Artists, writers, creative practitioners, critics, and researchers from around the globe are warmly invited to gather in the breathtaking region of Prespa, Greece, for the International Prespa Walking Arts Encounters 2025 (WAC 25). This extraordinary event will take place from Monday, June 30 to Sunday, July 6, 2025. Whether you’re a creator or simply an enthusiast, everyone is welcome to attend and explore the transformative power of walking arts.
WAC 25 is part of the Creative Europe co-funded project “Walking Arts & Local Communities” (WALC), which launched in January 2024 and spans four years. With contributions from seven partners across five countries, WALC establishes an International Center for Artistic Research and Practice of Walking Arts in Prespa, Greece, at the confluence of Greece, Albania, and North Macedonia. This hub is complemented by a cutting-edge digital platform, connecting walking arts practitioners worldwide.
Why Prespa?
Prespa is a mesmerizing landscape featuring two stunning lakes, Megali Prespa and Mikri Prespa. It serves as the backdrop for Visual March to Prespa, a pioneering walking arts project led by the 1st Painting Workshop of the School of Visual Arts at the University of Western Macedonia (UOWM). Initiated in 2007, this project has evolved into a celebrated gathering of creative minds, culminating in the International Walking Arts Conferences held in 2019, 2021, and 2023, in a joint effort with Made of Walking. These events brought together over 600 participants from across the globe.
Artistic coordination is led by Geert Vermeire (WLC) and Yannis Ziogas (UOWM).
Themes and Topics
The event’s discussions and activities will center around:
- Walking as a feast
- Walking manifestos
- Walking beyond boundaries
- Walking as resistance
- Walking as healing
- Walking … home
- Walking with locals
- Pluriverse walking
- Walking to, with, and from communities
Participants will explore these themes through art walks, new media, visual art, sound walks, and hybrid formats.
Participation and application
Artists, researchers, and practitioners are encouraged to submit proposals for walkshops, creative projects, or academic papers that align with the theme. Submissions should detail thematic relevance, community engagement, and logistics. Proposals may include up to 200-word abstracts, short bios, supporting visuals, and preferred site details in Prespa.
Key Dates:
- Submission deadline: February 28, 2025 (extended)
- Notification of acceptance: March 10, 2025
For more information and to apply, visit icowaf.eetf.uowm.gr.
APA style reference

Walking Arts & Local Communities (WALC) is an artistic cooperation project, co-funded by the European Union, Creative Europe, starting in January 2024 for four years. With seven partners from five countries, WALC establishes an International Center for Artistic Research and Practice of Walking Arts, in Prespa, Greece, at the border with Albania and North Macedonia, backed up by an online counterpart in the format of a digital platform for walking arts.
WALC builds on the previous work of hundreds of artists and researchers already practicing Walking Arts as a collaborative medium, and having met at the significant previous walking arts events and encounters in Greece, Portugal, Spain, France, Belgium, and during online activities at walk · listen · create.

We acknowledge the support of the EU Creative Europe Cooperation grant program in the framework of the European project WALC (Walking Arts and Local Community).
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.