lighthouse calls: community art about aquatic environments

The Lighthouse Calls are part of the TIDAL ArtS initiative, funded by the EU to support the Mission to Restore Our Ocean and Waters by 2030. Through this open call, 20 artists, collectives, and creatives across Europe will be awarded grants to create community-focused artworks. The selected projects must connect citizens to their aquatic environments and raise awareness of environmental challenges through artistic expression.

Five artists will be chosen from each of four designated ‘Lighthouse’ regions—Atlantic-Arctic, Mediterranean, Baltic-North Sea, and Danube-Black Sea. Projects must be completed by June 2026 and involve collaboration with scientists, educators, and communities.

Each project should result in a publicly displayed creative artistic expression, driven by citizen engagement and scientific knowledge, in a European community selected by the artist. Innovative methods based in art and creativity should be utilised to unlock and strengthen the connection of the public with their aquatic environments.

Artistic works and creative practices include the development of artistic outputs within the visual, literary, performing, fine, and digital arts, as well as in music, design and architecture. Projects can include one or more of the following activities:

• Exhibitions, expositions, installations
• Workshops
• Visual, literary, performing, and/or digital arts
• Architecture and design
• Artistic debate
• Public art displays
• Art/ocean awareness-raising activities