Creative Residency & Retreat
Please note the following information is from previous residencies. At the moment we do not have a group residency planned, besides Culture Moves Europe 2025.
Want to experience the Icelandic Westfjords while reconnecting with nature and yourself?
We offer 9 days of a program yet to be announced, but we promise great vegetarian meals in our village Þingeyri, energizing activities and lots of time to relax or create, surrounded by mountains and fjords.
Maybe you are an artist or have a creative hobby, you are desperately trying to find time for?
Maybe you are a human being that needs some space to just be away from day-to-day life for a while?
All are all welcome in our group residency.
Dates and program will be announced towards autumn. If you already know you are interested in joining, you can drop us a line and we can get back to you with more information.
more information
Activity spaces
A 160 square meter workshop space called the Harbour House will be our main facility for group activities and yoga. This space is split between two levels and includes different work and living areas. There is a big hang out area with movable walls and tables, chairs and a sofa, and the building has a bathroom and a small kitchen.
We will share meals in he coffeehouse, and guests are welcome to stay in the coffeehouse and work during their afternoon free time.
In addition, various buildings in the village such as a community center and a gymnasium may be organized as possible places for activities, depending on weather and our flexible schedule.
For a peek at some of the spaces, check out the art residency gallery here.
accommodation
Our living spaces include private bedrooms in furnished shared houses around the village. All accommodations include bed linens, bath towels, shared bathroom and shower, laundry facilities, and shared kitchens with basic cookware. Accommodation will be assigned before arrival.
Food and DINNERS
We provide coffee in the coffeehouse every morning or according to the wishes of the group. We will serve vegetarian/vegan dinners each day and eat together as a group. If you have specific dietary requirements please let us know in your application.
WI-FI
A high speed internet connection in all living and work spaces.
Cost and practicalities
Please note the following information is from previous group residencies:
There are no specific materials required, however we encourage participants to bring a journal for taking notes and for self-reflection. You may also want to bring supplies for any artistic/creative practices during free time - some basic supplies can be found in Reykavik but it is easiest and cheapest to bring them yourself.
We encourage guests to participate in all scheduled activities, but they are not mandatory and you are welcome to use the time as suits you best.
Cost:
Fees include: Scheduled activities, accommodation, dinner each evening.
Guests are responsible for their own international and doemstic transportation and we recommend that you arrive in Iceland the day before and leave the day after you fly out of the Westfjords. You may also want to use the opportunity to explore Reykjavík. We are situated in the remote Westfjords of Iceland, so make sure to read more about location and traveling to us here.
Please note: a 50% deposit (non-refundable*) is required when your application is accepted in order to secure your spot. The remaining 50% is due 1,5 months before the start of the retreat
Optional Extended Stay
We have a few spaces available for participants who would like to spend an entire month at the residency, while also taking part in the group residency as part of their stay. The rest of the period of stay would be as an individual, including accommodation and workspace (see our “Individual Retreats” page for more details.)
If you are interested in attending in this way, please mention it in your application and we will get back to you to discuss the details.
apply
Applications are currently closed. Keep an eye out for announcements on upcoming dates.
about us
Janne
Janne is a Danish girl, who has now been living for 15 years in the Westfjords of Iceland. Together with her Belgian husband she started up Simbahöllin coffeehouse and The Westfjords Residency. They now also have two kids who have grown up in Thingeyri. She loves baking and exploring new food, as well as analyzing and speculating in human psychology. The latter led her to first study literature for 6 years, and recently start a 2-year coaching education at the Danish Enneagram School in Randers. She has hosted residencies in the village for the last 6 years and considers herself more or less a local Þingeyrian.
Su
Su is a Scottish-Portuguese artist, musician and producer who creates and performs under the alias, SHHE. Her eponymous debut album was released by One Little Independent Records in 2019. She returned in late 2018 to continue work on D Ý R A, a multidisciplinary project which uses landscape and sleep as a method for creating sound and exploring altered states of consciousness. She is currently developing this project alongside a team of digital designers and sound and light specialists with support from Creative Scotland. A keen mountaineer, she has summitted some of the world’s highest peaks, including Mt Kilimanjaro and Mt Toubkal, alongside countless munros in the Highlands of her native home.
Isobel
Isobel is a Seattlite currently living in London, who has worked with Simbahöllin since 2011 in both the coffeehouse and the Westfjords Residency. She received her yoga teaching certification from the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre in Kerala and teaches dynamic vinyasa flow classes that will get your heart rate up and inner fire going! She is also an anthropologist by training and likes to chat all things culture. She is equally passionate about baking and cooking tasty and healthy vegetarian and vegan food, and co-published the Simbahollin Cookbook with Janne.
tentative itinerary
Day 1:
Bus pick up in Reykjavik (exact time TBD)
Arrive from Reykjavik, afternoon coffee and free time to settle in
19:00 Group dinner
Day 2:
Morning coffee and introductions
Village tour
14:00 Self Remembering : Presenting the Enneagram (with afternoon coffee - 2 hours)
19:00 Dinner
21:00 Live music meditation (45 mins)
Day 3:
10:00 Yoga (60 minutes)
14:00 Self Remembering : Building on Enneagram framework (with afternoon coffee – 2 hours)
19:00 Dinner
Day 4:
10:00 Yoga (60 minutes)
Free day (with afternoon coffee available)
19:00 Dinner
Day 5:
10:00 Yoga (60 minutes)
13:00 Self Remembering : Guided individual exercises (with afternoon coffee – 2 hours)
19:00 Dinner
20:00-23:00 Group activity (TBD, depending on what the group would like to do)
Day 6:
10:00 Yoga (60 minutes)
14:00 Self-remembering : Journaling, personal reflection, creative expression in the way that suits you (with afternoon coffee – 2 hours)
19:00 Dinner
21:00 Live music meditation (75 mins)
Day 7:
Morning coffee
Free day (Possible guided hike, depending on weather)
19:00 Dinner
Day 8:
10:00 Yoga (60 minutes)
14:00 Self Remembering : Group discussion, questions, time to reflect (with afternoon coffee – 2 hours)
19:00 Dinner
21:00 Open night - Group sharing and presentation to village residents in the coffeehouse
Day 9:
10:00 Yoga (60 minutes)
Free day
19:00 Dinner
Day 10:
Morning coffee and brunch
Travel back to Reykjavik
CREATIVE VOLUNTEERING
INDIVIDUAL RETREATS