Community Membership

Your year-long creative journey awaits

  • Over four courses led by our mentors-in-residence, Lavinia Spalding and Colette Hannahan, you’ll build holistic storytelling skills through an immersive practice of travel sketching, painting, and writing.

    Online courses will be held twice a year, winter and fall. Flights will include five writing and four art sessions.

    All sessions will be recorded.

  • Find inspiration from conversations with renowned artists and brilliant creative minds. Thoughtful one-hour discussions are facilitated by our mentors-in-residence with the opportunity for community Q&A.

    All guest chats are recorded.

  • Kickstart creativity with mentor-led prompt sessions including 30 minutes of writing + 30 minutes of art. Drop in for a half hour or enjoy both.

    Group meet-ups will provide ongoing accountability, collaboration, and camaraderie with mentor drop-ins and Q&A’s. Salons range from essay polishing sessions to pitch parlors.

  • Ongoing WhatsApp group chat available for real-time group interactions and community sharing. Topic-based channels such as word harvest, creative practices, and pitching + submissions sustain momentum.

Mentor-Led Community

  • Immersive Teachings

  • Notable Guests

  • Salons + Prompt Studios

Interwoven Creativity

The Art of Journal Sketching

Four-Week Generative Art w/Colette Hannahan

In these experiential and meditative sessions, we’ll have fun developing our painting and sketching skills while building a travel journaling practice we can take with us on journeys—both at home and abroad—through various prompts and mini art lessons,

Two flights per year. One per semester

Travel Writing That Moves

Five-Week Writing Course w/Lavinia Spalding

In this generative course, we’ll discuss the essential elements of strong storytelling and develop new essays from beginning to end. We’ll write together from innovative prompts, read inspiring published essays, and share supportive, constructive feedback.

Two courses per year. One per semester

Notable Guest Creatives of 2024

  • Don George

  • Candace Rose Rardon

  • Natalie Baszile

  • Paul Madonna

  • Eric Weiner

  • Colleen Kinder

“I love the idea of Unfurl's creative community, a sustained and ever-deepening gathering of creators sharing their works and their dreams in an intimate setting. And I love the leaders guiding that journey -- the wonderful and wonderfully talented duo of Lavinia Spalding and Colette Hannahan!

I had the immense pleasure of being a guest at one of the group's early gatherings, and I immediately wanted to stop everything else and just Unfurl!”

-- Don George, legendary travel writer and editor. He is currently Editor at Large for National Geographic Travel.

The Yearlong Community

  • The Unfurl

    Our main WhatsApp channel where we share travels, trends, craft essays, poems, stories, book recommendations, quotes, art, etc.

  • Word Harvest

    A playful WhatsApp channel where we share dynamic words that elevate our relationship with language.

  • The Practice

    A WhatsApp channel where we share ongoing practices (poetry reading, journaling, color mixing, sketching, etc.) to nurture consistency.

  • Pitching + Submitting

    This WhatsApp channel is where we share submission and contest opportunities, collaborate, and celebrate rejections and wins.

  • Pitch Parlor

    In these Zoom sessions hosted by guest mentor/freelance travel writer, you’ll have the chance to ask publishing questions and brainstorm pitches.

  • Mentor Office Hours

    In these Zoom sessions, community members can ask mentors direct questions about craft, process, and opportunities.

  • Essay Polishing Sessions

    These community Zoom gatherings support the revision process, with a collaborative effort to meet submission goals.

  • 1-1 Coaching Sessions

    Members-only discounted personal coaching and manuscript consultations. This is incremental to the membership fee.

A home for unfurling creative wonder.

We are curious life explorers.

We see travel as an opportunity to broaden perspective and connect with the larger world. 

We thrive in community.

We collaborate and cheer to ignite possibilities. We place supreme value on maintaining a safe, positive, inclusive, and supportive group. 

We seek a more creative life.

We escape comfort zones and challenge ourselves. We inhabit life fully, finding inspiration and adventure through art and place.

We crave accountability.

We strive for creative growth and commit to ongoing practices that help us achieve and sustain personal goals.

We invest in ourselves.

We carve out time and resources for meaningful pursuits. We value experiences that promote learning and wellbeing.

We develop our attention and intention.

We surround ourselves with teachers and community who help us discover our own potential.

Join the Unfurl Community

With a membership, you join a dynamic collective of creative explorers. All levels are welcome at Studio Unfurl.

Become a Member

Limited spots available.

Membership re-opens December 11, 2024.

Community 2.0 launches January 21, 2025

Start the journey.