Here are the most frequently asked questions we've received on the Lighthouse Calls.
Who qualifies as an “artist” or “creative practitioner” under the Lighthouse Calls?
The Calls use a deliberately broad definition. Visual and performing artists, writers, filmmakers, designers, architects, digital creators, technologists, and other innovators working through creative practices are all eligible. Assessment is based on the quality and relevance of your practice rather than formal titles. For more information on evaluation criteria please see page 10 of the Lighthouse Calls document.
Can I be the lead applicant or a collective member on more than one proposal?
It is not possible to be the lead applicant or collective member on multiple applications, as we are not permitted to fund an individual or collective more than once.
Can I still apply to the Lighthouse Calls if I have also submitted a proposal to PartArt4OW?
Yes. You may apply to the Lighthouse Calls if your project is under consideration by PartArt4OW. The only restriction is that, if PartArt4OW ultimately funds your project, it becomes ineligible for the funding support through TIDAL ArtS.
Objectives include:
- Reconnect local audiences with their ecological and aesthetic heritage and rich biodiversity.
- Build knowledge and accountability within communities towards the regeneration of local water ecosystems and the circular blue economy.
- Develop multidisciplinary, socially inclusive co-creation approaches that allow artistic work to become a tool for achieving Mission Ocean objectives and foster interconnection with the values of the New European Bauhaus.
- Support the Mission’s broader activities: Link citizens and scientists in artistic engagement by connecting local, water-related themes and challenges to international activities of other Mission projects.
Is it acceptable to submit my artist portfolio as a link to my website?
A CV/resume outlining your professional and artistic journey must be uploaded in PDF format (DIN A4, minimum font size 11pt). Additional pages will not be considered.
Note: max. 2 MB; individual applicants max. 1 page, collectives max. 2 pages
Can students apply?
Yes, students are very much welcome!
May the lead applicant be a curator rather than an artist?
Yes, provided the proposal demonstrates a clear artistic vision and feasible budget. The project first and foresees funding the creation and exhibition of creative works and expressions. Please refer to the evaluation criteria on page 10 of the Lighthouse Calls document for more information.
How does a collective application work?
A partnership of two or more creative practitioners is treated as a collective. In the application form, you’ll designate one member as the administrative lead, this person receives the grant payments and signs the paperwork, while listing the other members under “collective members.” There will therefore only be one contract per project, between the funding institution and the lead applicant. It is then up to the lead artist to distribute the funds to the collective partner as stated in the project budget. If the proposal is funded, all members’ names will appear in communications, and the project will be attributed jointly, with shared responsibility for its implementation.
Can a collective include both artists and social science practitioners?
Yes, a collective may include any mix of creative practitioners as long as one member is named the administrative lead. Please note, that the Calls are envisioned to empower artists/creatives to implement projects in collaboration with other actors.
Can we apply as an NGO?
Eligibility for NGOs is open to organizations whose primary activities and expertise are rooted in the arts, culture, and creative sectors. While we greatly value interdisciplinary collaboration, this call specifically aims to support initiatives where creative and artistic practice is at the forefront. For the application process, we ask that you name one individual from the NGOas the main contact point for the process.
In a collective application, does the portfolio need to represent every member or only the lead?
There should be one portfolio (max 5 pages) uploaded that reflects the collective’s relevant work. This can include the work of the lead as well as the collective members.
Note: max. 2 MB; individual applicants max. 1 page, collectives max. 2 pages
Which countries are eligible to apply for the Lighthouse Calls?
For a full list of eligible countries, please see page 4 of the Lighthouse Calls document.
Can an applicant artist carry out the project in a country that is different from their country of residence?
Yes. An artist may implement their project in a different country if they have the legal right to live and work there for the full duration of the project (i.e. through a visa or citizenship).
For example, a UK artist who secures an Italian self-employment visa may run a project in Italy, or a German artist may stage a project in Cyprus under EU freedom-of-movement rules. For more information on eligibility criteria please see page 7 of the Lighthouse Calls document.
Must the project involve geographic mobility, or can we carry it out entirely within our own community?
A place-based project rooted in one community is welcome if it meets the artistic, scientific, and citizen-engagement goals.
Can a project be implemented along a river or other inland-water body, or must work occur directly on the coast?
Rivers, lakes, and other inland-water projects are fully eligible. The call treats “sea basins” holistically, so work on freshwater systems that feed into an eligible basin is entirely in scope. No special restrictions apply, just show the ecological link and community relevance.
Does a collaboration with scientists already have to exist when applying, or can the planned collaboration be described in the application?
The planned collaboration does not already have to exist when applying. All planned collaborations including those with scientists, community members or other actors should be described in the application.
How should scientists be involved? Do they have to serve an educational or artistic role?
Either role, or a mix, is valid. One can:
• Co-create concepts with a scientist at the outset;
• Embed them as an adviser who supplies data or field access;
• Invite them to interpret or teach from the finished artwork.
Is success judged by the number of participants, or can deep engagement with a small community suffice?
Impact is assessed on relevance and depth of engagement, not sheer numbers. A tightly focused collaboration with a specific community can score as highly as a large urban event if it demonstrates meaningful exchange and clear benefits for those involved.
Are there minimum requirements for the number of workshops or participants?
No.
I am a scientist interested in the Lighthouse Calls. How can I get involved?
TIDAL ArtS will fund 24 arts and creative projects, creating multiple ways for scientists to collaborate, informally, as mentors, or as co-authors on academic outputs. To be notified of upcoming events and other opportunities for collaboration please email info@tidalarts.eu for more information.
Will attaching letters of intent or confirmations from collaborators improve my application score?
They are not mandatory and carry no formal extra points. The reviewers look for substance, so simply describe each partnership (names, roles, prior links, concrete tasks) in the application form. If a letter helps you tell that story, one is welcome to attach it as part of the proposal PDF.
What level of social-media activity and outreach do you expect during the project?
Each applicant (or collective) must have at least one public social media account (Instagram, X/Twitter, Facebook, etc.) to document progress on their project. Creatives are expected to post periodic updates, photos, short videos and reflections, so that TIDAL ArtS can amplify them. The team will offer guidance on style and tagging. There is no follower-count or prior-content requirement in place.
Do collectives receive more than 15,000 Euro in funding?
No, the funding is the same for both singular artists or creatives applying and collectives.
Does the project need to be backed by own funds in addition to the 15.000 Euro funding provided by TIDAL ArtS?
No. Additional funding is not required to submit a project. Submitted projects to TIDAL ArtS can however build on existing projects but should provide new elements meeting the evaluation criteria. It should be noted that artists will receive 60% of the grant funding at the beginning of the project, with the remaining 40% of the funds coming once the project has been completed.
Are there guidelines or preferences for budgeting slow travel (rail or road) instead of flights?
Yes, sustainability is part of the evaluation. Use rail, road, ferry, or shared transport where feasible and explain those choices in the travel line. Air travel is not prohibited but can be justified briefly if chosen.
Will the grant money be paid in instalments?
Yes, awarded artists will receive 60% of the grant funding at the beginning of the project, with the remaining 40% of the funds coming once the project has been completed and the final reporting has been submitted.
May the grant money be paid into a non-profit’s bank account?
Grants are disbursed in installments to the lead applicant’s bank account. In the case of an NGO rooted in the arts, culture, and creative sectors, payments may also be made to the NGOs bank account.
Do applicants need full tax-residency status, or is a work visa that covers the project period sufficient?
A visa or permit that grants you the right to live and work in the implementation country for the project’s duration is sufficient.
Do taxes and VAT have to be paid on the grant?
Funding provided through the TIDAL ArtS project constitutes an EU grant. All selected applicants — whether individuals or organisations — are responsible for determining how such income is treated for tax purposes in their own country. Each applicant must ensure compliance with national tax regulations based on their personal or organisational tax registration. We strongly recommend consulting with a tax advisor or relevant national authority if you are unsure about the implications.
I am interested in the art expertise at the decision-making level. In other words, how is the jury put together?
The evaluation committee is made up of experts from the art world and from marine science. Each application will be evaluated by one representative from the art world and one representative from science. The final selection of the projects will take place after an interview. The evaluators are either from or have extensive experience in the Lighthouse region they are evaluating. Please refer to the evaluation criteria for information on how the applications are evaluated.
How much time is there between the submission of applications and feedback and, if the feedback is positive, the start of implementation?
Yes. After being selected for a Lighthouse project, you will be asked to sign a Contractual Agreement and a Declaration of Honour with the SUBMARINER Network, the coordinating partner of TIDAL ArtS. Further, awarded artists will be required to submit bank account information and complete an identity check, providing a copy of a valid ID and visa (where relevant).
Awarded artists must deliver the above documents in line with the communicated deadlines. If an artist fails to do so, they risk being replaced by an applicant from the Reserve List. In general, this process should not take longer than two weeks.
What kinds of communities should artists/creatives work with as part of their TIDAL ArtS project?
Artists can interpret “communities” broadly here. We invite project proposals that engage with communities of a geographic area (e.g. a specific town), and/or communities of different types of people (e.g. fishers, elderly or young people, asylum seekers, etc.). We will look positively on projects that include a link with ocean science or scientists in some way.
How should artists/creatives work with communities?
While the form of engagement and the artistic/creative practice is of course up to the artist, we are especially interested in projects that engage deeply and meaningfully with their chosen community. We are looking for applications that demonstrate how the proposed project will involve the target community in co-creative processes at different stages (depending on the proposal). We will also look strongly on proposals that demonstrate how they will strive for diversity within their project participants, or alternatively that will target specific marginalised groups or otherwise affect social inclusion.
How should artists/creatives work with communities?
While the form of engagement and the artistic/creative practice is of course up to the artist, we are especially interested in projects that engage deeply and meaningfully with their chosen community. We are looking for applications that demonstrate how the proposed project will involve the target community in co-creative processes at different stages (depending on the proposal). We will also look strongly on proposals that demonstrate how they will strive for diversity within their project participants, or alternatively that will target specific marginalised groups or otherwise affect social inclusion.
What can artists use the 15,000 Euro for?
Applying artists will be asked to design a project for the value of 15,000 Euro and to submit a budget. Travel, personal, community engagement, exhibition, and material costs will be eligible for funding. The submitted budget will be considered as a part of the evaluation process. TIDAL ArtS will not cover additional expenses beyond 15,000 Euro
How do I demonstrate my planned budget?
The table below shows an example of how you can fill in the budget table and can be used as a guide:
Costs | Description of cost item (describe what you will spend the money on in each category) | Amount in euro (must add up to €15.000) |
Personal | Artist fee of 1400 per month for 6 months | 7800 |
Materials | Material costs for art piece | 2750 |
Travel | Train tickets to coastal town (10 x 50) | 500 |
Community Engagement | Space rental for 3 workshops (3×150) | 450 |
Other costs (i.e. exhibition costs) | Production costs – exhibition of work | 3500 |
in total € 15.000 | ||
If I’m selected, will I have to sign a contract? What documents will I need to provide?
Yes. After being selected for a Lighthouse project, you will be asked to sign a Contractual Agreement and a Declaration of Honour with the SUBMARINER Network, the coordinating partner of TIDAL ArtS. Further, awarded artists will be required to submit bank account information and complete an identity check, providing a copy of a valid ID and visa (where relevant).
Awarded artists must deliver the above documents in line with the communicated deadlines. If an artist fails to do so, they risk being replaced by an applicant from the Reserve List. In general, this process should not take longer than two weeks.