Art, science and technology unite to rethink our relationship with water.
CTVC was in Angra do Heroísmo on October 1st and 2nd for the launch of Aqua Motion, an initiative of the Portuguese Water Innovation Lab (WIL), of which we are members, as part of the European S+T+ARTS project. This is a program that places art at the center as a starting point for bridging science and technology, and in the case of Aqua Motion seeks to rethink the future of water in Europe.
Aqua Motion will support each artistic project with approximately €40,000 over a 9-month residency running until summer 2026. Within the framework of the Viana do Castelo WIL, the program directly involves the local community in creating artistic and technological solutions related to water resource management.
CTVC is part of this multidisciplinary team with partners such as Dinamo10, IPVC, INOVA+, AEDVC, Explore Iberia and CMIA. As members of the Viana do Castelo WIL, we accompany the artists. Some of these partners — such as IPVC, CMIA and Explore Iberia — also take on the role of host with increased responsibility in supporting the artists. INOVA+ coordinates the consortium and articulates not only the two Portuguese WILs, but also the other international ones in the Netherlands, Austria and Italy, with international partners such as Ars Electronica, WAAG and TU Wien. In total, the program includes 25 residencies distributed across the various WILs, representing a global investment of €1 million.
For the Viana do Castelo WIL, the two days of meetings in the Azores functioned as a warm-up for the S+T+ARTS Center in Viana do Castelo and as a moment for articulating the local ecosystem. For us, it was also an opportunity to strengthen human and institutional relationships that can serve as a foundation for building future projects for the city.
The program in Viana do Castelo features six selected artists: the duo Alexandre Delmar and Maria Ruivo (PT), the duo José Teibão and Filipe Becken (PT), Hila Mor (US) and Kerrie O'Leary (IE). Throughout the residencies, some of these initiatives will involve the local community through creative programming with young people, promotion of citizen science and awareness actions on water-related challenges. Others seek to preserve the region's maritime heritage or develop innovative artistic works that redefine our relationship with water.
CTVC's role involves providing guidance in software engineering and system architecture when relevant, and facilitating access to equipment and other resources. The cooperative has been investing in infrastructure — computational resources, 3D printers, drones, computers for workshops, virtual reality devices, etc. — which will be available to residents through a sharing and requisition model.
We are excited to be part of this network of partners and hope that collaboration across disciplines, generations, nationalities and experiences will open new paths for Viana do Castelo. And we are ready to help the selected artists rethink our relationship with water.
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