Public Art and Collective Engagement in Addressing Climate Change

The Case of the Encheu Project in Santos, Brazil

Abstract

This article analyzes Encheu Project, a transatlantic artistic residency conceived by curator Giovanna Di Giacomo in partnership with Instituto Procomum and funded by the Embassy and Consulate-General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Brazil. Focused on rising sea levels, the project used Santos, a Brazilian coastal city vulnerable to flooding, as a case study. The initiative fostered knowledge exchange between Brazil and the Netherlands, bringing together the artists Julian Campos (Santos) and Anne Vera Veen (Rotterdam), alongside water management specialists, local communities, and the Procomum team. The project culminated in a public art intervention at the Santos Municipal Aquarium, collaboratively created during the residency. This work addresses the causes and impacts of rising sea levels while promoting community resilience. Grounded in the pillars of memory, belonging, and awareness, the project serves as an inspiring example of how art can drive collective practices and creative solutions in addressing the climate crisis.