Mallorca, 2023 – Being on holiday is about being present, making the most of our time away by taking in new surroundings through all of our senses. One of the best ways we can truly appreciate a new culture is by letting our curiosity lead us and staying open to new meaningful connections. Finding these authentic moments of cultural exchange and immersion can be difficult to find and this is where dada-days steps in. Based in Mallorca, dada-days has made its name as the go-to platform for anyone looking to get creative on the Mediterranean’s most popular Balearic Island.
Mallorca’s Creative Icebreaker
Whether it’s jewellery design, pottery, textile arts, fused glass, or photography – dada-days founder, Lisa Heschel offers travellers the opportunity to dive into the island’s local creative scene. Far from the usual tourist paths, Mallorca’s artists and artisans open their studios, inviting visitors to have a meaningful creative and cultural exchange. Heschel explains: “We want to reach beginners, as well as more advanced students. In an inspiring atmosphere – whether it be a private studio or a beautiful setting in nature – we curate special moments where people from around the world can come together and access their creativity.”
Creativity is a universal language, one that you can understand no matter where you are from. dada-days uses its position as a creative mediator to act as a sort of cultural icebreaker, inspiring deeper connections between travellers and locals.
The Story behind dada-days
Heschel realised the idea for dada-days during a transformational three month maternity leave in Mallorca – an experience that would inspire Heschel and her family to move from Berlin and begin a new life on the island. As she adjusted to early motherhood, Heschel craved a space where she could recharge and nurture herself artistically. During her search for a pottery course, she noticed a blatant disparity between the amount of creative opportunities versus adventure sports and nature excursions readily available. This realisation acted as the impetus for self-starting dada-days, an online platform that allows travellers to choose from a regularly changing selection of art courses – even at short notice.
Embracing a Path Less-travelled
dada-days utilises creative exchange to cut through the inherent awkwardness of language and cultural barriers. By inviting mindful travellers into their studio spaces, dada-days’ artists allow visitors the chance to understand Mallorca from a local’s perspective.
“It’s generally not that easy for travellers to get to know authentic life or have meaningful interactions with locals during a limited holiday. But once we’re in the artist’s studio, throw on a smock and get our hands dirty, there’s a sort of natural intimacy that’s immediately created.”
Heschel’s alternative offer encourages a different way to enjoy travel – going off the beaten path to get a taste for real Mediterranean life. Whether it’s a pottery studio nestled in the Serra de Tramuntana or a finca in the countryside, the art studio becomes a window into a new way of life.
What’s in it For Artists?
As an online platform that promotes offline experiences, dada-days handles all the administrative busywork so artist’s don’t have to. Heschel and her team take care of online content, marketing,
and bookings so artists can focus entirely on their workshop – maybe even selling a piece or two in the process. Although she partners with each creative in designing their personal course concept, Heschel leaves it up to artists to determine the price of their own workshops. Even more enticing, by collaborating with dada-days, artists gain international visibility for teaching what they love.
Becoming the Mindful Traveller
dada-days strives to redefine what travel and tourism can be, engaging responsibly with Mallorca’s environment and creative people to encourage a reciprocal and respectful relationship. For far too long has it been the easy choice for tourists to treat Mallorca as a holiday escape to use and leave behind. Now with more ways to travel than ever, Heschel sees dada-days as her opportunity to contribute to the island that has given her and her family a home. Embracing concepts like eco-tourism and slow travel, Heschel founded dada-days to be part of these growing movements of positive change. By forging meaningful conversations and creative practices through mindfully curated workshops, Heschel hopes for dada-days to be a positive contributor, not a negative consequence of Mallorca’s growing tourism industry.
Something For Everyone
Apart from their existing course program that’s updated monthly, dada-days also offers private workshops for groups of friends, colleagues, and families. If the art technique permits, dada-days’ artists can even come with their materials and tools to private fincas or holiday homes, bringing the workshop to the participants. For any solo travellers looking to hone their craft or start a new hobby, dada-days also offers the possibility to organise intensive courses. Beyond private workshops, dada-days has a course schedule that anyone can join, creating a space for people of different countries and languages to converge for the sake of art making. To accommodate their international audience, workshops are held in English, Spanish, and German. Prices start from 65 € per person and each workshop is curated to be vacation friendly, lasting between two to four hours.
Course offerings and bookings via: www.dada-days.com
