» Writers/Artists Retreats

Retreat News

Information on Retreats

Spring Valley Guest Ranch - Dinning Room
Spring Valley Guest Ranch - exterior
Spring Valley Guest Ranch - Saville Theatre

Writers/Artists retreats are offered and subsidized through the Saskatchewan Writers' Guild and CARFAC Saskatchewan with funding from Saskatchewan Lotteries, SaskCulture and the Saskatchewan Arts Board. There are several different types of retreats, all of which are subject to a juried application process.

Community Retreats are for established and practicing writers and artists who are able to work independently. These are offered several times per year for writers and artists from Saskatchewan, other parts of Canada and around the world.

Facilitated Retreats offer a shorter retreat period for beginning and emerging writers, who are not yet at a stage in their careers to attend a community retreat, and for whom the guidance of a Writer-in-Residence is helpful. Some facilitated retreats are directed at Aboriginal writers with an Aboriginal Facilitator (http://www.skwriter.com/sk-writers-artists-retreats/aboriginal-writers-facilitated-retreat).

Individual Retreats are offered year-round for independent Saskatchewan writers at St. Peter's Abbey. Applicants may choose a period of time to work on their own outside the community retreat periods. NB: A maximum of two weeks of individual retreats and a total of four weeks of retreats per person per year is allowed.

Attendance at an SWG retreat is a privilege and applications are subjected to a rigorous juried process. Acceptance is determined by:

Quality of Work decided by the writing sample/visual images submitted
Creative resume and publication/exhibition history
Benefits to be gained from the retreat experience
Ability to work independently
Project description

Community Retreats
Community retreats are held in February, July, and occasionally in June. NOTE: These retreats are not teaching situations, but places where established and practicing writers and artists are expected to work independently. Currently, summer writer and artist retreats are offered at St. Peter's Abbey. Winter writer and artist retreats are also held at St. Peter's Abbey in February.

Individual Retreats
Individual Retreats are offered year-round for independent writers at St. Peter's Abbey. Individuals may choose a period of time to work on their own outside the regularly scheduled retreats. No more than three individuals can be accommodated at one time. Application should be made at least four weeks before preferred dates, using the application form and requirements for application to St. Peter's Retreats. Fees for Individual Retreats are the same as the current posted St. Peter's retreat fees, pro-rated according to the length of the retreat. Individual retreats are available only to Saskatchewan residents.

Facilitated Retreats
The SWG offers a Facilitated Retreat for writers in November at St. Peter's Abbey with an on-site Writer-in-Residence who provides guidance and advice for participants. The Facilitated Retreat is for beginning and emerging writers who want a combination of writing time, instruction and feedback. Attendance at a Facilitated Retreat is considered a benefit when applying for a community retreat.

Please read the Retreat Application Guidelines (Community and Individual Retreats)before submitting your application for any of the retreats.

Please read the Facilitated Retreat Guidelines before submitting your application

For more information, please contact skretreats@skwriter.com.

RETREAT DATES:

Facilitated Retreat - Spring 2013: May 30-June 2, 2013
Location: Historic Bishops Residence, Gravelbourg, SK

St. Peter’s Summer Retreat: June 29-July 26, 2013
Deadline for receipt of applications is 4:30 Friday, April 26, 2013

Unfortunately we have had to adjust fees accordingly to address an increase in costs at St. Peter’s Abbey. The fees for this year are as follows:

$340 for SWG members (Saskatchewan residents)
$540 (Out-of-province residents, members of SWG)
$620 (Out-of-province residents, non-members of SWG)
Deadline for receipt of applications is 4:30 Friday, April 26, 2013
There is a non-refundable $35 fee for applications received after the deadline

NOTE: We are only able to accept applications from writers for the 2013 summer retreat due to CARFAC funding being used up at the winter retreat.

Please send completed applications to: Saskatchewan Writers' Guild, Box 3986, Regina, SK, S4P 3R9. To apply online please go to the retreat application form For more information, please contact skretreats@skwriter.com.

Applicants may now apply online
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