S+T+ARTS Aqua Motion launches Artistic Residency Program

The European Commission's STARTS (Science, Technology & the Arts) initiative has announced the S+T+ARTS AquaMotion open call for artistic residencies focused on water-related challenges. This ambitious program will select 25 artists to participate in a comprehensive 9-month residency followed by a 4-month scale-up period, with applications closing on June 13, 2025.

With a substantial €40,000 budget allocated per artist, the program represents a significant investment in creative approaches to water management issues across Europe. Selected artists will address pressing challenges including water scarcity, pollution, climate change impacts, and biodiversity loss through innovative artistic projects developed in collaboration with scientists, technologists, and local communities.

S+T+ARTS AquaMotion represents a unique opportunity for interdisciplinary innovation at a critical time for Europe's water resources. By bringing together creative practitioners with scientific researchers, it aims to generate new insights and approaches to water conservation and management.

The residencies will be hosted across four European regions, with participants expected to spend a minimum of five weeks at their assigned site. The program kicks off with an in-person meeting in the Azores, Portugal, on October 1-2, and will culminate in high-profile exhibitions potentially including the Ars Electronica Festival, Venice Biennale, and Brussels-based pop-up events.

Beyond financial support, participating artists will receive specialized resources, technological infrastructure, mentorship, and access to the extensive Europe-wide STARTS network. The program employs a distinctive "5-Helix" structure, enabling artists to collaborate closely with representatives from business, academia, government, environmental organizations, and civil society.

Applications are now open until June 13, with organizers particularly encouraging proposals that demonstrate strong collaborative potential and innovative approaches to water-related themes.