Understanding how we affect the ocean and how it affects us, can make a difference for a more sustainable future.
Dive into the science behind this vital connection.
Art and artistic expression have the power to spark awareness and inspire change. In Art4Sea, they become a tool for ocean advocacy—discover the collection created through this vision.
Digital technologies such as Virtual, Augmented and Mixed Reality can broaden access, amplify awareness, and create immersive experiences. Enter the Art4Sea virtual dimension and explore the exhibition.
Art4Sea
Melting Art, Creativity and Marine Sciences to foster Ocean Literacy in the Mediterranean area
Ocean health is an urgent issue and the focus of the United Nations’ most recent actions. ART4SEA aims to contribute to the Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030) combining art, creativity, science, and technology to raise public awareness toward a greater respect for the marine environment.
The project mixes and matches modes of co-production, mentoring, and in-person and distance training, striking an appropriate balance between the need to have physical interactions and the need to reduce travel that is costly in terms of carbon footprint.
Twenty-four international artists were selected through an open call and trained on ocean conservation, sustainable practices in art and digital technologies. Later in 2024, three small islands in the Mediterranean Sea, Ustica in Italy, Alonissos in Greece, and Gozo in Malta, hosted a distributed residence program, where artists drew inspiration from the beautiful natural environments, the ancient maritime traditions and the interaction with the local communities to create born-digital and physical artworks.
In 2025, the physical artworks will be integrated into the marine, natural and architectural landscapes, of Ustica, Alonissos and Gozo, thus creating open-air and underwater museums that will make the three islands a beacon for Ocean Conservation.
The born-digital and digitised physical artworks will be also showcased in a virtual exhibition – accessible both on the web and the metaverse – that will be at first housed in the three islands and in the Vision Multimedia Center in Vlora, Albania.
The ART4SEA project will conclude with a Grand Event in Ustica, during which the old part of the island will be enlivened by various performances staged with the participation of the local community.
Call for
Artists-In-Residence
Join this inspiring journey for spreading ocean conservation!
Expected Results
Participatory Cooperation model
Open Call
24 International Artists
Training and Mentoring Program
Residency Program on 3 islands
24 Artworks
Art Exhibitions
Virtual Exhibition Platform
Final Grand Event in Ustica
The Islands
Ustica, Alonissos and Gozo are the inspiration and the starting point of the ART4SEA project. A 7-day residency program took place on these three small islands in the Mediterranean basin, where stunning natural environments, ancient maritime traditions, and meaningful exchanges with local communities nurtured the artists’ creative processes.
The physical artworks have since been integrated into the marine, natural, and architectural landscapes of the islands, shaping an open-air and underwater museum that now positions Ustica, Alonissos and Gozo as symbolic lighthouses of Ocean Conservation.
Italy
Ustica
Greece
Alonissos
Malta
Gozo
Vision Multimedia Center
The Vision Multimedia Center will be the first to host digitised physical and born-digital artworks produced on the three charming Mediterranean islands of the project. The Center is in Vlora, a coastal city and municipality in southern Albania, which includes the Karaburun Peninsula and Sazan Island and houses the Port, the University of Vlorë, and the unique seaside park Sazan-Karaburun.
The VMC two-story building is set on the seafront, at the Lungomare, on the right of the Tourism Laboratory’s entrance, in a popular part of the city. It occupies around 34 square meters and includes classrooms, great outdoors, and a veranda. The virtual multimedia gallery is also equipped with two 3D glasses, a projector, and some videos about the underwater treasures of the coast of Vlora to promote cultural heritage and natural resources by combining innovation and technology with traditional elements.
ART4SEA consortium
A strength of the project is the very diverse partnership. The ART4SEA consortium is made of 7 high-profile European cross-sectoral partners carefully selected for their acknowledged excellence to provide the necessary knowledge, expertise, and state-of-the-art background required to ensure the success of the project as well as the sustainability of the proposed approach and expected results. All the partners share the common interest and a consolidated experience about the sea environment with different and complementary perspectives.
Our News
Art4Sea was presented at the Creative Europe INFO DAY in Nuoro and at the European Researchers’ Night in Calabria, showcasing its collaborative approach and innovative virtual exhibitions to raise awareness on ocean sustainability.
From September 10 to 12, Ustica hosted Art4Sea’s grand finale, where performances and artworks turned the island into an open-air stage celebrating the sea and our connection to it.
Art4Sea officially launched in Vlorë (Albania): immersive virtual exhibition combining art, technology, and ocean themes to foster sustainability, education, and Mediterranean awareness.