Slow Active Tours, in collaboration with Hotel delle Palme – Bike Hotel and the Ciclofficina Popolare Knos (CPK), launches a new Eco-Art Contest dedicated to artists, designers, and creative minds who wish to bring to life a vision of collaborative sustainability.
Titled “EcoArt Contest”, the project aims to create a permanent artwork that embodies the values of environmental respect, cooperation, and sustainable mobility. .
An Artwork to Celebrate Sustainability and Cooperation
The installation will be displayed on a 3 x 4 meter wall at Hotel delle Palme in Lecce. It must be a dynamic, interactive system that comes to life through collective participation. The audience plays a key role: only through collaboration among several people will the piece produce a visible or sensory result — whether it’s movement, sound, light, or transformation. .
The core theme is the connection between art and the environment, with a strong link to cycling culture and creative reuse. Artists are encouraged to use recycled materials, especially bicycle components (gears, chains, pedals, frames, etc.) provided by Ciclofficina Popolare Knos — turning everyday objects into powerful symbols of cooperation and sustainability.
Art, Bicycles, and Sustainable Tourism
The Eco-Art Contest Lecce arises from a context deeply rooted in sustainable mobility and cycle tourism. Hotel delle Palme – Bike Hotel is a key hub for cyclists exploring Salento by bike, while Slow Active Tours has long promoted slow, responsible travel experiences that connect visitors with nature and local communities.
This initiative serves as a bridge between art and active tourism, transforming the installation into a tangible expression of the values shared by those who choose to travel consciously..
Guidelines for Participants
The artwork must be participatory and interactive, inviting multiple people to collaborate at once. It should:
- Create a visible or perceptible effect (movement, sound, light, transformation);
- Use recycled materials, preferably sourced from CPK Lecce;
- Be durable and suitable for permanent display in a hotel environment;
- Clearly define how the public interacts with the work.
The selected artist will receive technical assistance from a local professional and support from the project partners during production..
Deadline and Submissions Details
Deadline for submission: December 31, 2025.
Send your proposal to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with the subject line: Contest Installation – Hotel delle Palme
Each proposal must include:
- Concept and description (max 1,500 characters)
- Sketch or digital render
- Technical sheet with materials
- Interaction guidelines for the public
- Estimated budget
The winning artwork will be created in February 2026 and installed over five days.
Prizes and Artist Residency
The selected artist or collective will receive:
- Accommodation and breakfast at Hotel delle Palme
- Dinner at Boccon Divino Restaurant
- Round-trip travel offered by Slow Active Tours
- Expense reimbursement of €500
- Access to recycled materials and tools from Ciclofficina Popolare Knos
- Technical support from a local operator
Selection Criteria
A judging panel composed of representatives from Slow Active Tours, Hotel delle Palme, CPK, and external art and design experts will evaluate submissions based on:
- Alignment with the theme of sustainability and cooperation
- Level of interactivity and collective participation
- Originality and aesthetic quality
- Technical and financial feasibility
The winning project will be permanently installed inside Hotel delle Palme in Lecce. .
An Invitation to Create Together
The Eco-Art Contest Lecce is a call to co-create, to reflect on how human collaboration can generate beauty and change. It’s a chance to leave a lasting mark in the heart of Lecce — uniting creativity, craftsmanship, and a sustainable spirit.
