Reimagining Bloomsbury
November 2025
The most extraordinary experience of your life
Three days in the foothills of the Pyrénées, with some of the most forward thinking artists, thought leaders and entrepreneurs, participating in an immersive and experiential learning journey that will bring healing to our world
In a time of huge turbulence, with the breakdown of the old global order, an opportunity to come together and support the emergence of the next generation of artist-change-makers to reimagine the role of the arts for our time.
Co-hosted by Caroline Watson and artist Rebecca Taber, with the next generation of artists, global thought leaders and cultural shapers from Nigeria, China, India, South Africa, Palestine and the Middle East, Iran and Europe as we transform Clos de Gaye into the new Charleston.
An opportunity for curators, art collectors and donors passionate about the role of the arts in shaping our world anew
Come together with others from around the world to meet outstanding emerging artists from the Global South, each with something beautiful and important to say about our world
Take part in inspirational workshops that develop your own artistry, aesthetic sense and leadership skills, whilst getting to know these incredible artists
Wine and dine in the beautiful Clos de Gaye estate, experiencing immersive exhibitions, installations and exhilarating discussions on the future of artistic leadership in the emerging world
Help co-create a vision of support and empowerment for young, female, and diverse talent from around the world and make their work a pivotal part of your collection and impact in the world
Why ‘Bloomsbury’?
The Bloomsbury group were an influential group of artists, writers, economists and thought leaders - Virginia Wolf, Roger Fry, JM Keynes - who wished to raise the profile of the arts in our world. Inspired by their vision, we seek to build on their legacy to shape a new way of thinking of the role the arts can play in global leadership, peace-building and reframing the relationship between the individual and society.
Schedule
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Setting the Scene
Arrival in Pau and transfer to Clos de Gaye
Getting to know you: Introduction to The Centre for the Arts and Global Leadership, Clos de Gaye, and to each other
Dinner at Clos de Gaye
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Memory and Emotion (1)
Each day is divided into two halves, each session led by Preeti and Clarice who will warm up, lead and integrate each other’s works into a seamless experience for the participants.
Each session explores a critical memory from each participant alongside 2 key emotional states (with a total of 6 for this series) that we carry within ourselves and use to respond to ourselves and the world.Evening walk through the mountains and Ten-Toasts Dinner at l’Etable d’Ossau
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Memory and Emotion (2)
Transfer to St Jean de Luz for workshop on the beach
Each day begins and ends with a reflection where participants can journal their journeys in the creative way best suited to their needs (art, writing, dancing, talking etc)
Each day’s sessions scaffold into the next building a modern ‘mandala’ of emotional experiences and reflections.Dinner and return to Clos de Gaye
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When the show ends, what begins?
The final day will be a day when participants prepare to present themselves to their group. As leaders, each participant is encouraged to challenge themselves to step out of their comfort zone to identify an imaginary location or space they have never experienced and use the last few days workshop on embodied learning to reproach themselves as leaders as how they wish to be, and be experienced by others.
The goal of the workshop series is to distill key skills and tools for oneself as well as a group that reveal alternate ways of collaborating, and working solo. Self healing, permissions, listening, observing in new and challenging ways are encouraged through these four days of intensive workshop.
The day will culminate with an improvised storytelling session with all participants encouraged to come in and out of this session to form a continuous flow of thoughts, reactions, explorations and fun!
Transfer to Chateau de Pau for visit; dinner at Palais Beaumont
Welcome to Clos de Gaye!
Clos de Gaye (pronounced ‘guy’) means ‘Place of Joy’ and it is at once a private home, a residential retreat, a creative and artistic workspace, organic farm, community kitchen, restaurant and tea house, and a convening ground for global leaders, artists, creatives, entrepreneurs and all those charged with the care and governance of our planet. Think of it as the meeting point between the Bloomsbury set’s Charleston and Camp David. It is a place to stay, to play, to share and to transform our world.
The spirit of Clos de Gaye is one of contribution, generosity and accountability. Those that have a seat of the table have arrived there through hard work and a genuine desire to be of service to the world. Time spent here is for you to reflect on what has been achieved so far and to be a springboard into future leadership and the continued desire to be a force for good in the world.
Deep in the heart of the French countryside, embedded in the ‘old world’ rises a new way of thinking about the future. The best of European heritage, beauty and aesthetic, with interiors from all over the world, reflecting our founder’s upbringing in Asia, and bringing energy, dynamism and a sense of inclusion of the new world.
An opportunity to reclaim the very best of European culture and values, with a renewed way of thinking about its relationship with the rest of the world, restoring humanity to everyone.
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Caroline Watson
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Rebecca Taber
FAQs
Listening Lab
Listening Labs are forums in which moving stories told through powerful spoken word, music, and theatrically projected sand animation facilitate generous listening with fellow participants in conversations that are honest, intimate, and alive.
Ponder to Page
This powerful workshop process is a personal narrative awakening. All of us have stories inside of us — experiences begging to travel the path from our minds to written lines. But how to do this? In this workshop, literary performer Regie Gibson will take you through his fun, easy, creative, step-by-step process of making small, meaningful written texts out of small, meaningful moments.
Participants come with a few sheets of paper, a writing instrument, and a willingness to listen to those who volunteer to share.
To Those Who Shape Us: A Ten-Toasts Dinner
(*Note: the theme below is a sample. Actual theme and numbers will reflect the participants in each group)
Each of us contains a world of stories about those people who have shaped us. The risks they took, their choices and chances and even the mistakes they may have made make us who we are today. In this special dinner, we will regale each other with meaningful conversation and stories in the form of toasts reflecting a theme drawn from our time together: To Those Who Shape Us.
Guests dine in groups of 8-10 fellow travelers who you do not know each other (yet!). At some point in the dinner, each guest is invited to ding their glass and share a brief story or experience that ideally no one at the table has heard before, relating to our theme: A story about (e.g. a person that shaped the teller), and about a way the teller was changed. At the end of their story, the teller raises their glass and toasts to an element or value their story highlights (e.g. to those who taught us resilience!) and invites all others in their group to raise their glasses as well.
The only other rule is that the last person has to sing their toast!
Together, these three extraordinary artists blend their experiences of global leadership, the search for identity and belonging, and their multi-cultural identities to forge new ways of thinking about the challenges and opportunities of our time
All retreats and high-impact summits are lead by Caroline Watson, visionary founder of The Centre for the Arts and Global Leadership, and the Global Arts Impact Agenda. An award-winning entrepreneur, Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum (Davos) and a talented performer herself, using the arts to effect large-scale social change across the world, Caroline is the owner of Clos de Gaye and a masterful hostess and creator of extraordinary experiences.
Caroline Watson, Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum, Harvard, Yale, INSEAD, Oxford
Coach and leadership development expert to global heads of state, corporate executives and world leaders.
Unfolding your leadership potential
Clos de Gaye
Extraordinary experiences where the world comes together for impact
Welcome to Clos de Gaye, a unique and special place in the far southwest of France, in the foothills of the Pyrenees, close to the border of Spain and the stunning Basque coast.
Clos de Gaye (pronounced ‘guy’) means ‘Place of Happiness’ and it is at once a private home, a residential retreat, a creative and artistic workspace, organic farm, community kitchen, restaurant and tea house, and a convening ground for global leaders, artists, creatives, entrepreneurs and all those charged with the care and governance of our planet. Think of it as the meeting point between the Bloomsbury set’s Charleston and Camp David. It is a place to stay, to play, to share and to transform our world.
The spirit of Clos de Gaye is one of contribution, generosity and accountability. Those that have a seat of the table have arrived there through hard work and a genuine desire to be of service to the world. Time spent here is for you to reflect on what has been achieved so far and to be a springboard into future leadership and the continued desire to be a force for good in the world.
Deep in the heart of the French countryside, embedded in the ‘old world’ rises a new way of thinking about the future. The best of European heritage, beauty and aesthetic, with interiors from all over the world, reflecting our founder’s upbringing in Asia, and bringing energy, dynamism and a sense of inclusion of the new world.
An opportunity to reclaim the very best of European culture and values, with a renewed way of thinking about its relationship with the rest of the world, restoring humanity to everyone.
Each summit-retreat takes place against the backdrop of some of the most beautiful corners of south west France and includes visits to the following places
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The Pic du Midi d’Ossau
Evening picnic on the Plateau de Benou
Stunning views from Clos de Gaye
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Soothing effect of the ocean
Dramatic waves
Award-winning cuisine
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Culture
Heritage
History
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Elegance
Sophistication
Refinement
Accommodation will be provided on the Clos de Gaye estate, at nearby Clos Mirabel or at Secret Pyrénées nearby. It is also possible to stay in our luxury ‘stargazer’ bell tents on the grounds of Fischer’s Farm (weather depending).
All meals are prepared using fresh, local, and often organic ingredients, sourced either from Fischer’s Farm itself or from local providers in the Béarn and Basque regions.
Clos de Gaye is situated in the Jurancon wine region and there will be thoughtful pairings of wine and other non-alcoholic drinks with each meal.
Our spaces are unique, artistic and soulful.
Each retreat is part of a year-long learning journey lead by Caroline herself that comes with an individual, one-to-one personal development leadership programme, as well as a group coaching Masterclass development programme, ‘The Art of Leadership’ , based on her own experience as an award-winning leader and entrepreneur.
Caroline is no ordinary coach. Departing from a very technical approach, that focuses on externally-driven directives, Caroline works at a deeper level with her coachees to support their spiritual growth and the emergence of much more refined thought about their leadership. Sought after by corporate executives, heads of state and leaders from across the world, a coaching experience with Caroline will uncover layers of beauty, authenticity and substance in both your personal and professional journey, to help you emerge as the transformational leader our world really needs.
Following the retreat, our team members will work with you to shape the inspiration you received during the retreat into tangible and concrete action to make a difference in the world. We will support you over a 3, 6, 9 and 12 month timeline to bring to fruition your vision from the retreat, leveraging our world-class networks, to ensure that your time spent with us has real world impact.
There will also be bi-monthly networking opportunities to continue to grow, learn and share with others from your cohort to ensure the transformation you go through is deeply embedded in your everyday life.
All participants are also invited to be life-long members of our ‘Higher Order’ Leadership community, offering ongoing networking opportunities and continued benefits into the future.
When the show ends, what begins?
These retreats ask the big questions. They are part of a series of high-level ‘retreat summits’ held on the Clos de Gaye estate each summer and autumn, lead by the founder of The Centre for the Arts and Global Leadership, Caroline Watson,
They re-imagine our world.
Transformational experiences, they are an exploration into our deeper humanity.
We use the arts to unlock a deeper level of discussion, and then explore how the arts can also be applied to solving the greatest challenges of our time.
For more information about the full ‘summit retreat’ programme and how your participation will be part of larger world-changing initiatives, click below
Make it
Our retreats bring together exceptional people from all over the world - corporate, government and civil society leaders, academics, artists and cultural leaders - all those with a desire to bring about positive impact in our world.
By bringing together such a diverse mix of people, your own networks will expand in truly global ways and opportunities for collaboration on large-scale issues across the world will unfold.
Outcomes
● Moving and memorable experiences connecting fellow leaders from very different cultures and backgrounds
● Get to know each other as fellow humans by listening to one another, and being heard.
● Explore one’s own backstories in surprising and refreshing ways. Increase understanding of each other's differences, shared values and experiences and what has brought us to our current perspectives, concerns, aspirations, fears, and joys.
● Draw upon artistic experience and creative processes that use the power of human curiosity to traverse expanded terrains, aligning thoughts, emotions and actions.
● Participate in an extraordinary experience, guided by a team of world-class artist facilitators, that is powerful enough that it becomes the start of ongoing relationships, connections and perspective shifting that bring about meaningful change in our world
Tangible Outputs for Past Clients
Fundraising and Investment
In working with corporate leaders and government clients, we have helped past participants secure investments for projects, get buy-in for major policy initiatives, and influence key decision-makers at the highest level
Innovation and New Project Ideas
We have helped multi-national clients develop ideas for new industries in emerging markets, advocate for policy changes and rethink both local and global strategies for large-scale initiatives
Improve Products and Services
We have developed more human-centered approaches to new product development and service provision, ensuring they are more deeply-rooted in what the user needs and effective in their delivery
Leadership and Communication
Empowered the personal leadership of countless global leaders across the world, enabling them to develop the courage and confidence to communicate effectively and lead both ‘upstream’ and ‘downstream’
Change Management, Company Culture and Values
Working with senior management to identify challenges in execution related to company culture and strategy, helping to seed new transformation initiatives and get support from stakeholders at all levels
Getting Here
From your home to Clos de Gaye
Clos de Gaye is situated less than 20 minutes away from both Pau airport and train station in south west France. We are also 50 minutes away from Tarbes/Lourdes airport. Biarritz, Bordeaux and Toulouse are all between 1 - 2 hours drive or train ride.
In keeping with our vision to have a positive impact on the world, all retreats start and end at Gare Montparnasse in Paris, so you can use train travel to ‘set the scene’ on your extraordinary journey and reduce your carbon footprint. We also kindly ask all international visitors to offset the carbon from their plane travel to Paris through a reputable carbon-offsetting scheme.
We suggest that you aim for a plane or train to arrive in Paris on the morning of the retreat date, and to take the 2pm train from Montparnasse to arrive in time for dinner. Transfers from the train station to Clos de Gaye can be arranged ahead of time and the transfer time takes less than 20 minutes.
Dates
8th to 12th October 2025
Come together with some of the world’s foremost leaders to take part in transformative workshops, discussions, performances and experiences that will change the world.
We are also able to offer bespoke retreats for companies and organisations wishing to do this as an offsite.
Investment
10,000 euros per person for retreat alone
25,000 euros per person for the year-long programme, to include one-to-one coaching and leadership development course.
20% sales tax applies
The retreat can also be paid for through our US-based 501 (c) 3 as a charitable donation and offset against taxes.
Included:
Retreat
All workshops, talks, dinners, and performances at the retreat in October
Your Accommodation on the Clos de Gaye estate or a similar property nearby
All your meals, including eating out
Your day trips to the Pyrénées and the Basque coast
Possibility for additional days at Clos de Gaye for individual retreats at reduced price
Year-long personal development programme
All the above plus:
Year-long one-to-one, tailored, leadership development programme for each individual
Group coaching and networking with rest of your cohort for the 12 month period
Additional learning content for the 12 months surrounding the retreat experience through a micro-learning app (Gnowbe)
As a socially-entrepreneurial for-profit company, choosing to work with The Centre for the Arts and Global Leadership creates employment opportunities for artists and creatives, supports low-income and marginalised communities to also take part in extraordinary experiences at Clos de Gaye and elsewhere in the world, so your participation in this retreat also enables others to benefit from the life-transforming effects of our programmes.
Possible side trips to add to your itinerary
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Paris
City of Lights, one of the most romantic capitals in the world, and host of the summer Olympics 2024. An easy train ride from Paris with lots to see and do, we recommend a few days stop here en route to Clos de Gaye when flying internationally.
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Toulouse
Just two hours from Clos de Gaye, this gorgeous ‘pink city’ is unique in France for its distinct architecture and vibrant and youthful spirit. Our partnership with the Hotel des Arts provides a wonderful addition to your stay with us.
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Basque Coast
With it’s dramatic landscape and Michelin-award winning cuisine, the Basque coast and the towns of Bayonne and Biarritz, St Jean de Luz and the Spanish city of San Sebastian make for a stunning driving holiday to finish off your trip.
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Bordeaux
Stunning French city in the heart of the famed wine region, world class dining, and the possibility to visit vineyards, chateaux and the surrounding Dordogne and Landes region
Clos de Gaye
Extraordinary experiences where the world comes together for impact
Because our world needs a new kind of leadership
