Open Call for Expression of Interest for inclusion in an international long list of Artists Engaging in Art Practices Referring to Eco-Conscious Matters - Sustainable Art Residencies 2025-2026

CREATIVE EUROPE Programme Project 101174453 «OTRart – Overview Through Rubbish & art: Revealing Waste Through Art»

Project Overview
The OTRart project is a collaborative initiative between France, Greece, Italy, Spain, Croatia and Malta, aimed at exploring the ecological transition process and landfill sites in the Mediterranean region. Through knowledge exchange, skill-building, and the integration of cultural and artistic practices, the project seeks to address environmental challenges and promote waste management awareness. Thus, OTRart project is dedicated to fostering a sustainable future through art. We seek artists who work with recycled materials and engage in environmentally conscious artistic practices to raise awareness of climate change and the urgency of sustainable living. Art has the power to reflect the beauty of nature, highlight threats to the environment, and inspire action across all generations. The project is co-funded by the European Union.

Project duration
19 months - starting date: 1st November 2024/ ending date: 31st May 2026

Project and activities short description
In today's Europe (and beyond) waste is accumulating in the countryside as well as in towns and cities, by the seaside and even in the digital sphere, despite good recycling practices. What's more, there is a growing sense of abandonment among local populations, in both rural and urban areas.

The OTRart project aims to respond to this situation through a series of concrete actions:

- Preparatory exchanges on the themes addressed during the residencies and exchanges of good practice between experienced organisations and those newly involved

- Identifying local partners who can benefit from the activities carried out during the residencies

- Organisation of 6 themed artistic residencies on the main issue of recycling through art, leading to 6 restitutions. In other words, the implementation of a high-impact awareness-raising method

- Workshops to learn new recycling/ upcycling methods

- Micro-events to raise awareness and promote recycling

- Creation of a visual identity specific to the project's events/exhibitions

The main aim of OTRart project is to utilise waste to create something beautiful and literally make art from something people would just throw away, meanwhile launching a message of sensitisation to youth and the main public. Through the present Call, the OTRart project is inviting artists from all backgrounds and nationalities to apply for a series of residencies focusing on sustainability, aiming to raise awareness through creative and transformative artistic expressions.

Residencies and their relevance

The choice has been made in order to give visibility to those differences in approach towards litter. There is no better way to denounce an issue than to allow people to reflect critically on the matter. We firmly believe that the medium of art is one of the best to allow critical thinking.

- Open-air waste disposals can be found in many agricultural areas, cities, their outskirts, and on the sea-side. This underlines the mismatch between the fundamental values of the EU and the behaviour of individuals within it. Although it being a factor amongst many, they contribute to the stigmatisation and even exclusion of fragilised citizens.

- Rural desertification is a major issue that many small villages in the Mediterranean are facing. Traditional memories and culture in agricultural areas are strongly threatened. By bringing activities in those villages, we hope we can help revitalise them.

- Suburban and urban areas also suffer from neglect, especially their youth. By showing them rural areas problems, we hope to raise their general awareness and help revitalise them.

Residencies’ locations and periods of implementation

Spain: May 2025
Malta: June 2025
Greece: September 2025
Croatia: October 2025
France: November 2025
Italy: January/February 2026

Given all of the above, which is an integral part of this Call for expression of interest, Déchets d’Arts is seeking artists who, aware of the ethical and pedagogical mission of the project and of the dissemination and awareness-raising purposes of artistic residencies, possess the requisites to be included in an international long list of artists capable to manage an artistic residency, also in collaboration with other artists of national and/or international fame.

The Call is open until : June 30th, 2025 (23.59 pm, CET).