ART, CREATIVITY, AND MARINE SCIENCES COME TOGETHER TO PROMOTE MEDITERRANEAN OCEAN LITERACY
“USTICA SOMMERSA” SEPTEMBER 10–12
Bringing together the languages of contemporary performing arts, digital and urban art, with natural sciences and marine biology to strengthen Mediterranean Ocean Literacy—an instrument devised by UNESCO to promote the sustainable development of the sea and its resources.
ART4SEA project culminated in the major multidisciplinary art event - Ustica Sommersa - that took place on the island of Ustica from September 10 to 12: a three-day festival of performances, dances, and visual arts in dialogue with Ustica’s territory. Conceived by Pino Di Buduo and Lucenzo Tambuzzo, artistic director of “Art4Sea,” and produced by Teatro Potlach of Fara Sabina, under the artistic direction of Pino Di Buduo, the event transformed the historic centre of Ustica into a widespread artistic itinerary. Here, the memory of the sea and the voice of the territory emerged in their full strength, creating a profound dialogue between art, nature, and community.
The program featured about thirty simultaneous performances engaging the local population. At its core lied the protection of the marine ecosystem and the enhancement of everything that lives “submerged”—not only beneath the sea but also beneath the surface of d
aily life and the fleeting perceptions of the island’s visitors. Each stage of the route opened a window on the dialogue between humanity and nature, between land and memory, between present and future. “Ustica Sommersa” was not just a performance, but a true collective experience: a moment of sharing, reflection, and cultural and environmental regeneration made possible by the artistic vision of Teatro Potlach, the involvement of the local community, and the priceless beauty of Ustica Island.
Among the project partners, DAN Europe Foundation brought its long-standing expertise in diving safety and marine research, connecting the artistic and scientific dimensions of the sea. Through its participation, DAN Europe contributed to raising awareness about the importance of protecting the marine environment—a responsibility deeply rooted in the diving community’s daily experience. For divers, the ocean is not only a space of exploration, but also a shared habitat whose balance must be preserved for future generations.
“ART4SEA” is funded under the CREATIVE EUROPE (CREA)Program – Call CREA-CULT-2022-COOP, Project Number: 101100074. Lead partner: 3D Research SRL (Italy) Partners: iWORLD – World Association for the Safeguarding and Valorisation of Humanity’s Identities (Italy); Fondazione Sebastiano Tusa (Italy); Divers Alert Network Europe Foundation (Malta); Atlantis Consulting SA (Greece); Institut de Ciències del Mar - ICM-CSIC (Spain); Municipality of Vlora (Albania).
