Living with the Ocean – A Travelling Exhibition

Living with the Ocean is a dynamic exhibition that evolves with every new location it visits. It showcases interdisciplinary research on the past, present, and future of coastal cultures, to raise  awareness of local, regional, and global challenges and opportunities. Designed for diverse audiences, the exhibition is a co-creative space where arts and sciences converge. It encourages communities worldwide to participate and to reimagine their relationship with water.

Launched in Europe in 2024, the exhibition will have visited three continents by summer of 2026, including the American Arctic. Its collection is also available globally in open-access format: https://oceanpastfutures.weebly.com. The street gallery has served as a foundation for interactive activities with the public, researchers, and students. As part of the UArctic Congress, the collection will grow with bespoken canvases.

Each canvas, available in 180 x 180 cm format, is weather-resistant and suitable for indoor or outdoor display. The exhibition team will guide visitors, invite them to draw on the white canvas, conduct visitor surveys, and encourage UArctic Congress participants to submit photos and questions for potential inclusion in the exhibition.

The exhibition is funded by UiT The Arctic University of Norway, EEA -grants and through the UArctic Norwegian Funding for Networking Activities by UiT The Arctic University of Norway.