Eye Opener '26 is part retreat, part creative lab, part community. An all-inclusive experience designed with a balance of structure and spaciousness—time to disappear, and time to connect.
Mornings begin with a light breakfast, a walk or meditation, followed by one of several eclectic workshops in the studios, from DIY screen printing to new explorations in AI and typography. Afternoons may take you off-campus into Detroit’s art scene: visiting local collectives and landmark architecture.
Woven throughout are intimate group conversations that often stretch late into the night, following an Evening Salon, where several participants share work-in-progress. It’s where the deepest connections and trust begin—moments of true magic.
You’ll leave transformed in ways you won’t be able to explain.
The details
Location
Cranbrook Academy of Art, 39221 Woodward Ave, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
Dates
June 25 - 29, 2026
Stay
Four nights/five days. Check-in 3pm Thursday; check-out 11am Monday
Cost
$2,200 (Cranbrook alumnae rate: $1,800)
Participants
Women+ (21+) 20 - 25 group max
Travel
To Bloomfield Hills: 40-45 minute drive from Detroit Airport; 4.5 hour drive from Chicago; 4 hour drive from Toronto.
Weather
Average highs of 75°F and lows oround 57°F; come prepared for warm weather, hats and sandals.
Vibes on the Ground
Peaceful, spacious, and rich with iconic architecture, sculpture, and gardens. Cranbrook’s campus offers an abundance of nature—lakes, pools, woodlands—and places to wander or disappear into,
including the library, art museum, science museum, and studios.
Meals
Sharing fresh, local, delicious meals together is a big part of the Eye Opener experience, beginning with a welcome dinner feast. Breakfast is buffet-style. Lunch may be an outdoor vegetarian picnic. Group dinners are held in an intimate courtyard, inviting long conversations and unhurried evenings.
Accommodations
Participants stay in clean, single-occupancy dorm rooms with fresh linens and towels, a sink, internet access, and access to shared restrooms, showers, and a community room. The spaces are modest, quiet with contemplative views.