SOILSCAPE Open Call at a Glance
The SOILSCAPE Open Call supports a diverse portfolio of 36 projects that connect soil, science, arts and citizen engagement to make soil more visible and relevant in people’s everyday lives. By fostering creative approaches and participatory practices, the initiative aims to raise awareness of soil’s importance for climate, biodiversity, food systems and overall wellbeing, while encouraging citizens to actively contribute to its protection.
Aligned with the EU Mission “A Soil Deal for Europe”, the Open Call addresses key challenges such as reducing desertification and erosion, conserving soil organic carbon, improving soil structure and biodiversity, reducing pollution, limiting soil sealing and lowering the EU’s global soil footprint. It also promotes soil literacy and integrates arts into soil-related communication and activities, creating meaningful connections between people and the ground beneath them.
The SOISLCAPE Open Call is implemented through two complementary funding schemes. The SOILSCAPE FSTP supports 12 projects at local, national and transnational levels, focusing on innovative communication campaigns, artistic initiatives and participatory engagement methods. In parallel, the Soil Orchestra FSTP funds 24 artistic projects embedded in the 8 Soils and Arts Orchestras, each bringing together artists, scientists and communities through festivals, performances, exhibitions and creative outreach activities.
Together, these actions form a collaborative European effort to deepen public understanding of soil and inspire long-term cultural and behavioral change toward its preservation.
SOILSCAPE FSTP
Strand 1 – Innovative communication campaigns
The selected Soils and Arts projects under Strand 1 focus on delivering innovative communication campaigns that creatively raise awareness about the importance of soil. Implemented by individual applicants or small consortia, these projects combine creative, cultural and scientific approaches to engage diverse audiences and connect soil to everyday life. Through hands-on activities and adaptable tools, they foster long-term public engagement and advocacy for soil health, while contributing to the visibility and understanding of the Mission “A Soil Deal for Europe”. Each project demonstrates innovation either through its messages/narratives or the tools it employs, going beyond standard practices to communicate the value of soil and its link to human well-being. Together, they aim to increase public awareness, strengthen understanding of sustainable soil management and inspire a positive shift in attitudes and behaviours toward soil protection.
Get to know more about the selected Soils and Arts projects under Strand 1 Innovative communication campaigns!
IMAGINE-SOIL: Communicating Soil Futures with Citizens and Communities – Local
SOIL: Subterranean Organisms Investigation & Learning – Local
RECITAL: Remuer Ciel et Terre – an educational playground – National
SoilSparks – Transnational
Strand 2 – Organization and promotion of artistic/arts-based soil-related activities
The selected Soils and Arts projects under Strand 2 focus on organizing and promoting artistic activities that highlight the ecological, cultural and scientific significance of soil. Led by individual artists or small consortia, these projects bring together diverse practices that draw inspiration from soil and art, ranging from contemporary art to community-based and action-oriented initiatives that merge art with science. Through innovative and interdisciplinary approaches, they engage the public in creative experiences that emphasize the connection between soil, culture and everyday life. By fostering collaboration between artists, scientists, cultural organizations and local communities, these projects aim to increase awareness and understanding of soil, encourage active participation and produce high-quality artistic works that resonate with broad audiences.
Get to know more about the selected Soils and Arts projects under Strand 2-Organization and promotion of artistic/arts-based soil-related activities !
Love for Soil – Local
ART-SOIL-URFA – Local
Touching Landbodies – National
Seeds of Connection – Soil Literacy & Innovation through Digital – Transnational
Strand 3 – Deploy innovative, creative and participatory methodologies for engaging citizens in soil protection and preservations
The selected Soils and Arts projects under Strand 3 focusing on engaging citizens in the protection and preservation of soil, as well as addressing key soil challenges outlined by the Soil Deal Mission. By empowering citizens to take an active role, the projects aim to build awareness, foster collaboration and cultivate a shared sense of responsibility for soil across diverse communities. Expected outcomes include increased citizen engagement, the development of creative participatory methods to enhance soil literacy, behavioural change toward soil stewardship, stronger community networks connecting citizens, organizations and experts.
Get to know more about the selected Soils and Arts projects under Strand 3- Deploy innovative, creative and participatory methodologies for engaging citizens in soil protection and preservations !
Regenerar 2026: Thriving Soil and Culture across Generations – Local
SENS: Sensory Exploration of Nexus in Soils – Local
Living Soils Project: Creative Communities for Healthy Urban Soils Project – National
SOIL-XR: Immersive XR Living Labs for Soil Awareness and Education – Transnational
Soil Orchestra FSTP
France – Festival animation
Bulgaria – Festival animation
The selected Soils and Arts projects for the Bulgarian SOILSCAPE festival focus on engaging individuals with little to no prior awareness or concern about soil, inspiring action to protect and preserve it. The three projects will animate at least one festival using creative, arts-based and participatory approaches that highlight the vital connection between humans and soil, raise public awareness of soil’s role in both tangible and intangible heritage, also empower audiences to act for soil conservation. These projects emphasize inclusivity, creativity and broad appeal, ensuring that activities resonate with and actively engage diverse participants.
Get to know more about the selected Soils and Arts projects under Soil Orchestra FSTP Bulgaria – Festival animation!
SOIL DNA: SOil Information and Literacy through contemporary DaNce and Awareness
Portugal – Festival animation
The selected Soils and Arts projects for the Portuguese SOILSCAPE festival focus on engaging individuals with little to no prior awareness or concern about soil, inspiring action to protect and preserve it. The three projects will animate at least one festival using creative, arts-based and participatory approaches that highlight the vital connection between humans and soil, raise public awareness of soil’s role in both tangible and intangible heritage, also empower audiences to act for soil conservation. These projects emphasize inclusivity, creativity and broad appeal, ensuring that activities resonate with and actively engage diverse participants.
Get to know more about the selected Soils and Arts projects under Soil Orchestra FSTP Portugal – Festival animation!
MESH: Multisensory Experience of Soil Health
Finland – Artistic ambassador
The selected Soils and Arts projects for Finland will support the development of a strong art-soil ecosystem and provide creative animation for the Finnish SOILSCAPE Festival. Three projects will be chosen to act as ‘artist ambassadors’, delivering creative outputs that engage audiences across Finland through three complementary components:
-Presentations/Demonstrations: Showcase artistic or creative interpretations of soil-related themes.
-Artist ‘Talk Backs’: Facilitate discussions with audiences to share insights and foster dialogue about their work.
-Technical Outreach: Offer educational or skill-based activities to connect artistic practices with soil science and broader community understanding.
Get to know more about the selected Soils and Arts projects under Soil Orchestra FSTP Finland – Artistic ambassador!
Germany – Festival animation
The selected Soils and Arts projects in Germany within the Soil Orchestra FSTP focus on three complementary approaches to engage audiences with soil-related themes during the German SOILSCAPE Festival.
Performance: Projects in this strand will create unique, live performances centered on soil topics, ideally incorporating participatory elements to engage festival attendees directly.Performances will run daily throughout the festival, be family-friendly and accessible to both German- and English-speaking audiences.
Visual Arts Exhibition: These projects bring together artists and interdisciplinary teams to develop collaborative visual art exhibitions exploring the aesthetic, scientific and cultural significance of soil.
Hidden World of Soil Film: Projects in this strand will produce visually compelling and scientifically informative films that reveal the hidden world of soil organisms and their habitats. Combining narrative and scenic elements, the films aim to educate and emotionally engage audiences while illustrating soil’s role in broader ecosystems and human land use. Beyond the festival premiere, films will be shared at other events and filmmakers are expected to participate in at least one discussion or interview during the festival.
Get to know more about the selected Soils and Arts projects under Soil Orchestra FSTP Germany!
The Near and the Elsewhere: Reading the Soil’s Unstable Archive – Visual Arts Exhibition
SASS: SASCHA UND DER ERDGEIST Sasha and the Soil Spirit – Performance
Give Soil a Voice – a musical journey under the surface of Lippe (GSV Lippe) – Film
Poland – Festival animation
The selected Soils and Arts projects in Poland within the Soil Orchestra FSTP focus on three complementary formats designed to engage audiences during the SOILSCAPE Festival.
Stage Performance: Projects in this strand will develop and present compelling stage-based performances centered on soil, aiming to leave audiences with a new perspective, knowledge or appreciation of its significance. Artists will perform during the festival and create a promotional playbill outlining the performance, its inspiration and the artists involved.
Visual Arts Exhibition: Through these projects artists will design and present exhibitions or installations inspired by soil, using creative approaches to connect audiences with its importance. Exhibits may include visual art, interactive elements or multimedia displays, also artists will engage with audiences through discussions about their work and inspiration.
Workshop: Projects in this strand will deliver interactive, participatory workshops that connect citizens with soil through engaging and adaptable methodologies, often combining artistic approaches with soil science. Workshops will take place daily during the festival and will be conducted in Polish.
Get to know more about the selected Soils and Arts projects under Soil Orchestra FSTP Poland!
Solid Ground. Garden City, Living Soil – Stage Performance
Relict Soil: Expedition and Exhibition – Visual Arts Exhibition
Warsaw Soilcentrism: Urban Soil Encounters – Workshop
Switzerland – Festival animation
The selected Soils and Arts projects in Switzerland within the Soil Orchestra FSTP focus on three complementary formats that combine creativity, education and public engagement during the Swiss SOILSCAPE Festival.
Visual Arts Exhibition: Projects in this strand will develop exhibitions or installations inspired by soil, using visual art, interactive elements or multimedia to connect audiences with its significance. Artists will engage with visitors through discussions about their work and document their creative process through short videos.
Educational Video Game: These projects will create engaging and educational video games designed to improve soil literacy among the general public. Featuring immersive gameplay, interactive elements and educational content, the games will be available in German or Swiss or German and English, and will be piloted at the Swiss SOILSCAPE Festival.
Soil-Inspired Film: Projects in this strand will produce visually compelling and scientifically grounded films inspired by soil, combining narrative and scenic elements to tell engaging and educational stories about soil ecosystems and their connection to human land use. Films will premiere at the festival and be shared more widely, with filmmakers participating in discussions or interviews with audiences.
Get to know more about the selected Soils and Arts projects under Soil Orchestra FSTP Switzerland!
Soil Bodies- The Living Tapestry – Visual Arts Exhibition
Monoculture Mod – Educational Video Game
SoilChange: Stories of Transformation – Soil-Inspired Film
SOILSCAPE news and events
Stay tuned for the latest news, events and updates from SOILSCAPE! Here, we will showcase exciting project milestones, upcoming Soil festivals and ways for you to get involved.
