The purpose of this contest is to encourage children and teenagers, citizens of a country within the Danube river basin, to pay more attention to the watercourse in their area, reflect on environmental issues, and thus create original artistic works to promote the Danube region.
Duration: The project has been running annually since 2004 and continues to this day, with a new edition organized every year (e.g. Danube Art Master 2024).
Funding mechanism: The project is supported through partnerships and institutional cooperation, primarily between the Global Water Partnership Central and Eastern Europe (GWP CEE) and the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR). In recent editions, private-sector partners (e.g. Erste Group) have also contributed to supporting environmental education activities.
Status: Ongoing project
Danube Art Master is an international environmental art competition for children and young people aged 6–18 from countries in the Danube River Basin. Participants are encouraged to visit their local river (ideally the Danube or one of its tributaries) and create artistic works such as drawings, photographs, or videos inspired by the river and its surroundings. The project raises awareness of water protection, biodiversity, and environmental responsibility through creative expression.
Project objectives :
- To strengthen young people’s connection to the Danube River and its ecosystems through art and creativity.
- To encourage children and youth to explore, observe and reflect on environmental values related to local rivers and water bodies.
- To provide a platform for international exchange and cooperation among young participants across the Danube River Basin.
Role of GWP CEE in the project:
Global Water Partnership Central and Eastern Europe (GWP CEE) acts as a co-organizer and regional coordinator of the Danube Art Master project in close cooperation with the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR). GWP CEE supports the overall project coordination, communication of competition rules across participating countries, engagement of national partners, and dissemination of results, including exhibitions and award ceremonies. Through its involvement, GWP CEE helps position the project in an international context, strengthens cross-border cooperation, and contributes to increasing environmental awareness and water stewardship among young generations in the Danube River Basin.
Contact of the responsible GWP CEE project manager: gwpcee@gwpcee.org
Link to the official project website: DAM 2025
For extended information and background (ICPDR – Danube Art Master section): https://www.icpdr.org
Read more about: Danube Art Master (Successfully completed editions)
Read more about: Danube Art Master 2025
Read more about: Danube Art Master 2026