CURATED ART
WEEKEND
WEEKEND HIGHLIGHTS
30th January – 2nd February 2025
4 days / 3 nights accommodation at El Fenn
Single occupancy (1 person) from €2509 / £2123 / $2760 (excluding flights & travel insurance)
Joint occupancy (2 people) from €4034 / £3413 / $4437 (excluding flights & travel insurance)
- A private tour of the El Fenn art collection with co-owner Vanessa Branson
- Exclusive access to the VIP preview of 1-54 Art Fair
- An invite to the preview of El Fenn x Loft Gallery exhibition
- A half-day visit to one of the city’s most exciting art foundations and its art-filled gardens
- Three nights accommodation in one of El Fenn’s beautiful bedrooms
- Welcome drinks with Vanessa plus breakfasts, one lunch & three dinners with wine
- Return transfers to Marrakech airport
- Time for yourself to discover more about your passion for art & forge new friendships with people who share it
El Fenn means art and it’s always been at the heart of what we do. Our new curated weekend experience will allow you to deep dive into the dynamic local scene and meet El Fenn co-owner, gallerist and collector Vanessa Branson
The three-night trip is running during the launch of the Marrakech edition of the renowned 154 Art Fair. You’ll have access to its VIP preview, as well as a new El Fenn exhibition, plus the chance to explore our art collection and Marrakech’s exciting gallery scene.
Just 24 places are available on this inspiring long weekend that also offers the chance to meet fellow art lovers and discover our unique city with them.
‘I can’t wait to introduce people to the exciting art scene here in Marrakech,’ says Vanessa. ‘The creative energy in Africa is unique and during 1-54 the city is filled with makers, gallerists and curators. This weekend will offer a chance for people to really experience it all.’
Parts of the weekend will be accompanied, and others will be self-guided to allow you to explore the art and galleries of your choosing.
YOUR ITINERARY
Day 1
We’ll pick you up from your flight to Marrakech airport, check you in to El Fenn and then you can explore the hotel at your leisure. Sunset welcome drinks will be hosted by Vanessa on our roof terrace before you head downstairs to the opening of a new exhibition we’re doing in collaboration with Loft Art Gallery to mark the 1-54 event. Then get to know the rest of the group over a delicious Moroccan dinner in our candlelit rooftop restaurant.
Day 2
After breakfast with a side of sunshine and Atlas Mountains views, you’ll head off to tour the El Fenn art collection with Vanessa. She’ll talk you through our 20-year curation of contemporary painting, sculpture and photography by European artists including William Kentridge, Sir Terry Frost and David Shrigley, as well as work by some of Morocco – and Africa’s – best known creators such as Hassan Hajjaj, Yto Barrada, Ali Maimoun and Abelmalik Berhiss. Lunch will be our rooftop and you’ll then walk to view the 1-54 VIP preview at La Mamounia and DaDa Gallery. That night, you’ll go to one of the city’s newest contemporary restaurants for dinner.
Day 3
Have breakfast at your leisure before a half-day trip to one of Marrakech’s most exciting – and beautiful – art galleries. The Montresso Foundation has been nurturing talent since 2009 through residencies, exhibitions and partnerships. Today, it’s a really vital space with a permanent collection of contemporary art. As well as the exhibition spaces, there’s also a stunning sculpture garden. The afternoon is yours to spend either alone or in groups to explore the art scene here in Marrakech with the help of our guided art walk detailing who’s exhibiting where, as well as key cultural sites. We’ll also suggest some great places for lunch along the way. The final dinner of the weekend will be in our stunning candlelit Orange Courtyard.
Day 4
Enjoy your final breakfast before leaving for your flight. Or book an extra night or two with a 15% discount to give yourself time to relax in the El Fenn spa or discover the medina.
‘I can’t wait to introduce people to the exciting art scene here in Marrakech. The creative energy in Africa is unique and this weekend will offer a chance for people to really experience it all.’ Vanessa Branson
BOOKING
Booking goes live on Wednesday 16th October.
Click on the button below to email your name and preferred room size to request a place. We’ll then contact you to confirm a place.
Places are limited to 8 single occupancy rooms and 8 double occupancy rooms and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.
ABOUT VANESSA BRANSON
Vanessa opened her first gallery in London in 1986 where she showed emerging artists including William Kentridge’s UK debut exhibition. She also co-founded and curated the Wonderful Fund Collection with Prue O’Day – nearly 100 works of contemporary art by people including Sarah Lucas, Grayson Petty, Jake & Dinos Chapman, Tracey Emin and Gavin Turk.
Vanessa opened El Fenn in 2004 with her business partner Howell James and was also the Founding President of the Marrakech Biennale, North Africa’s only trilingual arts festival – comprising visual art, literature and film programs featuring acclaimed international and Moroccan artists.
In October 2014, she was awarded the Royal distinction of Officer of the Order of Ouissam Alaouite, a Royal honour in recognition of the contribution she has made to the Moroccan cultural scene and, in particular, for her efforts in establishing Marrakech as a richly diverse and eclectic platform for the arts.
ABOUT EL FENN
El Fenn opened in 2004 and has captured the imagination of a generation of travellers ever since with its trademark design: one part bohemian, another luxury, always a celebration of Moroccan craftsmanship. This unique feeling of home-away-from-home meets cool has seen it namechecked everywhere from Vogue to Architectural Digest. We’ve also been included on Conde Nast Traveler’s Gold List four times and The goop List 2024.
ACCOMMODATION
All our rooms feature our signature blend of traditional Moroccan artisanal decoration meets a mix of vintage and contemporary furniture and art from the El Fenn private collection. Colour-soaked and playful, each one is unique. You’ll also have access to our three swimming pools and gorgeous spa if you want to book a treatment or hammam.
Retreat Pricing by Room Category:
SMALL ROOMS – each of these colourful rooms has a king size bed and a walk-in shower.
Price for a small room, single occupancy only. €2509 / £2123 / $2760
MEDIUM ROOMS – each of these more spacious rooms has a king size bed, small seating area, open fire and either an oversized bathtub or a walk-in shower.
Price for a medium room, single occupancy only. €2728 / £2309 / $3001
LARGE ROOMS – larger rooms with a substantial indoor or outdoor seating area plus an open wood fire. Each has an oversized bathtub with a separate shower.
Price for a large room, joint occupancy. €4034 / £3413 / $4437
Price for a large room, single occupancy. €3056 / £2586 / $3362
EXTRA LARGE ROOMS – the ultimate in El Fenn style. These huge rooms are sumptuously styled with a large lounge area, open fireplace and a separate large bathroom.
Price for an extra large room, joint occupancy. €4363 / £3691 / $4799
Price for a large room, single occupancy. €3385 / £2864 / $3723
ACCOMMODATION
All our rooms feature our signature blend of traditional Moroccan artisanal decoration meets a mix of vintage and contemporary furniture and art from the El Fenn private collection. Colour-soaked and playful, each one is unique. You’ll also have access to our three swimming pools and gorgeous spa if you want to book a treatment or hammam.
Retreat Pricing by Room Category:
SMALL ROOMS – each of these colourful rooms has a king size bed and a walk-in shower.
Price for a small room, single occupancy only. €2509 / £2123 / $2760
MEDIUM ROOMS – each of these more spacious rooms has a king size bed, small seating area, open fire and either an oversized bathtub or a walk-in shower.
Price for a medium room, single occupancy only. €2728 / £2309 / $3001
LARGE ROOMS – larger rooms with a substantial indoor or outdoor seating area plus an open wood fire. Each has an oversized bathtub with a separate shower.
Price for a large room, joint occupancy. €4034 / £3413 / $4437
Price for a large room, single occupancy. €3056 / £2586 / $3362
EXTRA LARGE ROOMS – the ultimate in El Fenn style. These huge rooms are sumptuously styled with a large lounge area, open fireplace and a separate large bathroom.
Price for an extra large room, joint occupancy. €4363 / £3691 / $4799
Price for a large room, single occupancy. €3385 / £2864 / $3723
YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED
The program on day one of the retreat starts at 6pm with welcome drinks on the roof terrace with Vanessa Branson followed by an exclusive preview and meet with the artist in residence in collaboration with the LOFT Gallery.
3 nights accommodation at El Fenn, breakfast and afternoon tea, one El Fenn signature lunch, 3 dinners with wine and entrance to 1:54 and Montresso Art Foundation.
- Your flights and your travel insurance
- Your airport of origin transfers
- Lunch on day 3
- Any additional wine or soft drinks outside of those provided during meals
Absolutely! If you want to arrive the day before the retreat starts – or stay on for a night or two afterwards to explore Marrakech a bit more then we’ll be offering retreat attendees a 15% discount on our best rates.
Bright. The average temperature in January is around 20C so think blue skies and sunshine by day. There is an outside chance of rain though so bear that in mind. It’s also wise to layer up because the nights at this time of year are cooler and even during the day you’ll be moving between the heat of the sun to cooler inside spaces.
El Fenn is a casual kind of place so whatever you feel comfortable in. You’ll be walking for some parts of the weekend so bear that in mind. And also January nights can get cold so while fires will be lit and bedrooms cosy, you’ll need some extra layers to wrap up particularly if you’re outside.
The afternoon of day 3 has been left for you to explore galleries at your leisure.
Booking is via email through the links on this webpage. You will be required to pay 50% deposit to secure your place.
You may cancel at anytime up to 8 weeks before and receive your deposit back minus 5% administration fee. If you cancel within 8 weeks (5th December) we are unable to refund your deposit so please make sure you have suitable travel insurance in place.
IS THERE SOMETHING ELSE YOU’D LIKE TO KNOW?
