retreats and artistic residencies
Stoneham-et-Tewkesbury
Québec, Canada
Grabuge — what is it?
Grabuge is a space for artistic residencies and introspective retreats.
We provide a living environment and facilities ideal for dedicating oneself fully to a project, whether in a professional or personal pursuit.
Accommodation
Accommodation at Grabuge is designed for stays ranging from several days to a few weeks. It takes the form of individual ready-to-camp setups and creative studios in nature, offering simplicity, privacy, and closeness to the land.
A common building provides access to essential amenities, including toilet and shower facilities, as well as a shared kitchen that supports daily life on site.
Grabuge — who is it for?
Grabuge is intended for anyone wishing to step away from their daily routine to focus on a project, a discipline, or introspection, in a rustic natural environment designed to support creation and personal discipline.
Our participants' profiles include:
Who we are
We are Gabriel and Pénélope. Since 2024, we have chosen to live on the road in a van in order to simplify our daily lives and devote more time to our relationship with the land, with culture, and with our respective disciplines.
In the fall of 2024, we co-managed an outdoor meditation centre in Arizona. This experience allowed us to deepen our skills in retreat facilitation, the coordination of a community venue in nature, and the day-to-day management of a charitable organization.
This stage confirmed our desire to create, near Québec City, a place where personal exploration, collective life, and connection to the land come together. This is how we co-founded Grabuge in the winter of 2025, with the mission of offering a space dedicated to artistic, introspective, and disciplinary pursuits, while integrating agroecological and socioecological practices.
Our vision
We want to give the land back its power to guide our lives and our creations. We believe that by reconnecting with its natural rhythms and cycles, we will be inspired to reawaken the deep relationship between individuals, their land, and their community.
We believe that connection with nature and material simplicity form the best framework for amplifying human sensitivity, whether in creative or introspective pursuits.
Timeline
Before we can host retreats and residencies, we first need to complete the development of the site. This involves, among other things, renovating several cabins to convert them into creative studios, as well as setting up ready-to-camp accommodations to welcome future participants.
Since the fall of 2025, we have already been welcoming volunteers who contribute to building the centre while enjoying the place. Housed and fed for a few weeks, they take part in the work and the development of the site, while also having time and space to advance their own creative or introspective projects.
Contribute to Grabuge
To support our start-up period, we have launched a crowdfunding campaign on La Ruche. Since volunteer stays are intended for people under 35, every contribution will be matched thanks to the Fonds Mille et un pour la jeunesse.
There are several ways to contribute to Grabuge's momentum. Visit our campaign page to discover our offerings and follow the progress of our fundraising!
Transportation and location
Grabuge is located in the municipality of Stoneham-et-Tewkesbury, in the Tewkesbury sector, 35 minutes from Québec City.
From downtown Québec City, buses run to the village of Stoneham. Grabuge can provide a shuttle from Stoneham to Tewkesbury if needed.
On site, bicycles are available for getting around.
Volunteers arriving by car are encouraged to carpool with one another.
Volunteer stays
Interested in coming to help out at Grabuge? Click here to learn more about volunteer stays.