right fit for both.
Not at all.
Artist-led retreats are not about scale, but about alignment and connection. Retreats with Fez Art Residency are designed for small groups, typically between 6–10 participants, In many cases, smaller groups work better as they create a more focused, connected, and manageable experience for both the host and the group.
A clear idea and the right people are more important than a large group.
Artist-led retreats are not about scale, but about alignment and connection. Retreats with Fez Art Residency are designed for small groups, typically between 6–10 participants, In many cases, smaller groups work better as they create a more focused, connected, and manageable experience for both the host and the group.
A clear idea and the right people are more important than a large group.
Fez Medina offers something that is difficult to replicate elsewhere.
As Morocco’s artisan capital, it offers a living creative environment shaped by tradition, craft, material, and daily practice. Its compact, walkable size means you can fully immerse yourself in it, not simply act as a location for the retreat, but as part of how the experience is formed.
As Morocco’s artisan capital, it offers a living creative environment shaped by tradition, craft, material, and daily practice. Its compact, walkable size means you can fully immerse yourself in it, not simply act as a location for the retreat, but as part of how the experience is formed.
The cost of running a retreat in Fez depends on group size, duration, and how the retreat is structured.
We offer three levels of support - Bronze, Silver, and Gold - with costs depending on group size, duration, and the level of involvement required.
These range from a more independent setup, where you manage most aspects of your retreat, through to a more supported approach with greater input on planning, programme, logistics, and delivery.
When we both decide to move forward with hosting your retreat, we ask for a small deposit at contract signing to secure your retreat dates,
Planning and scheduling a retreat involves a significant level of coordination, so this step ensures commitment on both sides from the outset and allows us to allocate the time and resources needed to support your retreat.
We offer three levels of support - Bronze, Silver, and Gold - with costs depending on group size, duration, and the level of involvement required.
These range from a more independent setup, where you manage most aspects of your retreat, through to a more supported approach with greater input on planning, programme, logistics, and delivery.
When we both decide to move forward with hosting your retreat, we ask for a small deposit at contract signing to secure your retreat dates,
Planning and scheduling a retreat involves a significant level of coordination, so this step ensures commitment on both sides from the outset and allows us to allocate the time and resources needed to support your retreat.
Yes, aabsolutely. Supporting artists in developing income through their practice is a central part of why the Host a Retreat programme exists.
Artist-led retreats at Fez Art Residency provide a way to extend your practice beyond the studio, creating an experience that can generate income while remaining connected to your work.
Rather than separating creative practice and financial sustainability, the programme is designed to bring them together, allowing you to share your approach, work with your community, and develop something that is both authentic and viable.
Artist-led retreats at Fez Art Residency provide a way to extend your practice beyond the studio, creating an experience that can generate income while remaining connected to your work.
Rather than separating creative practice and financial sustainability, the programme is designed to bring them together, allowing you to share your approach, work with your community, and develop something that is both authentic and viable.
That's simple!
Every retreat starts with a conversation, and clear, transparent communication through every aspect of your reatreat is important to us. The best way to get in touch is via connect@fezartresidency.com and let us know what you are thinking.
Every retreat starts with a conversation, and clear, transparent communication through every aspect of your reatreat is important to us. The best way to get in touch is via connect@fezartresidency.com and let us know what you are thinking.
Art Residency in Morocco: A Guide for Artists
A collection of articles exploring what it means to live, work, and develop as an artist in Fez and within the wider context of Morocco.
Ready to Host?
We’re currently programming retreats for Spring to Winter 2026, and spaces are limited. If you're curious, excited, or already planning something - we’d love to hear from you
Let’s create something unforgettable - together.
When you’re ready, send us a quick outline via the link below so we can discuss the next steps:
