The Outer Cape community is invited to participate in “Inspired by the Sea,” a three-day celebration of ocean conservation, collaborative research and art. A series of events scheduled in Provincetown from August 27 to 29 coincides with and celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Center for Coastal Studies (CCS).
Joining the celebration are several partners of the CCS Marine Debris & Plastics Program: The Rozalia Project for a Clean Ocean, a nonprofit dedicated to ocean conservation, who will attend on their sailing research vessel American Promise; Sail As You Are, a nonprofit organization that operates the historical schooner Hindu and cutter Bloodhound in Provincetown; Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, with whom CCS has had many collaborations; and numerous marine debris artists from the region.
The three-day schedule includes a shoreline cleanup and seal walk at High Head, a marine debris trash tally, short films screened on the Hindu’s sail, demonstrations of innovative new research equipment, marine debris art workshops and exhibits, and a sunset sail with resident and visiting vessels.
The offerings begin with a shoreline cleanup at High Head in North Truro on Thursday morning, followed by a CCS Seal Walk there in the afternoon.
Friday’s schedule begins with the final 2026 CCS Science in the Harbor tour with the Dolphin Fleet, an informative, entertaining 90-minute cruise around Provincetown Harbor where passengers learn about research, rescue, and other CCS activities involving Long Point, the Pamet River, the Cape Cod National Seashore and other locations.
Following the cruise, a science-art fair will be staged on MacMillan Pier to highlight collaborative research and artistic connections. Equipment and technology associated with research at CCS, Rozalia Project and WHOI will be demonstrated. Artwork by important practicing marine debris artists from the northeast region will be on exhibit, and several artists will be on site to demonstrate their unique use of marine debris. Visitors will be invited to participate in art creation activities during the fair.
Friday afternoon, an open “gallery-galley stroll” on the pier, at Explorers Landing, and aboard the sailing vessels Hindu and American Promise will coincide with the weekly Gallery Stroll normally centered on Commercial Street. Helping Hands Pedi-Cab will make the stroll simpler by donating rides to and from the event and wine will be provided by Truro Vineyards.
At dusk following the Gallery-Galley Stroll, a series of short films about the ocean will be projected on Hindu’s mainsail. A stop-action film made during the week at a PAAM workshop using CCS marine debris will anchor the screening.
The final Inspired By the Sea event will take place on Saturday evening with a sunset sail including Schooner Hindu, Cutter Bloodhound, American Promise and other Provincetown sailing vessels.
The full schedule will be listed on the CCS event calendar. Registration is required for the Thursday cleanup and seal walk, the Friday Science in the Harbor Tour with Dolphin Fleet, and Saturday’s sunset sail. All other events are free and open to the public.