As part of the S+T+ARTS4WaterII project residency Cisterns Meet Modern Tech – Circular Water Systems as a Convivial Tool, artist Matko Šišak from ZMAG led a series of workshops Art meets conviviality – Permaculture water management design on the island of Vis, at the property of the ISSA Association, from April 28 to May 4, 2025.

Ten participants from Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, Germany, and the USA came from diverse professional backgrounds but shared a strong interest in exploring sustainable ways of living. A central question that emerged was how we can learn from nature through artistic practices and contribute to the sustainable management of resources in dry Mediterranean conditions.

Over seven days, they worked on developing practical solutions for collecting, storing, and distributing water on the ISSA property.

Together, they built a solar shower, a reed bed system for natural water purification, a composting toilet, and installed a system for harvesting and distributing water throughout the property.

STARTS4waterII is co-funded by the European Union under the STARTS – Science, Technology and Arts initiative of DG CNECT (GA no. LC-02629312.). Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or DG CNECT. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

Project is co-financed by the Government Office for Cooperation with NGOs. The views expressed in this publication are the sole responsibility of Drugo more and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Government Office for Cooperation with NGOs.