S+T+ARTS4WaterII - Ports in Transformation
In partnership with S+T+ARTS | Open call to be announced
The Camargo Foundation is proud to announce the launch of a new residency in collaboration with European institutions and partners, S+T+ARTS4WaterII - Ports in Transformation.
Bringing together art, technology and science, S+T+ARTS4Water aims to tackle one of the most pressing challenges of our times: water management. With an ambitious residency program, more than 15 local events, 3 major exhibitions and 6 local labs, this project will contribute to new narratives and exchanges on water management, as well as raise awareness on the pressing challenges facing our society and our ports in Belgium, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Croatia, Ireland, France, Austria and Italy.
The S+T+ARTS4Water Consortium will invite artists to apply for one of the 20 residencies that are being launched by its European partners, including the Camargo Foundation. This call is looking for artists to contribute to the sustainable management of water in a variety of ways through experimental use of and/or critical reflection on digital technologies.
- More information on S+T+ARTS4WaterII here
Specificities of the S+T+ARTS4WaterII residency at the Camargo Foundation
This residency reflects on the present and future coexistence of a fast-changing, historical and industrial port cluster and Mediterranean protected coastal ecosystems. It initiates a dialogue between local ports and cities’ authorities, a national park, sea users, marine scientists and local ecological communities to evolve out of a territorialised understanding of water bodies, to work collectively towards ecological solidarity.
The Camargo Foundation sits amidst the Calanques, a blend of terrestrial, marine, and archipelagic spaces where urban ports meet protected natural spaces. Since the late 18th century, the Calanques have been altered by industrial exploitation, geoengineering and extractivism, damaging ecological communities. Up until today, this toxic legacy continues to affect coastal life. Established in 2012, the Calanques National Park protects this heritage. Spanning over 80 kilometers of coastline, it's Europe's sole peri-urban and the Mediterranean's only continental park. The park draws 3 million visitors yearly. With 93% marine areas, it boasts the region's largest no-fishing zones, covering 10% of its 43,462-hectare marine core. On sea, the park’s eastern border runs up against La Ciotat harbors, once a shipbuilding hub, now a mix of activities (fishing, sailing, yacht refitting).
Set in a present that interweaves distant pasts and futures, the residency addresses issues related to environmental mutations from the perspective of deep time. The residency at Camargo asks how ecological solidarity could be achieved between a historic, industrial port region and a protected coastal area. It looks at the interactions taking place at the interface of a port cluster and marine preserved ecosystems. Against this background and through the residency support outlined we expect artists to develop a project beyond mere concept or techno-utopia, experimenting with ecocritical practices through direct marine engagement and to incorporate diverse stakeholders' perspectives to reflect the complexity of issues and offer future prospects. Expected results could e.g. include 1) Presenting either a functional prototype, speculation(s), or gesture(s) showcasing ecological innovation beyond techno-utopia. 2) Enabling communities to disseminate relevant knowledge.