Applications open for EMBracing the Ocean Programme

The EMBracing the Ocean programme provides grants for creative individuals/groups from a wide-range of disciplines to engage in a two-way co-creation of artwork in collaboration with Ocean scientists. The aims of the programme are to raise societal awareness of the Ocean’s value and inspire behavioural change for a sustainable future, while contributing new insight and/or perspectives to the scientific research process.

A key principle of the EMBracing the Ocean programme is co-creation of work between artists and their scientific collaborators. Co-creation is the process of creating something new together while exchanging and reshaping ideas. The artists and scientists are considered equal and each side benefits and learns from the process. The goal of co-created art-science projects should go beyond making complex scientific topics more accessible to the public, and also help scientists to gain new insights and/or perspectives into their work by collaborating with artists.

The EMBracing the Ocean programme is part of the EMB’s contribution to the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (Ocean Decade, 2021-2030). The Ocean Decade is a global movement bringing together scientists, governments, business, philanthropists, non-governmental organisations and society to catalyse transformative Ocean science solutions for sustainable development, connecting people and the Ocean. The EMBracing the Ocean programme contributes to the Ocean Decade societal challenge of ‘an inspiring and engaging Ocean’, where society understands and values the Ocean in relation to human wellbeing and sustainable development.

The EMBracing the Ocean programme additionally supports the goals of the EU Mission Restore the Ocean and Waters (Mission Ocean) to protect and restore marine ecosystems and biodiversity, prevent and eliminate pollution in the Ocean and to make the sustainable blue economy carbon-neutral and circular. Public mobilisation and engagement are key enablers of the Mission Ocean, in which art plays an important role.

Funding Information

• Two awardees will be selected for the 2024 – 2025 programme and each will be awarded a grant of €10,000. The grant will be paid periodically throughout the 12-month residency on completion of planned deliverables. The awardees can use the grant to cover costs according to the needs of their work (e.g. artist fees, materials, expenses, travel, promotional materials, campaigns, transport of work, compensation for scientific collaborators) and these should be outlined in the provisional budget submitted as part of the application. The residency will take place remotely, but may include visits to collaborating researchers and/or participation in events. Any potential or secured co-funding must be clearly highlighted in the application and budget. Any work that is dependent on co-funding must be in addition to the core work produced for the EMBracing the Ocean programme.

Engagement with Ocean Science Community

• The awardees are expected to co-develop their work with Ocean scientists (i.e. active scientists with a contact at a research organization/institute/university). This engagement must include:
  • collaboration with one or more Ocean scientists. At least one scientific collaborator must be contacted by applicants and confirm that they agree to collaborate on the proposed project prior to artists submitting their application. Artists may post on the Ocean Decade Art-Science Networking Group if they are looking for scientists to collaborate with. The EMB Secretariat may assist awardees to identify additional scientists and stakeholders relevant for their work if needed;
  • presenting and discussing work at EMB meetings and/or other Ocean events (online/in-person); and
  • discussing ideas and plans for work and public engagement with EMBracing the Ocean Committee (online).
  • Other engagement activities may include but are not limited to:
    • attending relevant events and meetings to engage with Ocean science topics of interest (online/in-person); and
    • engaging with the Ocean Decade Global Stakeholder Forum and the Ocean Decade ArtScience Networking Group to promote the artists’ work, engage with the wider Ocean science community and find new collaborators if necessary.

Expected Output

• By the end of the 12-month residency, the awardees must have produced tangible result(s) including an initial public output e.g. a new piece of work, or series of work, through a two-way co-design process with Ocean scientists and first public presentation. This may build on the artists previous work, but there must be an element of novelty that is co-developed with the scientist(s). The work can focus on any Ocean science topic relevant for sustainable development, including but not limited to those covered by the marine science-policy work of the EMB, and/or wider activities within the framework of the Ocean Decade. It should aim to connect people to the Ocean by raising societal awareness of the chosen topic and inspire behavioural change for a sustainable future while contributing new insight and/or perspectives to the scientific research process.
• To achieve these goals, the work of the awardees is expected to reach as wide an audience as possible e.g. a wide range of citizens and achieving impact beyond local communities, preferably at an international level. The work should also have longevity of societal impact beyond the 12-month residency. Solutions for overcoming language barriers related to the work should also be considered. The final work produced will be owned by the awardee, with an agreement that the EMB can use the work as appropriate after the end of the residency. The awardees will be required to liaise with the EMB Secretariat to disseminate updates on EMB social media channels, website, documents, and newsletters. Documentation (e.g. photographs/videos) will be required of placebased work (e.g. exhibitions, performances) for this dissemination.

Who can apply?

• The programme is open to creative individuals/groups from a wide variety of artistic disciplines. Both emerging and established artists will be considered by the committee. Prior experience in co-creation with scientists and/or communities and working on sustainability topics is desirable. Applications are welcome from across the world, and from a wide range of creative disciplines, including but not limited to:
  • visual arts (e.g. drawing, painting, filmmaking, photography, sculpting, digital arts, installation art);
  • literary arts (e.g. fiction, drama, poetry, storytelling);
  • performing arts (e.g. dance, music, theatre); and
  • traditional and indigenous arts.

For more information, visit European Marine Board (EMB).