Art4Sea officially launched in Vlora: immersive virtual exhibition combining art, technology, and ocean themes to foster sustainability, education, and Mediterranean awareness.
On July 21, the city of Vlorë (Albania) hosted the official launch of the Art4Sea Virtual Exhibition, a unique digital art experience combining creativity, environmental awareness, and immersive technology. Set up along the Lungomare promenade, near the Tourism Laboratory, the initiative invited the public to step into a virtual journey through marine landscapes and artistic interpretations of the sea and the need to protect it. The showcase brought to the city for the first time an innovative experience merging art, science, and technology through virtual reality.
The opening moment featured three public speeches. Fabiola Deliaj, advisor for international relations and EU projects of the Municipality of Vlora and project partner, introduced Art4Sea and its cross-sector goals; Irena Toshkollari, Vice Mayor of the Municipality of Vlora reaffirmed the city’s support for digital and cultural initiatives that link creativity with sustainability for a better shared future; and Marco Cozza, from 3D Research, presented the exhibition concept, built around the three pillars of Connect, Immerse, and Discover.
Also present were representatives from the Ministry of Economy, Culture and Innovation and the Creative Europe Desk in Albania, who highlighted the importance of integrating artistic expression and digital technologies as tools for learning, civic participation, and sustainable development.
Throughout the afternoon, a large and diverse audience — children and adults, locals and tourists — was drawn to the exhibition area. Many stopped and took part in the experience using virtual reality headsets provided by the organizers. Through these, they explored a vibrant and evocative collection of artworks inspired by three Mediterranean islands: Alonissos (Greece), Gozo (Malta), and Ustica (Italy).
More than just a preview of the digital collection, the experience became a space for reflection, dialogue, and connection with the local community. It further strengthened the project’s alignment with the goals of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030), through the promotion of artistic and technological approaches to marine stewardship.
In the Art4Sea Virtual Exhibition, visitors navigate a 3D environment where each artwork is displayed inside a floating virtual “bubble,” allowing for a short preview before fully entering and exploring the digital artwork or the piece in its digitised form. From digital twins of murals and sculptures, to 3D, VR, or AI animations, to documentaries or short movies, each work invites the user to observe, reflect, and interact — bringing art and ocean education together in one seamless experience.
The Art4Sea Virtual Exhibition will soon be available for download to be experienced anywhere. Meanwhile, the ART page on the website offers a preview of all the works already created and provides access to different types of content for each, including full-length versions of most digital productions. The virtual exhibition will continue to evolve, expanding its reach and content. The artworks from Ustica — currently in production and set to be unveiled in mid-September — will be added shortly after their official opening on the island.
With immersive access to powerful, ocean-inspired works, Art4Sea invites audiences across Europe and beyond to experience the Mediterranean through the lens of contemporary art and innovation.
