From May 15 to September 15, 2025, Nice becomes the world capital of the sea. The exhibition “The Living Ocean” is composed of several committed photographs. It is installed on the Esplanade de la Bourgada in Nice. Christian Estrosi, the mayor of the city, inaugurated the exhibition alongside Nice photographers and schoolchildren.
“The Living Ocean” contains 80 spectacular shots signed by photographers Greg Lecoeur and Olivier Anrigo, genuine visual whistleblowers. From the Great Barrier Reef to the icy waters of the Arctic. Each image tells a story, that of a world under pressure, threatened by climate change.
Through this exhibition, the city of Nice seeks to demonstrate that art and education can become powerful tools for raising awareness. The ocean is presented as a vital regulator of our climate but also as a living world that must be preserved.
Children, superheroes of the blue planet
The exhibition is particularly aimed at the younger audience, described as the “superheroes of tomorrow to save the oceans”. Educational animations, fun sequences, and scientific workshops are planned throughout the summer. The objective is to make this initiative a catalog of change and embed ocean issues in consciousness from a young age.
“Tomorrow, it will be the children who will have the responsibility for our ecosystems. We must pass on tools, knowledge, and hope to them,” declared the city mayor, Christian Estrosi
Towards the Ocean Summit: a global event in Nice
After New York and Lisbon, it is now Nice’s turn to host the Ocean Summit next June. It will be held at the city port from June 9 to 13, 2025. More than 800 global decision-makers are expected to debate ocean governance, the fight against fossil fuels, and concrete solutions to address the climate emergency.
The mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, expressed “pride that the people of Nice have contributed to this historic event,” praising the educational work carried out in schools and local associations. “Let’s show the heads of state that even the young schoolchildren have worked well.”
Acknowledgment for committed actors
Beyond awareness-raising, the “The Living Ocean” exhibition is also an opportunity to reward local initiatives. More than 20 associations received awards for their environmental commitment, among which: the Ronchese School in Nice received €2,000 for its educational project around the ocean. Antoine Risso College won two awards, one of €4,000 and another of €2,000, for its interdisciplinary projects. The commune of Drap received €8,000 for its program “Here begins the sea.” Among other winners, the PedalO’G association and the “Sail Away with SOS Grand Bleu” project were all praised for their field commitment.
The exhibition is part of a dynamic driven by the Ocean Summit in Nice. Numerous events with the same theme are being organized, notably the 2025 Biennale.
