Island, ’s oldest police station poised for facelift
Fact: Nicosia’s Paphos Gate police station has been empty for nearly a decade and is set to undergo a significant renovation project.
Deputy minister of culture
Archaeological sites free for a day
Fact: All archaeological sites and monuments operated by the Department of Antiquities will offer free entry on Thursday to mark the UNESCO International Day for Monuments and Sites.
Cyprus Film Days kicks off with performance by Lia Haraki
Fact: Lia Haraki will be at the helm of the opening ceremony as the Cyprus Film Days International Festival launches its 22nd edition in Limassol.
Almost 100,000 artefacts now been digitised
Deputy Minister of Culture Vasiliki Kassianidou emphasized the importance of digitization in protecting cultural heritage, stating that new technology is crucial for documenting, protecting, and recovering stolen cultural property. Over the past 36 months, 96,000 ancient objects in state museums have been digitized as part of a project that began in May 2021, aiming to digitize all objects exhibited in museum exhibitions under the department of antiquities’ responsibility. Since 2009, over 100,000 movable finds, 3,581 archaeological surveys, and 1,641 ancient monuments have been digitized.
Government reshuffle received positively by citizens, survey shows
President Christodoulides’ cabinet reshuffle on January 8 received mixed reactions, with a public opinion survey indicating majority support for five out of six changes. The survey, conducted by Pulse Market Research for Phileleftheros, found that 26% of respondents thought the changes were needed, 48% saw them as necessary, 10% disagreed, and 16% did not respond. DISY supporters mostly favored the reshuffle, with DIKO and AKEL supporters also showing significant support for some changes. The replacement of Michalis Hatzigiannis, Anna Koukides-Procopiou, Popi Kanari, Petros Xenophontos, and Philippos Chatzizacharias was generally supported, except for the removal of Defence Minister Michalis Georgallas, which faced opposition from 44% of respondents. The survey had a sample size of 600, covered nationwide urban and rural areas, used random-stratified multistage sampling, and was conducted via telephone interviews from February 20 to 26, 2024.
Upgrade, not relocation urged for Limassol museum
During her visit to Limassol, Deputy Minister of Culture Vasiliki Kassianidou stated that the Limassol Archaeological Museum should stay at its current location and receive an upgrade. Kassianidou toured various archaeological sites, including the ancient port and new burial sites in Amathounta, as well as the Episkopi Museum and excavation sites in Erimi. She emphasized the museum’s central location and its role as a workspace for archaeologists and conservators. Kassianidou mentioned the need for the museum to expand and highlighted its potential for educational spaces. She acknowledged the need for studies and budget integration before renovations can proceed and expressed goals to extend the museum’s operating hours. Additionally, Kassianidou discussed improving the maintenance and management of archaeological sites and making Amathounta more attractive to visitors. She also noted that the Episkopi community museum requires upgrades and maintenance and mentioned an issue with the site in Erimi, which is privately owned.
Cyprus theater unions respond to Federation’s statement
The announcement of the Federation of Theatre Organizations of Cyprus is seen as a setback against actors and their pursuit of labor rights, according to their unions. The Union of Actors of Cyprus and the Theatre Artists of PEO expressed surprise at the announcement made by the collective body of the five historic theaters of Cyprus. The actors’ unions have consistently faced resistance from the Federation when seeking negotiations for the renewal of the Collective Agreement. The unions state that they do not compromise on issues regarding the minimum wage and the duration of contracts. They accept the Federation’s proposal for a reduction in the amounts of the Welfare Fund and the non-payment of the 13th salary for the first half of 2024. The theater organizations had the opportunity to revise their proposals based on the criteria of the Agreement but did not do so. The actors’ bodies have achieved the reintegration of the Collective Agreement into the Thymeli Plan as a prerequisite for public funding. The renewal of the Collective Agreement of the Free Theatres has been pending since 2012, and the theater organizations have consistently refused to meet with the unions to negotiate. The theater organizations rejected essential articles of the agreement, including the minimum wage, duration of employment, and payment of funds. The unions filed a complaint with the Ministry of Labor in 2022, and the Ministry determined that the Collective Agreement remains in force. The unions have repeatedly invited the theater organizations to meet and discuss, but the organizations have refused. The unions emphasize the need for unity and support to find real solutions and demand better treatment of Culture and its people from the State.
New Cyprus Museum | Requests for an extension in the construction of the project due to unforeseen circumstances
The Minister of Transport, Alexis Vafeiadis, and the Deputy Minister of Culture, Vasiliki Kassianidou, visited the construction site of the New Cyprus Museum to be informed about the progress of the construction works. They expressed satisfaction with the progress of the project. There have been requests for an extension in the construction due to unforeseen conditions. Efforts are being made to include the maintenance of the building in the contractor's contract. The columns made of concrete that were found in the summer have already been removed. The project is funded by the state budget and is expected to cost around €140 million. The completion of the project is considered a responsibility to create a museum that represents the country's culture and attracts visitors. The Department of Antiquities is preparing the exhibits, texts, and digital applications for the completion of the project.
Calls for deputy minister of culture to resign
The federation of theatre institutions is calling for the resignation of the deputy minister of culture and her permanent secretary. They claim that the Thymeli 2024 funding scheme has been destructive to the arts and has led to the suspension of activities by the oldest theatre groups in Cyprus. The federation has written to the president but has not received a response. The deputy ministry has stated that they understand the need for more support for the theatre sector and are working towards it. The ministry has allocated an increased amount of funding for professional theatrical productions in the first half of next year.
Calls for deputy minister of culture to resign
The federation of theatre institutions is calling for the resignation of the deputy minister of culture and her permanent secretary due to the negative impact of the Thymeli 2024 funding scheme on the arts. The federation warns that theaters are at risk of closing and artists will be left homeless. The deputy ministry plans to put the funding issues to public consultation in February. The ministry claims to be working towards supporting the theater sector with the resources available. The federation had previously warned that the funding scheme would be destructive for the theater community. The ministry states that there has been a 15% increase in funding for professional theatrical productions compared to the previous year.