As part of “Liepaja – European Capital of Culture 2027”, an open call has been announced for public artworks and artistic interventions that through public engagement and listening, would respond to and reflect on wind, climate and environmental fluctuations. The project “Atmospheric Waves” is looking for original concepts and ideas for sound artworks that would respond to wind and climate conditions in Liepaja, on the West Coast of Latvia. The competition is open for applications until September 4, 2026.
The project “Atmospheric Waves” is dedicated to exploring the diverse aspects of wind, using sound art in its most diverse manifestations, public engagement and listening culture. Liepaja with its distinct seaside climate will be an ideal place for a dialogue between art, science and society. The “Atmospheric Waves” festival will take place from May 12–16, 2027 and the program of the festival includes the opening of an international exhibition and presentations of artworks, workshops, sound walks, as well as an international symposium on wind, waves and the Anthropocene, organized by CENSE (Central European Sound Ecology Network).
Through the international open call for the “Atmospheric Waves” festival five artists will be selected, whose creative practice involves sound art, natural data representation, and environmental object creation, and who are ready to participate in the international symposium, exhibition, and residency – in Liepaja and Laidi – in April and May 2027.
An exhibition of works selected in the competition and developed within the project will be on display at the project’s final exhibition in the urban environment of Liepaja from May 15 to November 30, 2027.
We invite sound artists, sculptors, architects, designers, visual and media artists, as well as others whose work encompasses the fields of art, science, climate and environmental research, activism and public awareness and their intersections. Applications are open to artists from all over the world, but artists are responsible for their own visas and other necessary travel documents. Submitted projects must clearly reflect the main themes of the “Atmospheric Waves” project. Whether this is done through aeolian effects or sonification of Liepaja’s wind and climate conditions, we want to promote listening as a way to learn and explore the local climate.
“Atmospheric Waves” aims to encompass the diversity of artistic approaches that have influenced the broad concept of “sound art” in recent decades. This includes common interfaces with the fields of new media art, sound research, new music, sculpture, architecture and design. Technological developments, such as low-power computing, remote sensing and data monitoring, have also expanded the potential connections between artistic practices and climate and natural sciences. In addition, the fields of “sensory studies” are expanding in the humanities and social sciences, which continue to ask important questions about how we interact with the environment around us.
The application is open to ideas and collaborations with art projects from a wide range of fields that express the main themes of the exhibition “Atmospheric Waves” through creative and artistic means of expression. It is desirable that the artwork application includes one of the following elements: aeolian sculpture, environmentally responsive installation, sound sculpture, guided sound walk, listening score, data sonification, remote sensing, wind energy, social intervention and/or architectural intervention.
The selected artists will receive a fee of EUR 1,500, while the development budget allocated for one artwork is EUR 3,500. In addition, accommodation is paid for during the artists’ residency at the Laidi Manor Residence, which is located approximately 70 km from Liepaja.
The artworks will be placed on the territory of the former fishing collective farm “Kursa”, including the territory surrounding the recently opened club maps.app.goo.gl.
Application form and detailed information about applying: forms.gle
For questions about various opportunities for developing work and working on-site during the residency, as well as other conditions and additional information, please write to krista@aste.gallery
The festival “Atmospheric Waves” is organized by the association “ASTE. Art, Science, Technology, Education” in collaboration with artist and curator Džonas Grziničs . It has been developed in partnership with “MoKS” and with the financial support of the “Nobidinājums Liepaja 2027” foundation. The project is implemented within the framework of the “Liepaja 2027” program, using the funding allocated by the Ministry of Culture, Liepaja City, Dienvidkurzeme and Kuldīga regions, and the State Cultural Capital Fund. The “Liepaja 2027” program is supported by the main partner in the field of environmental education and sustainability AS “CleanR Grupa”, the main partner in the field of mobility and international communication AS “airBaltic Corporation”, the partner in legal matters SIA “Sorainen ZAB”, the land mobility partner SIA “Lux Express Latvia”. Informative – VSIA “Latvijas Sabiedriskais medijs”, AS “KURZEMES RADIO”.
Information about the project is available on the website: www.atmosphericwaves.lv
Photo by: John Grzinich, title: Wind harp installation “Powerless Flight”
Krista Dintere
Foundation “ASTE. Art, Science, Technology, Education”
Phone: +371 25 997 662
E-mail: krista@aste.gallery
The Liepāja Culture Department has announced the second cultural project competition of 2026, inviting applications for financial support for the implementation of significant, unique and traditional cultural projects in Liepāja. Applications can be submitted until 24 August.
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