Open Call Analysis: SOILSCAPE – Creative Soil Awareness

Open Call for Artistic and Creative Projects on Soil Awareness: Supporting innovation in communication, expression, and citizen engagement for soil protection across Europe

About SOILSCAPE

SOILSCAPE is a four-year Horizon Europe project (2024–2028) coordinated by the French Soil Science Society (AFES). It brings together 19 partners from 11 countries to promote soil preservation through the power of Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs), artists, educators, and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs). To cultivate soil literacy and shift public perceptions around soil, the project engages professionals and citizens alike using creative, multilingual, and multi-actor approaches.

Key objectives include building eight national Soil Orchestras, empowering local actors, and providing financial and technical support through open calls. SOILSCAPE also fosters knowledge-sharing beyond Europe and will host two major editions of national soil festivals, the first in 2026 (France and Portugal), and the second across all Soil Orchestra countries in 2028.

As part of its mission, the SOILSCAPE FSTP Open Call supports innovative artistic and educational sub-projects that raise soil awareness and promote sustainable land practices. The call is open to a wide range of stakeholders and offers up to €150,000 in funding, depending on the project’s scale and scope.

About SOILSCAPE Open Call

The SOILSCAPE FSTP Open Call aims to incentivise the integration of arts, arts-based, and creative approaches to increase soil literacy, raise awareness and engagement with soil and its preservation. The FSTP scheme will support 12 sub-projects under three thematic strands:

Strand 1: Innovative communication campaigns
Strand 2: Artistic/arts-based soil-related activities
Strand 3: Creative and participatory citizen engagement methodologies

Each strand will support projects at three geographic scales, ensuring broad territorial coverage and diverse implementation contexts:

1 Transnational project per strand (max. €150,000) → 3 projects total
1 National project per strand (max. €100,000) → 3 projects total
2 Local projects per strand (max. €50,000) → 6 projects total

More information regarding the specific criteria can be found in the guidelines for applicants.

Project durations can be 6, 12, or 18 months. Funding is provided on a lump sum basis linked to deliverables in three phases: design, development, and validation.

In addition, the SOILSCAPE project currently has a second open call available called “Soil Orchestra FSTP” that will fund 24 projects with up to €40,000. For more information, visit the SOILSCAPE website.

Why Apply?

Receive 100% lump-sum funding for your activities
Work on soil literacy through arts, education, and public engagement
Join a transnational ecosystem of scientists, artists, educators, and institutions
Gain visibility through the SOILSCAPE soil festivals and European networks
Get access to communication resources and collaborative opportunities
Projects may be included in European soil-themed events from 2026 to 2028

Who Can Apply?

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

Legal entities based in Horizon Europe-eligible countries
Applicants may be: Self-employed individuals, SMEs, Public authorities and public institutions, CSO and/or cooperatives
Submit a single or a consortium of up to 3 partners’ application
If you are an unregistered artist, there are Special provisions exist to apply via cooperation with legal entities
Projects must be distinct and not overlap with existing SOILSCAPE-funded activities

You can find more information on specific examples of potential applicants in Annexes 2-4 of the guidelines for applicants.

How to Apply?

Register and apply via this link
Download and complete the official application kit
Submit required documents in PDF format
All applications must be in English

The submission process for both single applicants and consortia can be summarised as shown below:

Evaluation & Selection Process

The evaluation is divided into a two-phase process:

Eligibility check
Technical evaluation by soil and creative experts (each proposal will be evaluated by 2 different evaluators)

Evaluators will evaluate each proposal based on 4 different criteria:

Concept & feasibility: Evaluates the clarity, relevance and practicality of the concept with the SOILSCAPE project
Creativity & citizen engagement potential: Assesses the originality of the activity
Impact & exploitation: Measures the anticipated impact of the activities on target audiences
Team capacity & Budget: Evaluates the coherence and effectiveness of the work plan, distribution of resources and background of the applicant

The minimum threshold is 3/5 in each category and a minimum of 12/20 total to qualify.

Programme Implementation and Financial Distribution

All selected SOILSCAPE FSTP sub-projects will begin implementation in March 2026. Applicants may choose project durations of 6, 12, or 18 months, as indicated in their proposal.

Each funded project will follow a structured implementation divided into three distinct phases, with payments made upon successful submission and approval of deliverables. The funding will be distributed as follows:

Phase 1 – Design

Duration: Start of the project
Deliverable: Activity Plan
Payment: 30% of the total grant

Phase 2 – Development

Deliverable: Demonstration or implementation of the proposed activity
Payment: 50% of the total grant

Phase 3 – Validation

Deliverable: Final report on activities
Payment: Remaining 20% of the total grant

Important:

No pre-financing is provided.
Payments are made based on deliverables, which must be reviewed and accepted by the Open Call Advisory Board, chaired by the call treasurer (RFF).
If needed, revisions to deliverables may be requested before approval.
All reporting and communication will be conducted in English.

Important Dates

Submission Deadline: 30/09/2025 – 17:00 (CEST)
Proposal Evaluation: October 2025 – January 2026
Sub-grant agreement signature: January- March 2026
Expected launch date of sub-projects: March 2026

Final Thoughts on SOILSCAPE Open Call

This Open Call presents a unique opportunity to unite the arts, education, and soil science in support of environmental stewardship. Through creative and community-driven approaches, applicants can contribute to raising awareness, shifting perceptions, and fostering meaningful action for soil protection across Europe. SOILSCAPE invites all eligible organisations and individuals to take part in shaping a more soil-literate and sustainable future.