Rivers of Democracy is a transnational initiative that seeks to reimagine rivers not only as ecological systems but as subjects of rights, intertwined with human communities, democratic participation, and cultural expression. Flowing across borders, the project transforms Europe’s rivers into corridors of encounter, entry points for rethinking democracy, environmental justice, and rural revitalisation.
Across three distinct routes—from a drifting boat residency through the canals of France to a cycling expedition connecting Vienna, Bratislava, and Budapest—participants engage in a tapestry of experiences. These include water quality testing, participatory artistic interventions, storytelling, and hands-on workshops on the rights of nature.
Strategically woven into Europe’s cultural calendar, Rivers of Democracy connects with major festivals such as Fluctuations, Sziget, and Wiener Festwochen. By traveling together, creating together, and learning from the rhythms of water, Rivers of Democracy seeks to inspire new forms of belonging, responsibility, and shared futures.
Each residency seeks a specific profile of artist.
There are three journeys:
- Rivers of Democracy x Wiener Festwochen (Vienna, Austria), 18–21 June (Stationary Residency), Vienna, along the Danube
- Rivers of Democracy x Fluctuations Festival / Urban Boat (Northern France), 3–10 July (TBC), Compiègne → Noyon → Péronne → Douai → Lille
- Rivers of Democracy x Sziget Festival (Austria, Slovakia and Hungary), 5–11 August, Vienna → Bratislava → Győr → Esztergom → Budapest
The programme provides:
- Travel to and from the starting/ending points of each route
- Accommodation throughout the journey
- Food and basic living costs during the programme
- A platform to co-create and present work within major European festivals (Sziget Festival, Fluctuations Festival, and Wiener Festwochen)
- An environment for interdisciplinary exchange and experimentation
- The opportunity to be part of an international network of practitioners working at the intersection of art, ecology, and democracy
