THE OCEAN&CLIMATE VILLAGE EXHIBITION ARRIVES AT THE LUNA ROSSA BASE IN CAGLIARI
The exhibition dedicated to ocean knowledge and protection, featuring multimedia installations, workshops and educational activities
On October 9, the Ocean&Climate Village was inaugurated at the Luna Rossa base in Cagliari. The traveling scientific exhibition was developed by UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) and is supported by the Prada Group as part of the SEA BEYOND project.
Among the main initiatives resulting from the renewed collaboration between Luna Rossa and UNESCO ahead of the 38th America’s Cup, the event will transform the team’s base for two days into a space open to scientific outreach and ocean education.
Following the strong interest generated by the opening day, the Ocean&Climate Village will remain open to the public until October 15, 2026, every day from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Following several international and Italian stops in recent years, the Cagliari edition presents a new display concept – developed by design and research studio Formafantasma – built around the idea of the ocean as one vast system, in which climate, biodiversity, natural processes and human activities are deeply interconnected.
Magdalena Landry, Director of the UNESCO Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe, commented: «This new edition of the Ocean&Climate Village restates UNESCO’s commitment to promoting Ocean Literacy and to inspiring visitors of all ages to support the ocean’s future. It is particularly significant that the Luna Rossa base is hosting the exhibition, since sport has the power to inspire well beyond competition, contributing to strengthening global action to protect the ocean»
Lorenzo Bertelli, Prada Group Head of Sustainability, stated: «I am delighted that, following several international stops, the Ocean&Climate Village is being hosted this year at the Luna Rossa base in Cagliari. Through our collaboration with UNESCO and Luna Rossa, we have the opportunity to inspire younger generations to connect with ocean issues, guided by the belief that knowledge is the first step towards fostering greater awareness and a stronger sense of responsibility for the marine environment».
«It is a great honour for our team to host the Ocean&Climate Village», added Max Sirena, CEO of Luna Rossa. «The exhibition speaks to a wide range of audiences and, above all, resonates with young people, the true recipients of the call to protect the sea. Defending the ocean is everyone’s responsibility, and we are happy to be able to contribute to this project, in the hope that it will help to raise awareness among the next generation».
Structured around four thematic sections – One Ocean, The Climate Engine, Biodiversity and Ocean Anomalies – the exhibition guides visitors through the role of the ocean in maintaining the balance of our planet, using accessible language and offering different levels of in-depth exploration. The One Ocean section introduces the idea of the ocean as a single, unbroken andinterconnected global system,moving beyond the traditional representation of the seas as separate basins. The Climate Engine explores the role of the ocean in regulating the Earth’s climate. Biodiversity examines the richness of marine ecosystems and the relationships thatsupport ocean life. The journey concludes with Ocean Anomalies, dedicated to the transformations currently affecting marine environments. Among the exhibits are a 3D reproduction of a blue crab; instruments used for glacier ice coring as part of the Follow the Ice project; images of deep-water corals taken during research conducted by marine biologist and SEA BEYONDer Giovanni Chimienti; an immersive sonic experience dedicated to the natural sounds of the sea; and a life-size installation recreating a section of tropical coral ecosystem and illustrating the work of Coral Gardeners to restore the reef ecosystems.
Special attention is devoted to schools and younger visitors, who will take part in a programme of workshops inspired by the principles of Ocean Literacy, together with SEA BEYONDers Enzo Barracco, Valentina Gottlieb, Carmelo Isgrò and Elisabetta Zavoli.
Luna Rossa contributed to the programme with a workshop dedicated to nautical knots, introducing children and young people to an ancient body of knowledge rooted in maritime culture and life on board. Fondazione Prada with Accademia dei bambini guided younger children in discovering the invisible world contained within a drop of water through a workshop co-designed with the IOC, bringing art and science together.
Completing the experience is a photographic exhibition by climate artist and SEA BEYONDer Enzo Barracco, documenting the ecosystems of the Galápagos and Hawaii and inviting visitors to reflect on the richness and fragility of our natural heritage.
