SOILSCAPE Open Call for Arts and Creative Approaches

About the Open Call

The SOILSCAPE Open Call aims to foster the integration of arts, arts-based, and creative approaches to increase soil literacy, raise awareness, and encourage engagement with soil and its preservation. A total of 2,010,000€ is allocated to support individual applicants and small consortia (up to three partners) across two call categories. The SOILSCAPE FSTP category will select twelve sub-projects (6, 12, or 18 months duration) at local, national, or transnational scales for developing innovative communication campaigns, organizing artistic activities, and deploying creative methodologies to engage citizens with soil protection. The Soil Orchestra FSTP category, with 960,000€, will fund an additional three sub-projects in each of the eight existing Soil Orchestras located in Italy, Germany, Poland, France, Bulgaria, Finland, Switzerland, and Portugal. Each of these 24 sub-projects can receive up to 40,000€ for an 18-month implementation period, focusing on developing creative, arts-based contributions to animate local Soilscape Festivals and engage participants with soil-related themes. Specific activities include workshops, artistic shows/performances, educational video games, performing arts, visual arts, and film.

What is Offered

Selected individual applicants and small consortia will receive financial support, with a total budget of 2,010,000€ for the FSTP scheme. Specific Soil Orchestra sub-projects can receive up to 40,000€. Successful proposals will implement projects lasting 6, 12, or 18 months, gaining opportunities to showcase artistic and creative work at national and transnational Soilscape Festivals. This also includes professional development through increasing soil literacy and awareness, and engaging with a broad European audience. All projects will undergo Design, Develop, and Validate phases.

Requirements

The open call accepts applications from individual applicants and small consortia of up to three parties. Applicants must be legal entities from Horizon Europe eligible countries. Consortia are encouraged to integrate artistic, creative, and/or participatory approaches, ideally bringing together soil science expertise with artist/creative partners. The projects must aim to raise awareness and engagement with soils and their preservation.

How to Apply

Applications for the SOILSCAPE Open Call must be submitted digitally through the Open Call Platform (https://opencalls.fund). Proposals are due before the deadline of September 30, 2025, at 5pm CET. Applicants automatically accept the terms and conditions described in the Open Call kit upon submission.