Art & Writing Retreat Yogyakarta, Aug 1-8, 2026.
A retreat for artists and writers timed to coincide with the Art Jog Festival, Indonesia’s premier international contemporary art festival. A major annual event, it showcases diverse visual art forms, including installations, performance art, and special projects from local groups.
In collaboration with The Create Escape Tours.
Key Features
- Daily creative workshops led by Jan Cornall, with space for writing, drawing, reflection and sharing
- Deep local connections through Janita Himawati — artist, cultural guide and conduit to Yogya’s creative community
- ArtJog Festival access, Indonesia’s leading contemporary art event
- Sacred site experiences, including sunrise at Borobudur
- Hands-on creative encounters, including bookbinding and collaborative sessions
- Time to breathe, with space to rest, explore, spa, wander and absorb
- A small, like-minded group, fostering connection and shared inspiration
- Led by experience, with The Create Escape drawing on decades of Indonesian connections
Itinerary
Day 1 — Arrival in Yogyakarta
Day 2 — Borobudur Sunrise Half-Day Tour
Day 3 — Workshop + Bookbinding
Day 4 — Workshop + ArtJog Exhibition
Day 5 — Workshop + Noodle Doodle
Day 6 — Workshop + Foodie Experience
Day 7 — Workshop + ArtJog + Final Dinner
Optional Add On
Ask us about the opportunity to continue your creative project in a beautiful rural area just outside of Yogyakarta. 5 days of nurturing yoga practice and creativity.
Kreatif Spontan: Let’s do it — now.
Getting There
Yogyakarta is well connected and easy to reach, with several comfortable travel options depending on where you are coming from.
- International arrivals: Most international travellers arrive via Jakarta (CGK) or Bali (DPS), with frequent onward flights to Yogyakarta International Airport (YIA).
- Domestic flights: Regular daily flights operate from Jakarta and Bali, with flight times of approximately 1–1.5 hours.
- Train travel: For those already in Java, Yogyakarta is also accessible by comfortable long-distance trains from Jakarta and other major cities — a relaxed and scenic option.
- Airport transfers: Group transfers from Yogyakarta International Airport will be arranged to align with recommended arrival times. Detailed arrival information will be provided closer to departure.
- Support along the way: We will provide suggested flights, arrival windows and step-by-step guidance well in advance, and are always happy to assist with individual travel questions.
Once in Yogyakarta, all planned activities and experiences are organised for you — allowing you to settle in, slow down, and focus on the creative journey ahead.
Jan knows all about Being Creative in Yogyakarta!
“ In 2006 I had a four month Asia Link Residency with a Jakarta based arts community. During that time I travelled to other cities in Indo to collaborate with local artists, poets and musicians. I was travelling with four young artisans from Lampung and in Yogyakarta we met a group of young art students and performance artists. The art students were also punk and noise musicians. I handed them a bunch of my performance poems, they added music and we did a performance at a local music venue. Another group I collaborated with were performance artists who had an annual festival called Perfurbance. They invited me to take part in their festival on the famous street, Jalan Malioboro. It was incredibly exciting to be performing on the street again, something I’d done in my early performance days in Melbourne.
My favourite thing to do in Yogya was to go becak riding. Wiry old men spent most of their time sleeping in their becaks until a customer came along. We’d ride down to Taman Sari, the Water Palace, where in days long gone, the Sultan would watch his 39 wives frolicking in the clear blue pool before choosing which wife he would spend the night with!
Check out this link to a video edited by Sonia Bible from footage taken by a film collective called Buta Buti, another group I collaborated with. Some of them were only 17 and 18 years old and were already making great short films.
I also wrote a novel set in Bali, composed and recorded a jazz poetry CD with an Indonesian poet and jazz musician — all in four months!
Indonesia and especially Yogyakarta, is such a creative place. I learned a great thing there called Kreatif Spontan. It basically means: Let’s do it — now!