Organizer Information:

Silba Environment Art (SEA) is a platform for creative experiments on the Croatian island of Silba. Founded in 2015, SEA has hosted hundreds of international artists in a unique off-grid environment where nature, slowness, and deep listening shape artistic processes. Rooted in sustainability, ritual ecology, and creative autonomy, SEA fosters transformative residencies outside the pressures of urban production.

Description:

SEA AIR is an independent artist-in-residence program designed for artists, writers, sound explorers, ritualists, herbalists, and cultural practitioners seeking solitude, sacred rest, and elemental creativity. Taking place on the remote, car-free island of Silba in the Adriatic Sea, the residency offers off-grid accommodation, deep connection with nature, and the freedom to follow your own rhythm—without pressure for results.

This is a space for recalibration and ritual, for forest-dwelling and sea-dreaming. We welcome open-ended proposals rooted in listening, healing, ecology, silence, and intuitive creation.

More: https://www.silba-environment-art.hr/sea-air/

Category:

Visual Art, Writing, Sound Art, Performance, Ritual Practice, Healing Arts, Environmental Art, Research, Interdisciplinary

Eligibility:

International artists, writers, healers, ritualists, and researchers of all genders and identities (Especially welcoming BIPOC, LGBTQ+, emerging and non-institutional practitioners)

Location:

Silba Island, Croatia (Adriatic Sea)

Off-grid wooden house, 15-min walk from the village, surrounded by forest and wild beaches

Key Dates:

Residency periods:

  • → Autumn: October – December 2025
  • → Spring: January – April 2026

  • Application deadline: August 8, 2025
  • Rolling admission: spaces are assigned as applications arrive, so early submissions are encouraged

Application Fee:

No application fee.

Participation is based on a simple and transparent agreement:

  • A basic daily contribution (~25 EUR/day) is requested to cover essential household costs (solar power, water, firewood, supplies).
  • Additional contributions—such as skill-sharing, workshops, barter, or help with the house/garden—are individually arranged in the spirit of reciprocity.
  • We are open to adapting the exchange model for artists with limited financial resources, as long as the agreement feels nourishing for both guest and host.

Awards & Benefits:

  • Off-grid residency on a remote island (2 weeks – 2 months)
  • Accommodation in wooden house (40 m²) with creative studio, garden, Wi-Fi, and basic tools
  • Freedom to rest, create, experiment, or just be
  • Optional involvement in Magia Botanica – a living herbal ritual ecology project
  • Personal orientation & support from SEA team
  • No pressure for outcomes; all disciplines and process-phases welcome

Submission:

To apply, simply fill out this short online form:

  • There is no need for a formal proposal. We welcome intuitive, open-ended applications. You can share a few words about your current practice, what draws you to Silba, and when you’d ideally come.

Selection Process:

This is not a competition and there is no jury. Instead, we carefully read each application and respond personally. Selection is based on alignment with the space and philosophy.

Travel & Access:

Participants arrange their own travel to the island. Silba is accessible by ferry from Zadar (Croatia), which has an international airport. A practical welcome guide is provided upon acceptance.

Please note: Silba is car-free and the residency house is a 15-minute walk from the ferry port, along a gravel path. Pack light and mind the terrain.

Living Conditions:

This is a genuine off-grid experience. Electricity comes from solar panels, water from rain. Residents must be comfortable with independent, low-tech living. We support your landing, but we value your autonomy.

You’ll be gifted time, space, and silence—no deadlines, no noise, no performance.

For any additional inquerements please contact Natasha at mavena@mavena.hr

Contact Information:

Residency