The international open call for artists promoted by the project “AQUAMOTION” (as part of the European Program S+T+ARTS) is now officially open! Artists are invited to create artworks, installations, or prototypes addressing themes such as water scarcity, pollution, biodiversity loss, and climate resilience. The deadline to apply is 13 June 2025.
The project AQUAMOTION will select 25 international artists from any discipline to take part in a 9-month residency, followed by a 4-month scale-up phase, hosted in four European regions: Portugal (Atlantic and Arctic basins), the Netherlands (North Sea and Baltic), Austria (Danube basin), and Italy (Mediterranean Sea basin).
As part of the Mediterranean cluster, WAMU-NET supports and promotes the hosting of 3 water-related art residencies in Italy. Each residency is rooted in a specific regional context and focuses on a specific water challenge in cooperation with different partners.
Each residency is co-designed with local stakeholders and appointed scientific partners. The titles of WAMU-NET’s art residencies are:
- Echoes of Liquid Knowledge (Naples, Campania) – exploring ancient water cultures and their relevance for future governance in the Phlegraean Fields;
- Holding Water in a Shifting Climate (Ridracoli Eco-museum ‘IDRO’, Forlì Cesena, Emilia Romagna) – focusing on adaptation, collective memory and water stewardship in mountainous environments;
- Re-imagining Water (Montegrotto Terme, Padua, Veneto) – investigating thermal heritage, sacred landscapes and contemporary re-use of water systems.
Selected artists will receive up to €40,000 to cover fees, production, mentoring, and public engagement involving local communities through the Water Innovation Labs (WILs).
Artists will also gain access to advanced technological infrastructure and tailored support. There will be opportunities for international visibility, including the possibility to showcase outcomes at events such as the Ars Electronica Festival, the Venice Biennale, and other key European platforms.
Deadline to apply: 13 June 2025
Full call details and the application form are available here: https://starts.eu/opportunities/starts-aqua-motion-open-call-for-artistic-residencies/
S+T+ARTS ‘AQUA MOTION’ is the new EU-funded programme which connects art, science, and technology to address the pressing water-related challenges of our time.