“Leading the Future for Peace”
An exclusive retreat for families to explore the nature of personal and global conflict and how to build a better and more peaceful world for us all
An invitation
We believe that our world is in need of bold, courageous, and creative leaders who prioritise a larger sense of humanity over ego and take into account environmental, social and ethical considerations when leading. Who better to offer the chance to develop this version of leadership than young people, our future global leaders?
This three-day family retreat on the topic of peace and global security through the eyes of children and young people is co-lead by blind opera singer Laurie Rubin and composer Jenny Taira. During the three days, you will have an opportunity to take part in interactive performances, workshops and discussions with adults and young children from across the world to explore ways in which we can better build peace together, both in our own personal lives but also ‘out there’ in the big wide world.
This retreat will include excerpts from Peace on your Wings, a groundbreaking production on the story of the atomic bomb, as a cautionary tale of the dangers of global conflict.
You and your family will leave inspired, connected, with precious memories of magical experiences, and clear ideas of next steps that you can take as a family to build a better world
Summer Camp for Peace
Led by guest artists Laurie Rubin and Jenny Taira, both young people and adults have found their work to be profoundly inspiring, enlivening, and self affirming. These two artists not only lead participants through powerful workshops that engage hearts, minds, and spirits, but also lead by their own example, sharing authentic stories from their own lives and inspiring participants of all ages to play full out in their own lives
Watch a powerful video that Laurie and Jenny made on bullying from one of their past projects with young people.
Your Retreat (provisional)
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Setting the Stage
Arrival in Pau and transfer to Clos de Gaye
Introduction to The Centre for the Arts and Global Leadership, Clos de Gaye, and the Festival for the Arts and Social Change
Dinner in the gardens at Clos de Gaye
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Leading the Future
Workshop exploring the nature of conflict and the skills needed to build more peaceful societies
Picnic and Afternoon walk through the mountains
Evening performance from Laurie and Jennie
Post-performance discussion
Dinner
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Peace on our Wings
Transfer to the Basque coast
Morning discussion on the beach on what it would take to build a roadmap for peace lead by young people
Lunch discussion on building new narratives for change
Afternoon walk through St Jean de Luz
Boat trip to San Sebastian
Dinner
Transfer back to Pau
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When the show ends, what begins?
Morning trip to the Chateau de Pau
Lunch on building new narratives for change at Palais Beaumont
Workshop and discussion with Laurie and Jenny
Plan of action
Dinner
What you and your child will get
COLLABORATE with a diverse cohort that values partnership, respect, and empathy.
RESPOND to the needs of the group knowing their own needs will also be met.
ENGAGE in a process that enhances critical and creative thinking.
AWAKEN and share the unique artistic qualities inherent in each of us.
TRANSFORM challenges into opportunities with joy and hope.
EMPOWER themselves and each other knowing what they do impacts the world.
A unique experience, unlike any other, the extraordinary beauty of south west France, overlooking the Pyrénées, on the border with Spain, with tremendously talented artists, eager to share their talents with you and your family to enable you to leave inspired and invigorated
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.
Each retreat takes place against the backdrop of some of the most beautiful corners of south west France
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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
Clos de Gaye
Extraordinary experiences where the world comes together for impact
New collection.
Immersing yourself in nature, accommodation will be provided either on the Clos de Gaye estate, in a nearby chateau or, for those who like a more adventurous experience, in our ‘stargazer’ bell tents, with ‘glamping’ style toilets and showers. All food and activities will be provided onsite in multiple beautiful locations across the Clos de Gaye estate.
When the show ends, what begins?
These retreats ask the big questions. We seek to use our ability to come together to take our responsibility as leaders to be custodians of the future and to listen and learn to the young people and what it is that they need for a more peaceful and harmonious world.
Each retreat has a storyteller, someone who accompanies us on the journey, to listen, learn and reflect on what is discussed and to work together with the whole group for an action plan that ensures we deliver concrete and tangible outcomes that are accountable to all those not in the room, to build a better world for all.
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 using the arts to effect large-scale social change, Caroline is also a masterful hostess and creator of extraordinary experiences.
Caroline Watson, Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum, Harvard, Yale, INSEAD, Oxford
Getting Here
From your home to Clos de Gaye
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.
Dates
18th to 22nd August 2025
Come together with some of the world’s foremost leaders to take part in transformative discussions, performances and experiences that will change the world.
Price
Individual 10,000 euros plus sales tax (20%) per individual
15,000 for a couple
25,000 for 2 adults and up to 3 children
The retreat can also be paid for through our US-based 501 (c) 3 as a charitable donation
Included:
All workshops, talks, dinners, and performances
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, the Basque coast and Spain
Year-long group coaching and additional learning content for the 12 months surrounding the retreat experience
We also offer additional one-to-one coaching options to accompany your journey and enable you to work on targeted issues in your leadership journey, as desire
As a socially-entrepreneurial for-profit company, The Centre for the Arts and Global Leadership uses all profits from our summits and retreats to support 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.
Ready to take the next step?
