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 will mix and match 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 will be selected through an open call and trained on ocean conservation, sustainable practices in art and digital technologies. Three small islands in the Mediterranean Sea, Ustica in Italy, Alonissos in Greece and Gozo in Malta, will then host a distributed residency program, where artists will be inspired by the beautiful natural environments, the ancient maritime traditions and the direct relationships with locals to create born-digital and physical artworks.

All the artworks will be showcased in exhibitions on the islands and in an 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.