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THE ART FOUNDATION'S MISSION
Did you know?
By participating in one of our retreats, you are directly helping to support our non-profit art foundation!
Furthermore, some of our former artists in residence are now coming back to teach and mentor at the retreats, then proceeds that we make go back into funding future artist residency programs; we have an infinity loop of support.
How the foundation came to be.
Following the death of her husband, the American artist Henry Clews Jr. in 1937, Marie Clews set out to preserve both his legacy and the creative spirit they had cultivated together at the Château de La Napoule. Over the following years, she remained devoted to restoring and safeguarding the château and its grounds—spaces they had transformed into a deeply personal artistic environment. In 1951, she formally established the La Napoule Art Foundation as a memorial to Henry’s work.
But rather than creating a static monument, Marie envisioned something living. She opened the estate to artists, inviting them to reside, create, and exchange ideas within the same walls that had once been her and Henry’s studio and home—laying the foundation for what would become an enduring center for artistic practice and intercultural dialogue.
At it's heart, the foundation exists to:
Nurture artistic talent through residencies and community outreach, using the creative process as a catalyst to advance intercultural understanding.
The ways that the foundation fulfills it's mission is by:
The foundation supports artists through residency programs, offering time, space, and resources for both emerging and established creatives from around the world to live and work at the Château—encouraging deep exploration and exchange. It fosters intercultural dialogue by bringing together artists of diverse disciplines, backgrounds, and nationalities, promoting mutual understanding through shared creative experience. It views art as a tool for broader impact, positioning creativity not only as personal expression but as a contribution to the common good and a bridge across cultures. Through outreach it also engages the wider community, expanding access to the arts and inspiring future generations of artists and thinkers.
THE ETHOS OF OUR RETREATS
A threshold is the space between one way of being and another. It is not quite the past, not yet the future —it is the moment of crossing.
Threshold: The Art of Becoming was named for this in-between place. Our retreats are designed to hold that space with care and intention: a pause from daily life where you can listen more closely, create more freely, and reconnect with what is quietly asking to emerge.
We believe creativity and wellbeing are deeply intertwined. The practices we offer — art-making, movement, rest, reflection, and shared meals — are not separate from one another, but part of the same process of returning to yourself. Wellness, for us, is not about fixing or optimizing; it’s about creating the conditions where you can soften, open, and feel more whole.
Creativity is not just about making art — it is a way of meeting change, uncertainty, and possibility. When you step into a threshold, you don’t arrive as a finished version of yourself. You arrive in process. You arrive becoming.
Our work is to create environments — through place, practice, and community — where that becoming feels safe, supported, and alive.
WELLNESS
The wellness component of our retreats is designed as a sanctuary for healing—physically, emotionally, and mentally. We provide a supportive environment where individuals can achieve balance and clarity, connecting deeply with their inner selves. Our programs are a blend of holistic practices, mindfulness, and restorative therapies, allowing participants to find calm, re-center, and align their mind, body, and spirit.
We like the term SOFT WELLNESS
This is a wellness philosophy that prioritizes intuitive movement, guilt-free rest, present-moment awareness, and supportive community over performance and competition. It’s growing as a response to burnout, offering a more sustainable, compassionate alternative to high-pressure traditional wellness culture.
ARTISTIC DISCOVERY
Through creative expression, we unlock new pathways to self-discovery and transformation. Our art-focused retreats empower participants to explore their creativity, freeing them to express their deepest truths. We believe art is a universal language that connects us to our truest selves, catalyzing change and growth. These immersive experiences allow for personal growth through creation, allowing new ways of seeing, thinking, and being.
NATURE
Nature is both our sanctuary and our teacher. Our retreats are set in natural spaces that help participants ground themselves and reconnect with the earth. These spaces are designed to promote peace and reflection, where the healing power of the environment offers clarity and tranquility. In nature, we find stillness and space to awaken, grow, and deepen our connection to the world around us.
CULTURE
Our cultural retreats celebrate the richness of human experience by embracing diverse traditions, perspectives, and stories. We offer spaces for deep cultural exchange, fostering empathy, connection, and understanding. By engaging, fine arts, culinary traditions, and cultural dialogues, participants broaden their
worldview and deepen their connection to humanity’s shared heritage.
FUN!
We believe fun is a form of rebellion against burnout. Joy, play, and laughter are powerful tools for self-expression and connection. Our retreats invite participants to release pressure, embrace curiosity, and rediscover the pleasure of creating without expectation. Through playfulness and lightness, we open space for spontaneity, deeper connection, and the kind of joy that nourishes the spirit.