Eva van Dijk
Professional music producer, artist and educator who teaches the psychology of creativity at Catalyst. Her teaching focuses on helping students unblock and express their creativity.
Short bio to come from Eva
eva-vandijk.com ↗Tulum, Mexico · 2027
The Creative Flourishing Retreat
Come back to your creative self.
You don't need to be an artist to be creative. You just need space, practice and people who take your making seriously.
For ten days in Tulum, you'll explore the psychology of why we create, learn the methods behind creative flow, and rebuild a practice that's yours. Artists, founders, teachers, engineers, parents, career-changers: if you've felt creatively stuck, you're exactly who this is for.
Name not final · dates and number of places to come
- 01
Understand
Learn what creativity is and why we make, through the psychology taught in the Master's program.
- 02
Practice
Get into flow through guided creative work, whatever your medium.
- 03
Express
Find your voice and leave with a practice you can sustain at home.
Who it's for
Any sector, any medium, no experience needed.
Painters and product managers. Musicians and nurses. People in their 20s and people in their 60s. Our cohorts have always been wonderfully mixed, because creative blocks don't care what you do for a living.
- Artists, musicians, writers and designers who feel stuck or want to go deeper.
- Professionals in non-creative fields who want to reconnect with their creative side.
- People at a transition point, such as changing career, or at a point of burnout or low energy for making things.
- People in their 20s through to their 60s and beyond, from many countries.
Manifesto
We believe creativity is how people make sense of themselves and each other. When more of us create, we listen better, collaborate more freely and build a more imaginative society. This retreat is a place to stop waiting for permission and start making again.
Developed from the School of Creative Human Development at Catalyst, with a cohort that spans ages, cultures and professions.
The retreat
Ten days in Tulum to make things again.
The Creative Flourishing Retreat is a 10-day retreat in Tulum, Mexico for anyone who wants to reconnect with their creativity. It is not only for artists. It is for professionals, makers, founders, teachers, parents and career-changers, in any sector and at any age, who feel creatively blocked or simply want more creativity in their lives.
It is based on the creativity psychology methods taught on the Master's program and summer course at Catalyst, in a condensed and more playful form: more fun, more play, and time in a beautiful place, including some day trips.
What we're aiming for
- Help people reconnect with their creativity and unblock it.
- Support people in reaching a higher state of creative flourishing.
- Help participants get into flow and experience the benefits of a creative practice.
- Explore what creativity is, the psychology of why we make things, and how making shapes who we are.
- Help individuals connect with their artistic voice and creative expression.
- Contribute to a more creative society, where people create, collaborate and listen to each other more.
How it differs
Most creativity retreats are either art-camp vibes or corporate innovation workshops. This one sits in between: real psychology, taught by practising artists, for anyone, with no talent required.
- Length
- 10 days
- Where
- Tulum, Mexico
- Dates
- To come
- Places
- To come
- Price
- To come
- What's included
- To come
Program
The shape of the ten days
The detailed program is still being designed. It will be a condensed version of the Master's program, with more fun involved. This is the rough arc so far.
- Start
Understand
What creativity is, why we make things, and what gets in the way.
- Middle
Practice
Guided creative work in whatever medium you bring, and time to find flow.
- Day trips
Out into the region
Destinations to come
- End
Express
Sharing what you made, and building a practice you can keep at home.
Day-by-day schedule to come
Your hosts
Practising artists who teach the psychology of making
Eva and Cordele are both industry experts and music producers. Cordele founded the School of Creative Human Development at Catalyst, and Eva helped develop it and now teaches on it.
Cordele Glass
Founder of the School of Creative Human Development at Catalyst. More than 20 years working with sound, as a creativity coach and as the musician Hawt Coco.
Short bio to come from Cordele
cordele.glass ↗
Taylor Coburn
Helping organise and host the retreat.
Bio and photo coming soon
LinkedIn ↗Eva's portrait: Andie Riekstina.
Location
Tulum first. More places later.
2027
Tulum, Mexico
On the Caribbean coast of the Yucatán, with day trips into the region.
Venue and accommodation to come
Coming later
Austin, USA
Join the waitlist →Coming later
Bali, Indonesia
Join the waitlist →Apply or enquire
Want a place, or just have a question?
Tell us a little about yourself. There's nothing to prepare, and you don't need a portfolio.
Application process to come
FAQ
Questions people ask
Who is it for?
Anyone who wants more creativity in their life, in any sector and at any age. Past cohorts have mixed painters and product managers, musicians and nurses, people in their 20s and people in their 60s, from many countries.
Do I need any experience?
No. Creativity is a practice, not a talent. Bring whatever medium you like, or none yet.
What should I expect?
Ten days of learning, making and play: sessions on the psychology of creativity, guided creative work, time in a beautiful place, and some day trips. The detailed program is still being designed.
Is this therapy?
No. The retreat is educational and creative. It isn't a substitute for therapy or medical care. If you're going through something difficult, please keep your therapist or doctor in the loop. You're very welcome to come while you keep that support going.
Logistics: travel, accommodation, food
Details to come