Things we do
Take a look at what NOMAD offers
ART AND CRAFT CLASSES
NOMAD offers a variety of classes - from cement work to mosaic. Join the creative uprising. Make a mess. Make magic. Forget boring brushstrokes and cookie-cutter crafts - this is where creativity misbehaves! Because art isn’t about perfection — it’s about expression.
SKILLS TRAINING
Free marketing, production and creative skills training workshops are offered. This isn’t your average “sit still and take notes” kind of business workshops. We’ll show you how to turn your passion projects into paydays - from pricing your products to building a brand that stands out, we teach real-world business savvy.
WASTE TO WONDER
We turn trash into treasure — literally. Our Waste to Wonder community project is a group of 40 women. Every Friday NOMAD offers free art classes to spark creativity, confidence, and connection. It’s upcycling with attitude — part eco-rebellion, part soul therapy, and 100% hands-on fun. Create. Transform. Reimagine.
FOR THE KIDDIES
Tuesdays and Thursdays are loud, colourful, and gloriously messy! From 14h00 to 17h00, the courtyard transforms into a whirlwind of tweens and younger creatives with wild imaginations. These drop-in classes (N$150 per person) are for those who’d rather paint the sky green and the sun blue. At NOMAD there’s no such thing as a mistake.
Videos of previous workshops
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About NOMAD
NOMAD Community Arts Project is a Life in Namibia Initiative.
NOMAD is dedicated to empowering people through creativity, skills development and meaningful community connection. Based in Swakopmund, NOMAD offers free and affordable art and craft lessons, educational workshops, and practical skills training, making creative education accessible to everyone.
Beyond arts and crafts, NOMAD offers small business management and marketing workshops, helping participants transform creative skills into sustainable livelihoods.
At the heart of NOMAD lies a strong commitment to environmental awareness through education. Participants learn how to recycle and repurpose everyday discarded materials into creative, usable items, promoting sustainability while encouraging innovation and responsible living.
Small Business Management Workshop
26 August – 29 August 2025
Karin Retief, founder of NOMAD Community Arts Project, led a Business Management Workshop created especially for creatives. The workshop focused on empowering women entrepreneurs with the confidence, knowledge and tools needed to turn creative dreams into sustainable businesses.
Rooted in community and creativity, the programme encouraged artists and makers to see their work not only as expression, but as opportunity. The workshop was proudly sponsored by Emssence and OBECO.
Southern Namibia Hake Fishing Industries Visit Inspires Women at NOMAD.
On this sunny Swakopmund afternoon, Gigi Mathias, Director of Southern Namibia Hake Fishing Industries (Pty) Ltd, sponsor of the Waste to Wonder project at NOMAD, joins the group. But she isn’t here to cut a ribbon or pose for photos. Instead, she moves quietly from table to table, sitting beside each woman — listening, really listening — as they share who they are and what brought them here.
NOMAD is a creative and entrepreneurial hub on the coast of Namibia, where expression meets women’s empowerment.
I offer a space where art can change lives — giving creatives the tools they need through workshops, exposure through my media outlet Life in Namibia, and opportunities to grow their businesses by selling the crafts at the NOMAD shop .
My hope is to inspire everyone to reconnect with creativity, the environment, and each other, as NOMAD nurtures both talent and emotional wellbeing. Here, creativity becomes a form of healing — for individuals and for the planet.
Testimonials
