PartArt4OW Third Open Call

The PartArt4OW Third Open Call is a funding opportunity aimed at supporting participatory art initiatives that tackle issues of ocean and water sustainability. Open to individuals, legal entities, and consortia, the call invites interdisciplinary projects that integrate artistic expression with scientific research and community engagement. It encourages proposals from a diverse range of applicants including artists, cultural organizations, scientific communities, and civil society groups, focusing on the theme "Communities for a Sustainable and Equitable Blue Economy."

The total budget available for this call is €350,000, which will be distributed competitively among selected projects, with funding amounts likely ranging between €20,000 and €100,000 or more per project. Proposals must include letters of intent from blue economy stakeholders and hosting organizations, and the projects are to be implemented over a six-month period.

Eligible activities include various forms of artistic practices such as visual, literary, performing, and digital arts, with an emphasis on fostering community engagement and addressing environmental challenges. The call seeks projects that explore social, economic, and ecological dimensions of the blue economy, encouraging creativity and innovation in promoting sustainability.

Applications must be submitted through an online platform by March 10, 2026. The application process involves multiple stages: an eligibility check, a review of proposals based on relevance, quality, and impact criteria, a shortlisting phase, and finally, interviews with shortlisted applicants. Successful applicants will receive both monetary support as well as additional resources such as mentoring and networking opportunities through the PartArt4OW Accelerator program.

Projects should commit to sustainable practices, including the use of renewable materials and solutions, underlining the importance of environmental responsibility in arts and community projects. The call is particularly designed to enhance citizens' ocean literacy, raise awareness of challenges facing aquatic ecosystems, and mobilize community action for their protection.

In summary, the PartArt4OW Third Open Call aims to foster innovative projects that enhance collaborative understanding of marine and freshwater issues, promote interdisciplinary partnerships, and engage citizens in the stewardship of water-based environments.

The PartArt4OW Third Open Call is a funding opportunity supporting participatory art initiatives (PAIs) that address the challenge of "Communities for a Sustainable and Equitable Blue Economy." The call seeks interdisciplinary and intersectoral projects that innovatively blend art, science, and participatory practices. While collaborations between creative and cultural sectors, the scientific community, and civic society organizations are encouraged, individuals are also welcome to apply.

The primary goals of the supported PAIs are to increase citizens' ocean literacy, raise awareness about the challenges facing oceans and inland waters, and mobilize citizens and stakeholders to protect and restore these environments. The specific challenge for this third open call is "Communities for a Sustainable and Equitable Blue Economy," focusing on projects that engage communities in rethinking and reshaping a sustainable, resilient, and equitable blue economy. The blue economy encompasses all economic activities related to oceans, seas, rivers, lakes, and other water systems, including established and emerging sectors like fisheries, aquaculture, tourism, energy, transport, conservation, biotechnology, and water-based food systems.

Proposals should integrate scientific research, artistic experimentation, and active citizen participation to foster new understandings of the interactions between societies and oceans, rivers, and water-dependent economies. The call particularly welcomes proposals that:

Adopt whole-system perspectives linking ecological, economic, social, and cultural dimensions of water-based sustainability.
Explore lesser-known or overlooked aspects of the blue economy, including its environmental trade-offs and societal impacts.
Investigate the invisible or intangible aspects such as carbon flows, social inequalities, labor conditions, ecosystem thresholds, or cultural shifts.
Co-create new narratives, methods, and sensory experiences that help communities work towards sustainable water futures.
Amplify local voices, especially those historically underrepresented in ocean governance.

Projects can focus on either ocean or inland waters, or both. Successful applicants will be expected to refine their proposal, implement, and present the findings of a participatory art project within six months. During this period, they will participate in the PartArt4OW Accelerator, which offers mentoring, networking, and training sessions. Selected projects must be fully sustainable, utilizing sustainable materials, circular solutions, and renewable energy. Proposals must also commit to a Climate Pact Pledge, aiming for full decarbonization or at least carbon neutrality of the project and all its activities.

The opening date for the call is January 8, 2026, and the deadline for submissions is March 10, 2026, at 17:00 (Brussels time). The expected duration of participation is six months. The total funding available is 350,000.00 EUR. The project acronym is PartArt4OW, and the full name of the EU-funded project is Participatory Art for Society Engagement with Ocean and Water. The grant agreement number is 101157247. The topic is HORIZON-MISS-2023-OCEAN-01-11 - Ocean & water and arts: the contribution of creative sectors to Mission Ocean and waters.

Applications must be submitted in English through the dedicated online platform accessible via the PartArt4OW website. A short proposal (maximum 5 pages) should present the project idea, objectives, implementation plan, required resources, team composition, engaged communities/beneficiaries, and expected impact. The proposal must adhere to the template provided in the PartArt4OW ‘guide for applicants,’ available on the project website and the submission platform. Administrative information is also required. A declaration of honor, signed by the legal representative of the proposal lead, must be uploaded. Additionally, proponents must upload:

A Letter of Intent signed by the legal representative of an economic actor of the blue economy (compulsory).
A Letter of Intent signed by the legal representative from a hosting organization (museum, aquarium, cultural center, municipality, etc.) agreeing to provide public space for the final event (compulsory).
A Letter of Intent signed by the legal representative from institutions or organizations (schools, museums, etc.) that will act as channels for citizen engagement, if they fall outside the applicant consortium (conditional).

The evaluation process includes:

Eligibility check: Applicants must be individuals or organizations established or resident in EU Member States, Associated Countries, or Third Countries. The call is open to individuals, single legal entities, and consortia. Project activities must occur in EU Member States or third countries associated with Horizon Europe.
Proposals review: Three reviewers will assess each proposal based on relevance, quality, and impact, using a 0-5 point scale. Only projects exceeding the threshold value on each criterion and overall will proceed.
Shortlisting: Proposals scoring above the thresholds will be ranked. The overall threshold will ensure the total requested budget of proposals admitted to stage 3 is close to three times the available budget, but not less than two and a half times the available budget.
Interviews: Shortlisted applicants will be invited to an online interview with an expert panel, consisting of a short pitch followed by questions.

The PartArt4OW consortium will make the final decision on accepted applicants after the interviews.

For more detailed information, refer to the PartArt4OW ‘Guide for applicants’ on the project website. Further information is available on the project website, and inquiries can be sent to opencallpartart4ow@gmail.com.

In summary, this open call aims to foster innovative projects at the intersection of art, science, and community engagement to promote a sustainable and equitable blue economy. It encourages applicants to develop participatory art initiatives that increase ocean literacy, raise awareness about environmental challenges, and mobilize citizens to protect and restore aquatic ecosystems. The call emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration, sustainability, and the inclusion of diverse voices in shaping the future of water-dependent economies.

Eligible Applicant Types: The call is open to individuals, single legal entities, and consortia. For consortia, all applicants must be eligible.

Funding Type: Grant (cascade funding).

Consortium Requirement: Both single applicants and consortia are eligible.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): Applicants must be individuals or organizations established or resident in EU Member States, Associated Countries, or Third Countries. Project activities must take place in EU Member States or third countries associated with Horizon Europe.

Target Sector: The program targets the blue economy, arts, science, and participatory practices. It covers sectors including fisheries, aquaculture, tourism, energy, transport, conservation, biotechnology, and water-based food systems. It also focuses on increasing citizens’ ocean literacy and awareness of challenges faced by oceans and inland waters.

Mentioned Countries: EU Member States, Associated Countries, Third Countries.

Project Stage: The projects should be at the stage where they are ready for implementation as participatory art initiatives (PAIs). Successful applicants will refine their proposal, implement, and present the findings of their project.

Funding Amount: The total funding available is €350,000. The funding amount per project is not specified but can be inferred to be a portion of this total amount.

Application Type: Open call.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money to implement their projects and non-monetary services through the PartArt4OW Accelerator, which provides mentoring, networking opportunities, and training sessions.

Application Stages: The application process involves four stages: 1. Eligibility check, 2. Proposals review, 3. Shortlisting, and 4. Interviews.

Success Rates: The success rate is not explicitly mentioned, but the shortlisting stage aims to select proposals with a total requested budget close to three times the available budget, suggesting a competitive selection process.

Co-funding Requirement: Selected projects are expected to be fully sustainable, including the use of sustainable materials, circular solutions, and renewable energy. Proposals must commit to a Climate Pact Pledge leading to full decarbonisation or at least carbon neutrality of the project and of all the proposed activities. While not explicitly stated as co-funding, this implies a commitment to sustainability that may require additional investment or resource allocation.

Summary:

The PartArt4OW Third Open Call is a funding opportunity aimed at supporting participatory art initiatives (PAIs) that address the challenge of "Communities for a Sustainable and Equitable Blue Economy." This initiative seeks interdisciplinary and intersectoral projects that creatively blend art, science, and participatory practices to increase citizens' ocean literacy, raise awareness about the challenges facing oceans and inland waters, and mobilize communities for their protection and restoration. The call is open to individuals, single legal entities, and consortia from EU Member States, Associated Countries, and Third Countries.

Projects should engage communities in rethinking and reshaping a sustainable, resilient, and equitable blue economy, encompassing various sectors such as fisheries, aquaculture, tourism, energy, transport, conservation, biotechnology, and water-based food systems. Proposals should combine scientific research, artistic experimentation, and active citizen participation to generate new understandings of how societies interact with water-dependent economies.

The application process involves submitting a short proposal (maximum 5 pages) along with administrative information, a declaration of honor, and letters of intent from relevant stakeholders, including an economic actor of the blue economy and a hosting organization for the project's final event. The evaluation process includes eligibility checks, proposal reviews based on relevance, quality, and impact, shortlisting, and interviews. Successful applicants will participate in the PartArt4OW Accelerator, receiving mentoring, networking opportunities, and training sessions. Selected projects are expected to be fully sustainable and commit to a Climate Pact Pledge. The total funding available is €350,000.