Royal Caribbean Relaunches Artist Discovery Program for 2025

Royal Caribbean’s “Artist Discovery Program” is returning to the Caribbean, inviting regional artists to contribute to its upcoming ship, Star of the Seas, set to debut in August 2025.

This initiative offers local artists the chance to showcase their work, capturing the essence of the Caribbean on a grand stage. Submissions are open through February 15, 2025, via a dedicated webpage.

“We are excited for this next edition of The Artist Discovery Program and can’t wait to be awestruck by visionary artists across the Caribbean. 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,” said Jay Schneider, chief product innovation officer at Royal Caribbean International.

Designed to celebrate the culture and creativity of the Caribbean, the program will feature selected artists in Star of the Seas’ curated art collection. Murals will be commissioned for key areas such as the Royal Promenade, embarkation area, Suite Sundeck Lobby, and Suite Sundeck.

Royal Caribbean is offering grants ranging from $20,000 to over $100,000 for participating artists, who will work alongside the company’s team in Turku, Finland, where the ship is being constructed.

To apply, artists must submit five original samples of their work, an artist statement detailing their inspiration, and a CV or resume.

This year’s cohort will join the inaugural 2023 group, which included Angelika Wallace-Whitfield from the Bahamas, Phillipe Dodard from Haiti, and Jason Hospedales from Trinidad & Tobago, whose murals now grace the Icon of the Seas.