TIDAL ArtS Residency Call

The TIDAL ArtS Residency Call is a funding opportunity supported by the European Union aimed at promoting the Mission to Restore Our Ocean and Waters by 2030. This initiative intends to engage artists, collectives, and creatives by providing funding for artistic projects that foster community interaction with aquatic environments. There are four residency locations: São Miguel Island in the Azores (Portugal), Venice Lagoon (Italy), Turku Archipelago (Finland), and Danube River in Ráckeve (Hungary). Each residency awards a grant of 50,000 Euro, with a total funding pool of 200,000 Euro across all residencies.

Eligible applicants include individual artists and artistic collectives, and applicants must show a capability to inspire and engage communities through their work, ideally having an existing connection or demonstrating the ability to connect with the specified locations. The projects supported focus on cultural and environmental themes, combining artistic endeavors with community engagement activities that reflect local water ecosystems' importance.

The application process is two-staged:in Stage 1, which closes on November 15, 2025, applicants are required to submit an artistic portfolio along with a one-page project concept. In Stage 2, which occurs between January 9 and February 9, 2026, shortlisted applicants will submit a full project proposal and two letters of recommendation. The evaluation criteria include relevance, artistic experience, project design quality, and potential impact.

This rolling call has specific deadlines, with outcomes expected by the end of February 2026, and the year-long projects should be completed by March 31, 2027. Selection committees consist of experts in various relevant fields to ensure comprehensive evaluation of the proposed works. The lack of co-funding requirements suggests that the grant can fully support the projects, though artists should be prepared to contribute time and possible in-kind support to their efforts. Overall, the TIDAL ArtS Residency Call represents a significant opportunity for artists to engage with environmental challenges creatively and collaboratively.

The TIDAL ArtS Residency Call offers grants to artists, collectives, and creatives to support the European Union’s Mission to Restore Our Ocean and Waters by 2030. Four residencies will be awarded in: São Miguel Island, Azores, Portugal; Venice Lagoon, Italy; Turku Archipelago, Finland; and Danube River, Ráckeve, Hungary.

The residencies are open to artists, collectives, and creatives who can inspire and engage people in the Mission through their unique artistic creations and community engagement activities. The artworks should connect communities to their local waters, celebrate that connection, reflect the Mission's themes, and highlight the four key ocean and water basins that serve as regional hubs for inspiration and action. Each residency comes with a financial grant of 50,000 Euro.

The four residencies are located next to bodies of water with immense beauty and diverse environmental challenges. Artists should have a connection to the area in which they are applying or be able to demonstrate how they will connect with the local community and body of water. Each residency should be culture-led and co-creative in nature, activated in collaboration with local communities as well as scientific and cultural institutions. The hosted artists will be provided with ample opportunities to connect to the local context. The length of time spent on site will depend on the needs of both the artist and their project; however, artists should expect to spend at least six full weeks at the Residency site over the course of the year.

The opening date for the call was October 15, 2025. The deadline model is multiple cut-off. The deadline dates are November 15, 2025, at 23:59 (Brussels time) and February 8, 2026, at 23:59 (Brussels time). The expected duration of participation is until March 31, 2027. The total funding available is 200,000.00 €. The project acronym is TIDAL ArtS. The full name of the EU funded project is TIDAL ArtS: TransformIng anD inspiring Aquatic Landscapes through Art and Sciences. The grant agreement number is 101157796. The topic is HORIZON-MISS - Ocean & water and arts: the contribution of creative sectors to Mission Ocean and waters.

The application process consists of two stages. In Stage 1, due by November 15th, applicants are asked to submit an artistic portfolio and a 1-page project concept inline with guidelines described in the Residency Call (pg.24). Applications must be submitted by completing a survey and uploading the attachments on the TIDAL ArtS website. In Stage 2, re-opening January 9th and closing February 9th, short-listed candidates will be asked to submit a complete project proposal using a template provided. Further, applicants will be asked to submit two letters of recommendation supporting their application.

Each TIDAL ArtS Residency will have a selection committee composed of four experts:one member of the TIDAL ArtS partner group, one water scientist, one expert from the arts and one member of the local residency community. Each application will be scored for Relevance (30%), Artistic Experience (25%), Quality & Circularity of Project Design (25%) and Impact (20%). Applicants will be informed at the beginning of January whether or not their application has been accepted for Stage 2. Granting decisions will be made by the end of February 2026.

In summary, the TIDAL ArtS Residency Call is a funding opportunity for artists, collectives, and creatives to contribute to the EU's Mission to Restore Our Ocean and Waters by 2030. It offers four residencies in different European locations, each with a grant of 50,000 Euro. The program seeks to support projects that connect communities to their local waters through artistic creations and community engagement, aligning with the Mission's themes and highlighting key ocean and water basins. The application process involves two stages, with initial submissions due by November 15, 2025, and final decisions expected by the end of February 2026. The selection process includes evaluation by a committee of experts from various fields, considering factors such as relevance, artistic experience, project design, and impact.

Eligible Applicant Types:The eligible applicant types are artists, collectives, and creatives.

Funding Type:The funding type is a grant. Specifically, it is referred to as cascade funding.

Consortium Requirement:The opportunity is open to both single applicants (artists) and collectives, so the requirement is for either a single applicant or a consortium.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):The description does not explicitly state a geographic eligibility. However, since it is funded by the European Union and supports the EU Mission to Restore Our Ocean and Waters, it is implied that applicants should be based in the EU or have a strong connection to the EU's mission and values. The residencies are located in EU countries.

Target Sector:The target sectors are arts, culture, environment, and marine/water resources. It focuses on the intersection of art and science to address environmental challenges related to oceans and waters.

Mentioned Countries:Portugal, Italy, Finland, Hungary.

Project Stage:The project stage is for artists to create artworks and engage in community activities that connect communities to their local waters, celebrate that connection, reflect the Mission's themes, and highlight the four key ocean and water basins. This suggests a development and implementation stage.

Funding Amount:Each residency comes with a financial grant of 50,000 Euro. The total funding available is 200,000 Euro, which is distributed across four residencies.

Application Type:The application type is an open call, specifically a Residency Call.

Nature of Support:Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a grant (50,000 Euro). They will also receive non-monetary support through opportunities to connect with local communities, scientific institutions, and cultural institutions.

Application Stages:There are two application stages. Stage 1 requires submission of an artistic portfolio and a 1-page project concept. Stage 2, for shortlisted candidates, requires a complete project proposal and two letters of recommendation.

Success Rates:Since there are four residencies and the call is open, the success rate is likely to be below 10%, but this is an estimate.

Co-funding Requirement:The description does not explicitly mention a co-funding requirement.

Summary:

The TIDAL ArtS Residency Call is a grant program funded by the European Union to support the Mission to Restore Our Ocean and Waters by 2030. It offers four residencies to artists, collectives, and creatives who can inspire and engage people in this mission through their artistic creations and community engagement. Each residency provides a 50,000 Euro grant and opportunities to collaborate with local communities and institutions. The residencies are located in São Miguel Island (Azores, Portugal), Venice Lagoon (Italy), Turku Archipelago (Finland), and Danube River (Ráckeve, Hungary). Applicants must submit an artistic portfolio and project concept in the first stage, and shortlisted candidates will be asked to submit a full project proposal and letters of recommendation in the second stage. The selection process involves a committee of experts who will evaluate applications based on relevance, artistic experience, quality and circularity of project design, and impact. The program aims to connect communities to their local waters, celebrate that connection, and reflect the Mission's themes through art. The opening date for submissions was October 15, 2025, with a first deadline on November 15, 2025, and a second deadline on February 8, 2026. The expected duration of participation is until March 31, 2027. The project acronym is TIDAL ArtS, and the full name is TransformIng anD inspiring Aquatic Landscapes through Art and Sciences. The grant agreement number is 101157796, and the topic is HORIZON-MISS Ocean & water and arts: the contribution of creative sectors to Mission Ocean and waters.