Pátzcuaro, Mexico
Learn from generations of master woodcarvers and printmakers in Pátzcuaro, a magical town “Pueblo Mágico” where crafts are deeply rooted in Purépecha heritage and Day of the Dead traditions.
Explore DestinationsVAWAA (Vacation With An Artist) is a global platform for private, multi-day mini-apprenticeships with master artists and craftspeople around the world.
Vacation With An Artist
Spend a few days learning from
a master, their craft, their culture,
and their part of the world.
VAWAA is a private mini-apprenticeship with a master artist, immersed in their creative world.
Artists have a unique way of seeing, making, and understanding the world.
Come to learn something new, deepen a practice, or simply see what opens up when you spend time with someone who has devoted their life to making.
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Ceramic Furniture & Functional Forms with Tatiana, Lisbon Portugal
Explore ArtistsArtists have a unique way of seeing, making, and understanding the world.
Come to learn something new, deepen a practice, or simply see what opens up when you spend time with someone who has devoted their life to making.
Photography with Ole, Lyngør Norway
Explore ArtistsFrom centuries-old pottery in Kyoto and Anatolian dance in Istanbul to photography in Norway.
Ajrakh Block Printing with Sarfraz, Mumbai India
Explore ArtistsYour days move between the studio and the world around it — making, learning, gathering materials, visiting local places, and sometimes sharing a meal.
A few hours each day in the studio. The rest is still your vacation. Come curious. See where it takes you.
Learn from artists carrying generations of knowledge forward.
One of Japan’s Last 10 Bellmakers Kyoto, Japan Yoshinori is a 4th generation master preserving the 400-year-old craft of making Buddhist Rin Bells.
The Man Who Photographed History Puglia, Italy Manoocher, an award-winning photojournalist has documented wars, revolutions, and humanity around the world.
Legendary Quilters of Gee’s Bend Gee’s Bend, Alabama, USA Loretta and Marlene, master quilters, carry forward one of America’s most important visual and cultural traditions.
Master Behind Oaxaca’s Red Clay San Marcos Tlapazola, Oaxaca, Mexico Macrina, a Zapotec master potter transformed her village’s 3,500-year-old pottery tradition.
A way to experience 45+ countries in
a way most travelers never do.
Explore Destinations 
Gee’s Bend, Alabama
Learn from generations of master quilters in Gee’s Bend, a remote bend of the Alabama River where reused cloth and family memories have become one of America’s most celebrated art traditions.
Explore DestinationsA few days.
A lifelong souvenir.
Read guest stories"This was our second VAWAA as a three-generation family. This VAWAA taught us so much more than wood artistry, and it was full of Japanese life philosophy that all of us need to learn through experience."
"I’ve now taken part in seven VAWAAs, and each one has exceeded my expectations. The magic of VAWAA is revealing humanity at its best."
"Extremely memorable, unique and impactful experience. I learned so much about music and sound theory in just a few days that I felt as if I had experienced a semester long university course."
"I’d highly recommend this experience to both beginners and seasoned potters."
"Rollin had the calm expertise of someone who’s been doing this craft for nearly 50 years. Working on the same finely crafted artifact for 10 days helped us connect with the real world and each other."
"The opportunity to have one-on-one time with an artist in their own studio felt truly unique. I was hoping for a fresh perspective on my ceramic work, and I most certainly got it."
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@VAWAA_“Vacation With an Artist gives ordinary travelers a chance to learn from extraordinary artists—right in their studios.”
— American Craft Council
