by Sarah Kuta
Last updated: 1:15 PM ET, Thu January 16, 2025
Royal Caribbean International is inviting Caribbean artists to submit their masterpieces ahead of the launch of its newest ship, Star of the Seas.
Through the “Artist Discovery Program,” the cruise line aims to spotlight up-and-coming Caribbean artists on Star of the Seas, which is scheduled to debut from Port Canaveral in August.
Artists who are selected will be commissioned to paint large murals in four highly visible locations on the ship, including the Royal Promenade neighborhood, the embarkation area, the Suite Sundeck Lobby and more.
Each “artist in residence” will receive a grant ranging from $20,000 to more than $100,000 to bring their mural to life in Turku, Finland, where the ship is being built.
“Last year, our first-ever call to artists received an overwhelming response with more than 140 artists across 25 Caribbean countries submitting pieces that told a unique story and captured the allure of the region,” says Jay Schneider, chief product innovation officer for Royal Caribbean International. “Our goal is to connect our guests to the enduring beauty and creativity of the Caribbean, and this immersive program is a pathway to celebrating and exploring local culture while onboard the next Icon of vacations—Star of the Seas.”
Submissions are being accepted now through February 15. Interested artists should send in five samples of original work; a brief artist statement; and a resume or CV.
The first Artist Discovery Program cohort created murals onboard Icon of the Seas. The inaugural group included Angelika Wallace-Whitfield in The Bahamas; Phillipe Dodard in Haiti and Jason Hospedales in Trinidad & Tobago.
For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.
Topics From This Article to Explore
