Artists and artistic groups based in Wrocław, Riga, Ancona, Faro, Amsterdam, and their surrounding areas were invited to submit their proposals as part of the open call The Weight of Air. The call remained open until July 31, 2023, with the aim of selecting artists who would take on the challenge of creating works addressing the most pressing air-related issues in selected locations.
Air — omnipresent, yet invisible and unpredictable — became the main theme of the project. Artists were tasked with responding to issues such as its “weight” and “volume” as well as the impact of human activity and industry on its quality. From the applications received, five individual artists or artistic groups were selected — one for each participating city. The resulting works became unique responses to local air-related challenges while also connecting to common themes developed within the project.
The selected works were chosen by five organizations collaborating within The Big Green project, part of the Creative Europe program: Art Transparent Foundation (Wrocław), Latvijas Jaunā Teātra Institūts (Riga), Marche Teatro (Ancona), Sciaena (Faro), and Collectief Walden (Amsterdam). The selected artists and groups began their collaboration in October 2023, with project work continuing through July 2024.
Throughout the project, artists received honoraria and production budgets, which were agreed upon individually with each group. The creative process involved collaboration with local organizations as well as online and offline meetings to ensure the consistency of the emerging works. A decision to adopt a shared project theme was made at the beginning of the collaboration, allowing artists to draw on similar materials and creative processes.
The project concluded with the presentation of the completed works, which highlighted complex issues related to air, the natural environment, and ecology, while showcasing diverse artistic approaches to interpreting a common theme.
