TIDAL ArtS: Danube River-Black Sea Lighthouse Call

These artworks will connect communities to their local waters, celebrate that connection, reflect the Mission’s themes, and highlight the four key ocean and water basins that serve as regional hubs for inspiration and action.

Benefits

• TIDAL ArtS offers those selected:
  • A project liaison for support throughout the project
  • Guidance via information sessions and workshops with scientists, educators, and community leaders
  • Networking opportunities with fellow artists, researchers, TIDAL ArtS Alumni, and other communities
  • Opportunity to expand your portfolio and gain international exposure on social media, in publications, via networking events, and across EU platforms (e.g. Mission Ocean and Waters events) for personal and professional growth
  • A toolkit to help with communications to further spotlight your artwork
  • Invitations to the final celebration and other Mission Ocean and Waters events.

Funding Information

• A €15,000 grant to support the project.

Role and Responsibilities

• If selected, you are required to:
  • Meet the project deadlines within the established time-period
  • Complete and exhibit your artwork at a venue you organise to engage the public within the project timeframe
  • Participate in all of the online workshops offered by the TIDAL ArtS Team in autumn 2025 to learn about the Mission and support you in your project work
  • Collaborate with scientists, educators, and local communities, among others, to co-create powerful artwork that speaks to one or more of the following Mission goals:
    • Protect and restore marine and freshwater ecosystems and biodiversity, in line with the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030
    • Prevent and eliminate pollution of our ocean and waters in line with the EU Action Plan Towards Zero Pollution for Air, Water and Soil
    • Make the sustainable blue economy carbon-neutral and circular, in line with the proposed European Climate Law and the holistic vision enshrined in the Sustainable Blue Economy Strategy

Expected Outcomes

• Artistic projects are expected to achieve at least one of the following results:
  • Citizens feel better connected to the aquatic environments around them, seeing themselves as a part of them.
  • Citizens have a greater understanding of the challenges and pressures facing the ocean and waters.
  • Citizens identify with their local environment as well as the larger body of water to which they belong. The identity of each Lighthouse is defined and enhanced by the artist’s creation.
  • Citizens are aware of blue careers and how they can be engaged for their ocean and waters.

Eligibility Criteria

• Those who apply must meet the following criteria:
  • Have the legal right to reside and work where the project is implemented
  • Implement the project in one of the eligible countries
  • Be able to communicate in English (the application must be submitted in English)
  • Have one or more social media accounts to document the artistic process and drive engagement
  • Commit to the Make Europe Blue Campaign, a Climate Pact pledge leading to carbon neutrality, and comply with ethical and sustainable standards, such as sustainability (the artwork should be sustainable, including the use of recyclable materials and circular solutions) and the No Harm Principle.
• They appreciate artistic works and creative practice activities within the cultural and creative sectors as defined by the EU. These activities include the development of artistic outputs within the:
  • Visual, literary, performing, fine, and digital arts
  • Music
  • Design
  • Architecture
• The artistic medium is for the artist to define allowing for innovative, syncretic approaches.
• Projects can include one or more of the following activities:
  • Exhibitions, expositions, installations
  • Workshops
  • Visual, literary, performing, and/or digital arts.

For more information, visit European Commission.