About
Project
MATCH (Mediterranean as the Climate Hotspot) aims at fostering social awareness and engagement through arts practices in community gardens by demonstrating alternative practices which contribute to mitigation, by promoting supportive, self-sufficient, and community-based ways of life, by developing a new set of ethics, and by disseminating knowledge of adaptation specific to the Mediterranean climate and cultures.
MATCH will enable the development, co-creation and presentation of new artworks and cultural initiatives to empower community actions on climate change, through transnational artistic residencies involving artists and creative professionals. Through a capacity building programme, it will offer opportunities for shared learning on artistic community actions that respond proactively to the climate emergency.
It will also implement targeted activities to raise the awareness of both stakeholders and the public as to how socially engaged arts practices can empower communities and will showcase the results of the artist’s work in local exhibitions. Finally, a feedback learning process will lead to the design of a (policy) framework focusing on climate change, culture and the arts.
Over 30-months, MATCH will be carried out in Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Spain and Turkey but will benefit the wider Mediterranean setting the basis for a transnational network of artists, cultural and creative professionals to reflect on the relations between climate change, culture and the arts.
Network
Partners
Mapa das Ideias
Mapa das Ideias has over 20 years of experience in Portugal’s cultural sector, excelling in museum mediation, training, and cross-sector collaboration.Initially focused on museum communication, the company has since expanded its expertise across multiple cultural fields, offering consulting services in audience engagement, communication strategy, and educational program development.
It has led EU-funded projects supporting migrants and vulnerable groups, fostering inclusion and empowerment. With expertise in uniting cultural and educational stakeholders, Mapa advocates for culture, public spaces, and environmental action as tools for social cohesion. Building on past projects with artists and cultural practitioners, it brings valuable insights to the MATCH project, which it coordinates.
BJCEM
BJCEM is a Euro-Mediterranean network that believes that art and culture play a fundamental role in our societies by fostering respect and understanding through cultural exchange. Through its projects, BJCEM supports artists’ mobility, training, and exchange, enriching creative processes. Alongside Mediterranea Young Artists’ Biennale, it organizes residencies, workshops, and exhibitions, engaging international artists and experts to share knowledge and foster environmental responsibility.
In MATCH, it leads communication and dissemination, managing tools, strategies, and results. It coordinates key events, including capacity building workshop, study visit (in Izmir – Turkey), residencies, and the final conference in Turin.
D6:EU
D6:EU is a visual arts organisation based in Cyprus, developing new opportunities for artists and cultural collaborations in Cyprus, Europe and the Middle East. Together with an exceptional team and board, we collaborate with artists, cultural producers, heritage professionals, policy makers and communities to develop international programmes that encourage equity and social and environmental justice.
Our values of equity, sustainability, curiosity and generosity underpin a programme which encompasses capacity building and equitable European collaborations which are deeply connected to social and environmental justice. D6:EU leads on the arts programme for MATCH.
La Friche
la Belle de Mai
La Friche la Belle de Mai is a creative and cultural hotspot in Marseille, housed in a former tobacco factory. Spanning 45,000 square meters, it’s a space where art, music, theater, and community projects come together. Home to over 70 resident organizations, La Friche hosts exhibitions, performances, workshops, and festivals all year round. Its rooftop offers stunning city views and lively open-air events, while its skate park, playgrounds, and gardens make it a welcoming place for all ages.
More than just an arts venue, La Friche is a space for experimentation, collaboration, and urban renewal. With a strong focus on accessibility and cultural diversity, it plays a key role in Marseille’s creative scene, attracting both locals and visitors.
NTUA
The National Technical University (NTUA) is the oldest and most prestigious educational institution of Greece, founded in 1836. NTUA undertakes an average annual number of 500 research projects per year with a budget of 63.000.000 € financed by the Directorates of the European Commission, the Secretariat of Research and Technology, ministries, public corporations, prefectures, municipalities, and the private sector.
A recent survey on the number of research projects sponsored by the European Commission classifies NTUA in second place among all European Universities and in fourth place among all European organisations, including private enterprises. Engaged in several pioneering projects concerning the cultural sector in the EU, the current multifaceted crises and responses through alliances between academia, community and practice such as the Architecture School of Commons, academic collaborations in South America and Ghana and extensive experience in research addressing cultural development.
