S+T+ARTS4Water II Challenge and STARTS Residency
Territorial Agency – ANTHROPOCENE TERRITORY SCHELDT
Host / Region
GLUON / Brussels, Belgium – Port Of Antwerp-Bruges
Abstract
This residency focuses on the interconnected economic, residential, and natural ecosystems surrounding the Port of Antwerp-Bruges. It aims to create artistic outputs that engage communities and promote future sustainable water management through more-than-human perspectives.
Keywords
sea level rise, ecocentrism, biodiversity, interspecies ethics, pollution, water quality
Description of the regional challenge
The Port of Antwerp-Bruges, situated in Flanders, Belgium, serves as the city’s primary maritime gateway. Located mainly within the province of Antwerp and partly in East Flanders, it is Europe’s second-largest seaport, positioned at the upper reaches of the Scheldt river’s tidal estuary.
As a global economic artery, the port, the city, and the interlinked partners face urgent challenges in governing their numerous water challenges. Water quality and pollution, sediment management,the loss of biodiversity and disruption of aquatic habitats, sea level rise and flood rise, water resource management, and ballast water management contribute to the spread of invasive species.
How is the mission S+T+ARTS driven?
Endorsed by the Worldwide Network of Port Cities AIVP and supported by STARTS4waterII coordinator Vito as well as Brussel’s hub for artistic research GLUON, an artist can explore concrete water challenges around the Antwerp area, engaging with biotopes, experts and engineers to add reflection and depth to the water management challenges.
Future port developments can adopt ecocentric planning approaches, involve diverse stakeholders, and prioritise biodiversity conservation, sustainable practices, and ethics of care. This shift of values emphasises the interconnectedness and intrinsic value of non-human entities within port ecosystems. Artist can highlight new perspectives highlighting value shifts that otherwise might remain absent. In collaboration with different players in the port she can engage communities through artistic interventions and contribute to public education and environmental stewardship.
The result of the residency will be shown during the Love Tomorrow Conference at Tomorrowland Festival 2025.
Artist-in-residency – Territorial Agency
Territorial Agency (INT) is an independent organisation established by architects and urbanists John Palmesino (ITA) and Ann-Sofi Rönnskog (FIN). Territorial Agency combines contemporary architecture, art, science, advocacy and action to promote comprehensive territorial transformations in the Anthropocene epoch. Recent projects include ‘Sensible Zone’, ‘Oceans in Transformation’, a multi-year project commissioned by TBA21–Academy, ‘Museum of Oil’ with Greenpeace and ZKM Karlsruhe. Territorial Agency is the recipient of the STARTS PRIZE 2021 – Grand prize of the European Commission honouring innovation in technology, industry and society stimulated by the arts – Artistic Exploration. John Palmesino and Ann-Sofi Rönnskog are Unit Masters at the AA Architectural Association School of Architecture, London They are the chief curators of the Lisbon Architecture Triennale 2025—How heavy is a city?, and they are members of the Anthropocene Working Group, the high-profile team of scientists characterising the Anthropocene epoch.
About The Project – ANTHROPOCENE TERRITORY SCHELDT
ANTHROPOCENE TERRITORY SCHELDT – In the Anthropocene, new territories traverse, diffract and scatter pre-existing ones. The Scheldt is transforming rapidly due to the intensification of human activities, marking a departure from the stable Holocene period. The concept of territory spans multiple disciplines, from biology and geology to politics and economics. The project aims to identify the Anthropocene territory of the Scheldt, linking the Channel and North Sea waters with the estuary and delta, now shaped by intensified material, energy, and information fluxes. With rising sea levels, increased presence of neobiota, and the impact of human construction, this territory faces significant transformations. The project uses remote sensing technologies to create dynamic images, integrating data over time to illustrate these transformations. These images serve as tools for experts and the general public to understand and address the Scheldt’s challenges, facilitating collaboration and new narratives. The project emphasizes the aesthetic and political dimensions of remote sensing, aiming to foster a shared understanding of Scheldt’s Anthropocene territory and support diplomatic negotiations in this space in transformation.
