WATER Retreat in Portugal
October 2025
From October 20 to 24, Quinta da Fornalha in Castro Marim was the stage for a meeting where art, science, and sustainability converged. For five days, Sciaena hosted the 3rd Retreat of The Big Green, a European project that brings together artists, cultural producers, educators, researchers, and organizations from various countries around a common mission: raise awareness in the artistic community about sustainability during the creative and artistic production process and also use art as a tool to promote sustainability and inspire change.
With this year’s focus on water, the subject took on particular significance—a recurring motif that also captures the spirit of Sciaena. The retreat was intended to be a place for creative exchange and nature immersion, where discussions among various fields of expertise served as a catalyst for fresh concepts and teamwork.
The arrival of the participants, coming from various parts of Europe, began in Faro with a joint trip to Castro Marim. Upon arrival, a workshop on gastronomy, sustainability, and tradition, led by Chef Vasco Prudêncio, set the appetite for a week full of enriching experiences.
After a guided tour of the farm on the second day, specialists Cristina Veiga Pires and Margarida Castro led a discussion about the ocean, water, and sustainability. The PiNA team, the Slovenian partner organization, arranged activities in the afternoon that improved the participants’ relationships with one another. In a spirit of friendship and sharing, the day came to a close with the sounds of Portuguese music performed by Ricardo Martins, Beatriz Pereira e Cláudio Sousa.
The project’s philosopher and researcher led a casual discussion titled “Being aeffective and other ideas: Research conversation” at the start of the third day. Later in the afternoon, water won the spotlight. Under the guidance of biodiversity specialist João Tiago Tavares, the group took part in the “Nature, salt and water” excursion, which included a nature walk, a salt spa, and the local salt flats. An educational and sensory experience that emphasized the importance of coastal habitats and water for the region’s environmental and cultural equilibrium.
Artivism, diversity, inclusivity, and sustainability were among the subjects covered in the day that followed, focusing on the ability of art to motivate social and environmental change. A farewell celebration and organic wine tasting with Rolha Vinhos celebrated a week of work, creativity, and nature connection as the retreat came to an end.
On the final day of the retreat, the group traveled via Santa Catarina da Fonte do Bispo before heading back to Faro. There, they saw the exhibition at the Museu Zer0 – Digital Art Center, which was organized by Miguel Neto, an artist associated with Sciaena for the project The Big Green.
The 3rd The Big Green Retreat in the Algarve was much more than a work meeting: it was a space for learning, creation, and reconnection with nature. A network of individuals and ideas brought together by a shared vision – a more sustainable future for the globe — was solidified between discussions, walks, and creative moments.
Link to the full article: https://www.sciaena.org/en/sciaena-hosted-the-3rd-retreat-of-the-big-green-in-the-algarve/