On the eve of World Soil Day, 4 December—a global celebration dedicated to raising awareness of soil's vital role in agriculture, ecosystems, and food security—the Global Network of Water Museums (WAMU+NET) is pleased to announce the seven European institutions that will host the exhibition Soil Art Tales: Living Ecosystems for Shared Futures throughout 2026 and 2027.
The selected venues are:
- Serralves Foundation, Porto, Portugal
- Villa Altieri, Metropolitan City of Rome (in collaboration with ANBI), Italy
- Posavski Muzej Brežice, Slovenia
- National Gallery, Sofia, Bulgaria
- Experimenta, La Biennale, Grenoble-Alpes Métropole, France
- Milanowskie Centrum Kultury, Milanowskie, Poland
- Castel Belasi – Contemporary Art Center for Eco Thought, Campodenno, Italy
A detailed program and schedule will be announced soon.
Developed within the Horizon Europe-funded project SoilTribes – Glocal Ecosystems Restoring Soil Values, Roles and Connectivity, the exhibition explores the profound connections between soil, water, and life through contemporary art. Curated by Stefano Cagol, Soil Art Tales features works by four internationally recognized artists: Binta Diaw (IT/SN), Nikki Lindt (NL/US), Jo Pearl (UK), and Miguel Teodoro (PT).
The exhibition will open at the Serralves Foundation in Portugal before traveling to Rome’s historic Villa Altieri, presented in collaboration with ANBI (the National Association for Land Reclamation, Irrigation and Land Improvement). Its European tour will continue to the Posavski Muzej Brežice in Slovenia and the National Gallery in Sofia, Bulgaria. It will then feature in France at the Experimenta Biennale in Grenoble and in Poland at the Milanowskie Centrum Kultury, engaging diverse audiences across the continent. The tour will conclude in the Italian Alps at Castel Belasi – Contemporary Art Center for Eco Thought.
Through empathy, creativity, and scientific reflection, Soil Art Tales invites visitors to rediscover soil as a living ecosystem and an essential ally in building a sustainable future. Each host venue will enrich the experience with educational and hands-on activities, often developed with other SoilTribes partners, to engage schools and the public in exploring the shared values of soil and water.
As curator Stefano Cagol states:
“Through empathy, artistic perspectives, and transcoding, these works bring us together in a collective vision for the fundamental values of soil. Our challenge is to make these precious tales known across Europe and beyond. Soil is alive—and lives with us. It holds memory, carries the traces of past civilizations, and nourishes every future we can imagine. Recognizing its vitality means acknowledging our interdependence with the ecosystems that sustain us. By translating scientific knowledge into sensorial narratives and shared experiences, we open pathways for awareness, care, and responsibility. The voices of soil—its textures, its subtle rhythms, its silent resilience—become bridges between cultures, reminding us that we are custodians of a fragile and irreplaceable heritage.”
Further details about each exhibition will be shared on the WAMU+NET and SoilTribes websites.
Download the exhibition poster
Serralves Foundation – Porto, Portugal
Serralves Foundation, Porto, photo by Jorge Sarmento
Villa Altieri, Metropolitan city of Rome, in collaboration with ANBI – Rome, Italy
Villa Altieri, Rome, photo by Sergio D’Afflitto
Posavski muzej Brežice – Brežice, Slovenia
Posavski muzej Brežice, photo by Simon Srečkovič
National Gallery – Sofia, Bulgaria
National Gallery, Sofia, photo by Vladimir Alexeev
Experimenta Festival – Grenoble, France
La Bastelille, Grenoble, EXPERIMENTA, photo by Pierre Jayet
Milanowskie Centrum Kultury – Milanowskie, Poland
Centrum Kultury, photo by Milanowskie Centrum Kultury
Castel Belasi – Trento, Italy
Castel Belasi, Trento, photo by Stefano Cagol