Discovering New Cultural and Creative Destinations—5 VAWAAs to Inspire You

I’m noticing a lot of reels highlighting lesser-known travel destinations. Clips of almost-empty-yet-beyond-perfect beaches and exquisitely-picturesque-yet-quiet villages have all been forwarded to friends or forwarded to me by friends. For some, it’s the lure of exclusivity. Hordes of comments accompanying each video will lament the exposure. I too, can feel a tremble coming on at the thought of droves of influencers transforming the tranquility and humble quirks of various secluded or previously overlooked locations. At the same time, discovery is a beautiful thing—and there’s nothing wrong with wanting to explore off the beaten path. We just have to learn how to follow our adventurous spirits consciously and respectfully in those creative destinations. 

At VAWAA, we’re all about traveling with intention. When you’re traveling with a creative destination in mind, it speaks to that intent. In discovering and learning all we can from a different cultural space, we bring the opportunity to create and give something back, even if that’s only in our energy and conduct. Cultural and creative destinations invite us to move slower. As reflected in the craftwork and artistry, there’s an invitation to connect and take note of the finer details.

When you choose to explore a creative destination as part of a Vacation with an Artist, you’re doing so with the advice of a local. Your chosen artist is your guide—they can advise when it is best to travel, and when you arrive, they can point you to the best food, and businesses deserving of support, and share unique insight on their surroundings. It feels real, human, and personal. Participating in this exchange is not only a valuable way of learning about life elsewhere, but it also broadens our creative minds. When we’re a beginner, on new ground, our minds are welcome to open and adapt to new things.

Branching Out from Barcelona to Discover a Creative Destination

When I went on my VAWAA with Susana, a figurative artist with 30 years of experience painting, drawing, sculpting, and making murals, I was already familiar with Barcelona. 

I’m lucky to have friends there. The streets feel familiar. I know the best spot on the beach. It's probably the most frequent stamp on my passport. But staying with Susana, who lives a train and bus ride outside the city, opened up a new world. In the U.K., my family home is a train and bus ride outside London. When I chose that VAWAA, part of my intrigue lay in that mirroring. I felt comfortable with the city of Barcelona, as I do London, and wanted to branch out to those quieter spaces. How would this creative destination differ from the countryside village my family resided in? 

Driving through the dramatic mountainous landscape in Susana’s little car, I really felt that sense of exploration, a contrast to everything I’ve known and navigated before. As the road twisted around another majestic looming body of rocky earth and opened onto a new view of the horizon, it was as though I could feel locks turning with a clunk in my mind. Another door was opening. 

I’m used to working on a small scale, but in Olesa de Bonesvalles, away from that slightly boxed-in feeling you can get in busy cities, I began to paint on a canvas twice my size. I grew up mostly on the fringes of London and struggled with that feeling of being on the outside of where things happen. But with Susana’s magical house and studio as my creative destination, I found I reveled in the slowness, the quiet, the clear view of the sky. 

Major cities always have that big draw, it feels like there’s always something to do, and the intense energy can be great fuel. Nevertheless, on this VAWAA away from the city, I discovered and became absorbed in a unique and spacious studio filled with opportunities. I’ll never forget sketching a dancing figure, looking up and seeing three kittens staring at me from the rafters. 

First day in the studio.

The village itself utterly charmed me, and I’m keen to go back and walk through those cobbled streets again. On daily strolls, pausing to look out at the forested view. I realized I could be still and more present with the Spanish land, rather than darting from attraction to attraction. While Susana’s village was small, I noticed new things every day; the medieval architecture, the birdsongs, the smell of tapas in a lamplit cafe. Sights, sounds, and smells that were once unfamiliar became comforting. Now when I’m mixing paint and thinking of Susana’s artistic advice and technical knowledge, I’m reminded of all these tiny details of Olesa de Bonesvalles. 

Susana’s home and studio were surrounded by lush greenery.

The experience has made me curious about traveling within my own country. I now associate a different kind of beauty and homely comfort with Spain. That strong and deepening sense of discovery I felt with Olesa de Bonesvalles as my creative destination, I have to wonder, what would it be like to experience that here? How would it transform my everyday perception of the UK? 

The Intrigue of Arygll’s Sonic Landscape

Browsing the artists who have opened their studios to VAWAA, I found Immersive Audio & Creative Recording with Jamie in Argyll, Scotland. Discovering Scotland as a cultural and creative destination through the medium of audio art is such an exciting idea. Scottish culture places great importance on music. Spending time in a Scottish artist's home studio in a secluded Scottish glen, surrounded by mountains, with beautiful acoustics and cutting-edge, immersive audio technology seems to me a brilliant way to connect with the land. 

VAWAA apprentice Tavia learning how to make sound art in collaboration with the land.

When I travel, I’m often struck by how the ambiance shifts. The sound of sirens may be replaced by crickets, or the notes of bird songs take on a different pattern. Creative recording invites us to zero in on sound and expand our idea of what music is. A big part of Jamie’s studio sessions is exploring outside the studio. I imagine rambling through his artist’s map of Argyll with recording equipment can feel like a treasure hunt or a kind of sonic quest.

Jane on her VAWAA, collecting sounds from the river.

When looking to discover a creative destination, I have to admit there’s something enticing about a cooler climate. Especially as a Brit, it’s traditional to picture the blazing sun, golden sands, and sea surf when we think of holidays and travel. I’ve often felt that there are absolute gems I’m missing out on tucked away on small windswept islands or mountainous regions. It speaks to that adventurous mood I suppose, and reflects my storybook inspirations. When it comes to switching scenery, I’m used to being surrounded by fiery cultural expressions, spicy foods, passionate guitar or oud…etc. It’s worth considering what other colors and flavors would add nuance and variety to your palette. 

The Watery World of Lyngør, Norway 

Since learning about this tiny island when reading about Ole’s Darkroom Printing and Film Photography VAWAA, I’ve been expecting it to pop up on my Instagram feed. This small society is only accessible by boat, so it’s off the beaten path entirely. I, along with many others, am used to living alongside cars. They make up most of my background noise and emit fumes that fill most of my air; exchanging tarmac roads for rivers is an inviting prospect. 

Connecting with the element of water in this historical naval village is bound to affect your creative process in new and dynamic ways. Ole's father is a sailmaker, his grandfather was a sailor, and as a child, Ole rowed to school. As a creative destination, this archipelago offers a dwelling in a former school building, sailing around the island with Ole, and time working in a darkroom that’s also a sail loft. When I look at the photos taken on VAWAAs with Ole, I’m always captivated by how different the light looks. Water everywhere, constant reflection and movement, it looks like a whole other world.

All the sunsets must be extra special in Lyngor.

As magical as it all sounds, Lyngor is filled with very real history. In the Napoleonic wars, a dramatic battle took place in the strait that runs through the village. For anyone who loves old architecture and historical sailing artifacts, this is a pretty good spot. It’s known for being one of the best-preserved communities in Europe. 

Photos from Leanne’s time in Norway.

“Not only did I get to see and photograph an area of Norway I probably would never have seen, but I also got to meet wonderful people and experience a place more deeply than just as a tourist,” Leanne shared after her VAWAA on the island. 

Finding a Craft Haven In This Slovenian Valley

Big things come in small packages. I think that’s especially true of creative destinations that are well-preserved historical towns and villages. They’re like portals to the old world. Pathways back to a slower time of craft guilds and artisanal pioneering. The setting is a muse in itself. Sofja Loka in Slovenia is one of them. A medieval town surrounded by rolling hills, it’s been a magnet for artists for centuries. 

VAWAA artist Anja shares the secrets of wet felting there, but the town is home to many craft traditions. A tactile felting craft seems to suit the location quite well though, considering it’s historically known for hat-making. Anja’s textiles seem to mirror this creative destination perfectly. Earthy tones shot through with pure, almost luminous streams of white felt. After reading about the Sora River running through the thousand-year-old town, I can see where she may get her inspiration. 

“I’ve fallen in love with the gentle folk of this dramatic country. Wet felting has given me Slovenia! Even without leaving Skofja Loka, this had happened though, because Anja lives in such a historic and beautiful part of Slovenia,” said VAWAA art apprentice Mary. 

Evenings in the company of artists.

It’s a powerful yet delicate energy that seems to emanate from this valley, as reflected in the artists who work there. The opportunity to connect with other creatives definitely enhances a destination. Having conversations with people so far from your everyday life opens our minds and activates new ways of thinking. 

Learning from the locals.

The Warm Welcome of Cao Bang, Vietnam

In North Vietnam, close to the China border, lies another artisanal village—home to the country’s leading textile designer, Thao. One thing in particular stands out when you read through the stories of those art apprentices who have chosen this village as their creative destination; the strong community of indigenous craftswomen.

Daily life is filled with vibrant color.

When VAWAA art apprentice Hung returned to the States after spending time in Cao Bang, they began their story with this reflection: “The Nùng An women were so incredibly welcoming and open to sharing their crafts and traditions with us. It was so rewarding to spend time with Thảo and watch her relationship with the Nùng An women and the relationship they've developed over the years working with each other.” 

Blue skies over Cao Bang.

For crafts to survive, the knowledge must be shared. It has to be carefully passed on to those who are not only open to learning but able to live with the practice. When you’re spending time in a creative destination with those who truly inhabit the craft, you experience that lifestyle of everyday crafting. “This experience provided a unique insight into traditional craft production and the time and effort that goes into each process,” said Susie, UK.

The beauty of uncovering a cultural and creative destination is that you’re uncovering an opportunity for transformation. I’m used to coming home from a fun leisurely holiday feeling well-rested, sure, but a feeling of emptiness can follow too. 

Sometimes, the memories fall into a whirlwind. When we seek cultural and creative immersion we get closer to the unique fingerprint of the location. We get to make the most of it. With time, exploration, and practice, somewhere far away becomes a part of us. A collage of experiences and daily motions infuses our home life with new perspectives, colors, and expressions. Here’s to planning our future travels around sheer curiosity and creative experimentation. 

Written by Kat Odina Ali

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