Churchill Fellowship Research: What Makes Songwriting Retreats Transformative

In my Churchill Fellowship, I explored how residential songwriting retreats can create powerful environments for creativity, connection and inclusion—factors that strongly support wellbeing and a sense of belonging. With loneliness and social disconnection posing significant risks to mental health, the research examined how intentional community-building within creative settings can make a meaningful difference.

Travelling across the United States, I visited six leading songwriting retreats to study how design, facilitation and group culture shape participants’ creative and emotional experiences. I focused on two core questions:
How do collaborative songwriting retreats foster belonging, connection and creativity?
And which facilitation and community-building models best support inclusive, supportive spaces?

The research showed that the most impactful retreats combine clear structure, emotional safety and intentional inclusivity. When creative challenge is balanced with care and encouragement, participants grow not only artistically but also personally—developing confidence, connection and long-term creative relationships.

Key insights include:

• Treat retreats as communities, not courses, with space for collaboration, reflection and social connection.

• Maintain strong facilitator presence and attention to group energy flow.

• Ensure clarity and accessibility throughout the participant journey.

• Build alumni networks to sustain relationships and ongoing creativity.

• Embed inclusivity at every level, from leadership representation to language and recruitment.

These findings now underpin my work as Director of CHORUS Songwriting CIC, informing the design of inclusive, community-centred songwriting programmes that nurture creativity, confidence and connection across the UK music sector.