The upcoming edition of Quarantine, titled Strange Heaven, will take place from October 20 – 26, 2025, on the secluded Lazaretto Island located in the port of Mahón in Menorca, Spain. The event later this year will gather 75 artists from around the globe, along with seven esteemed mentors: JAW Cooper, Vincent Desiderio, Ruprecht von Kaufmann, Laurie Lipton, Edward Povey, Tania Rivilis, and Yasha Young.
For those unfamiliar, Quarantine is more than an art retreat. It is an experiment in creative isolation, designed to strip away distractions and force deep artistic engagement. The choice of location is intentional: an island within an island, thus contributing a double layer of seclusion.
Within the island, hundreds of artists have now been transformed. We spoke with Quarantine to learn more.
Disconnect to Reconnect
One of Quarantine’s fundamental rules is a strict no-phone policy. While this may seem like a questionable choice to some, their reasoning is relatable. In an age where screens dominate every interaction, Quarantine pushes participants into raw, real-world connections.
“Something about not having phones compelled people to speak to one another.” Shares previous attendee Alessandra Bocchi. “It made us reflect on the fact that this was what real life consisted of: awkward, spontaneous conversations ending in lasting connections. We weren’t taking a break from our daily lives; we were living life as it was meant to be before screens filled our sense of inadequacy – a necessary sentiment of discomfort that can lead to the most beautiful surprises. […] They accomplished their mission to unlock the artist within me. […] My friends and I discussed how it triggered an existential crisis in us – in the best way.”
And Alessandra isn’t alone. Many previous attendees have expressed how the absence of their phone forced them into conversation, concentration and reflection that they wouldn’t have otherwise had. Ultimately, this new headspace is integral in order to be fully present within Quarantine’s transformative programmes.
“It’s hard for me to describe the emotions I experienced during the Quarantine. There was wonder, there were tears (of happiness, sadness, letting go), there was freedom.” shares another attendee, Paulina Wojewodzic. “I went through a crisis on the third day, doubting my abilities and the path I was on. The next day everything disappeared, and I felt absolute joy in creating. The exercises were not just about painting/drawing. We went through many exercises that freed our minds from blocks, fears, and worries.”
Take a moment to consider how often you touch, look at, or interact with your phone. For most, being off your device for long periods of time is a rare phenomenon in a world of constant digital noise. Perhaps we can all learn to disconnect a little more, to better reconnect with more meaningful opportunities right in front of us.
Looking Each Other in the Eye
“Artists tend to be more social with their work than with their peers.” muses Carles Gomila, the founder of Quarantine. “Quarantine disrupts this norm, dismantling barriers, even for the most introverted participants.”
Structured around an emotional arc, the week takes participants from initial disorientation and, quite quickly, into deep camaraderie. The location itself – a former 18th-century quarantine island – creates an atmosphere of otherworldly introspection, where the usual distractions of daily life fade away, allowing space for profound creative breakthroughs. Constantly pushing forward to offer something new on each programme, Quarantine even offers benefits for those who have been before:
Returning to Quarantine Events was yet again, pure magic. People kept asking if it was different the second time around and the answer is: yes. I was able to deepen the learning I began in April with a new group of unique and beautiful people.
What’s more though is that this inner work has humbled me. Not just facing my demons, but tenderly cradling them while they share their wisdom, has grounded and relaxed my heart.
Cheryl Juracich
Participants describe the experience as a hero’s journey, confronting their own egos not in isolation, but together. By the end of the week, they often find something they didn’t even know they were searching for: a sense of artistic community. This connection reshapes their perspectives – on their work, on themselves, and on the way they live their creativity. It is a reminder that true artistic growth requires an environment free from the noise of modern life, where only humanity and art remain.
Quarantine Events: A “Cult” or a Necessity?
There is a lot of secrecy surrounding Quarantine, instigated first and foremost by the company themselves. From the scrupulous selection process to the “no event documentation” rule (at least, not through phones!), this lack of public information has led some outsiders to label it a “cult”. Those who have attended, however – including this year’s mentors – have a different perspective. They argue that if this is a “cult”, it is one designed not to restrict, but to liberate its members. Whatever negative connotations are often linked to the idea of a cult cannot be easily applied when liberation is the philosophy at its core.
‘Did I just join a cult?’ That was the first thought that crossed my mind as I stepped off the boat onto Lazaretto Island. [But] magic happened behind those stone walls. I’ve met so many incredible, global artists, and through creation, meditation, and exploration within and out, we became transformed.
The Quarantine art program has been nothing less than life changing. It has given me a global family and far-reaching connections. Because of Quarantine, I have friends on every corner of the globe.
Morgan Allen
Reflecting on his experience, mentor Edward Povey remarked, “I cannot explain to anyone how the Quarantine concept works, because it is experiential. There is only one way that you can find out how successful it is, and that is to sign up, come to it, and throw yourself into it. It works. I was there. I saw it.”
Similarly, past mentor Phil Hale described the event as “Those ten days… totally blew my mind. I’m still gluing it back together. The sheer sustained open curious vibe and interactions and development and now, afterwards, the chance to apply everything I learned. A genuinely profound and beautiful experience.”
This has been a pretty amazing and eye-opening journey, full-on intense with loads of hard work. And you know what? As the days roll on, it hits me more and more just how exceptional this whole thing is. Only time will give us the full picture to truly understand the massive shift that’s happening right now on this island.
Tomás Lucas
In a world that has forgotten how to communicate face to face, perhaps a so-called “cult” like Quarantine is simply a way to rebuild something we’ve lost: the ability to look each other in the eyes and truly connect.
Strange Heaven: October 2025
If you are interested in learning more, the Quarantine website has a fascinating section of unsolicited testimonials, and I encourage you to have a look to read more real-world responses about what Quarantine are building and creating.
Quarantine’s event Strange Heaven will be taking place in October 2025: “This isn’t a course.” Quarantine explains. “It’s a surgical experiment designed to cut you out of the student mindset for good. Our programs work with alarming precision. If you’re serious about change, this is where it happens.”
Now is the time to apply – don’t miss out!
Feature image by upcoming mentor, Tania Rivilis.
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