PartArt4OW, the innovative initiative bridging art and ocean awareness, made a significant splash at the recent European Ocean Days 2025, held as part of the Mission Ocean week in Brussels from March 3rd to 7th, 2025. The project, represented by its dedicated partners from Sapienza Università Roma, Raw-News, and CMMI, actively participated in the 3rd Annual Mission Ocean and Waters Forum and a series of related events, bringing its unique perspective to the forefront of ocean conservation discussions.
The central event, the 3rd Annual Forum on March 4th, provided a vital platform for signatories of the Ocean Chart and various stakeholders to connect, exchange knowledge, and strategize the future direction of the Mission "Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030." PartArt4OW actively contributed to this dialogue, highlighting the crucial role of artistic engagement in fostering a deeper connection with and understanding of our seas.
Showcasing Progress and "Blue Kinships"
On Monday, March 3rd, PartArt4OW presented its project progress during a dedicated side event: "Mission ‘Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030’ – 3rd Annual Forum – Side event." This session offered an opportunity to share the initiative's advancements and insights with a focused audience. A key highlight of this presentation was the showcasing of the video-reportage by the CO>SEA team, "Blue Kinships. Documenting Ocean relationships." This compelling video likely offered a visual narrative exploring the diverse and often unexpected emotional connections between society and the ocean – a central theme for PartArt4OW.
Engaging Through Interactive Art Exhibitions
Throughout the European Ocean Days, PartArt4OW also organized an engaging and interactive exhibition featuring the photographic slideshows "Blue Kinship" and "Explorations in the Plastisphere." Building upon the successful public photographic exhibition "An intimate connection. Society and the Ocean in Water Photography" launched during their Kick-Off Meeting [as previously reported], PartArt4OW brought this concept to Brussels, inviting attendees to actively participate in exploring their relationship with the ocean through art.
The "Blue Kinship" exhibition, a result of an artistic photographic reportage, delved into the multiple and varied emotional connections between people and the ocean. By presenting compelling imagery, PartArt4OW aimed to strengthen the understanding of the ocean's social and cultural value, aligning with the EU Mission Starfish's goal of fostering a more inclusive and systemic consideration of global ocean socio-ecological relationships.
A unique element of the PartArt4OW exhibition was the "hand-on-art" activity. Attendees were encouraged to interact directly with printed photographs – cutting, pasting, drawing, commenting, and reassembling the images. This tactile engagement aimed to stimulate reflection on the complex interplay of materials, imaginaries, and forces within the marine environment, ultimately encouraging a reconceptualization of our shared belonging to the ocean.
During the exhibition, the PartArt4OW Principal Investigator (PI) actively engaged with attendees, posing questions and listening to their suggestions for the project. Participants also had the opportunity to express their personal emotional connection to the ocean by writing, designing, sketching, or noting their thoughts on a colourful paper board, and to vote for the image that best represented their feelings.
Making Meaningful Connections
Beyond the presentations and exhibitions, PartArt4OW representatives also participated in matchmaking sessions, seeking to forge new connections and collaborations within the European ocean conservation community. This proactive engagement underscores the project's commitment to building a strong network of partners to amplify its impact.
PartArt4OW's active and creative participation in the European Ocean Days 2025 successfully showcased its innovative approach to ocean engagement. By deploying the power of art and fostering direct interaction, the project effectively communicated the vital emotional connections between society and the ocean, leaving a lasting impression on attendees and further solidifying its role in the broader Mission Ocean efforts.