Culture is intertwined with the development of any society and is the qualitative indicator of its depth. Through culture, we can feel the millennia of history that our country and our people carry, carved with experience, humanity and love for creativity. It is our compass for both the present and the future of our spiritual evolution.
In recent years, the people of culture - and culture itself - have experienced an unprecedented devaluation by the government. They have been largely marginalized, with the result that their very creativity has been constrained. Particularly during the period of confinement and restrictions, implemented because of the pandemic, the government was content to pay meagre allowances, and that too with a huge time lag.
The degradation of Culture was not only limited to the economic dimension, but extended to the people of Culture themselves. During the outgoing administration, several cases of censorship have been recorded, as well as attempts to silence and target artists for their works, often reminiscent of medieval practices. Disciplinary investigations against a visual artist, the cancellation of theatre performances due to "inappropriate" scenes and the "cutting" of films are just a few examples.
Therefore, supporting and further developing culture strengthens and evolves the ethos, culture and spirit of society, pushing it into new paths of creativity and expanding existing ones. Especially in a country under occupation, Arts and Culture become even more important.
To support Culture, we put forward our proposals in the following seven pillars.
1. National Strategy
- A horizontal proposal for the elaboration and implementation of a National Strategy for Culture[/B]
- A horizontal proposal for the elaboration and implementation of a National Strategy for Culture, to be developed with the people of culture, in order to provide the resources and create the conditions for unhindered artistic creation
2. Upgrading cultural activity
- Significant increase in funds for culture, ensuring transparency and meritocracy in their distribution and freeing them from bureaucratic procedures in their allocation. Inclusion of the Sectors of Culture and Creation in the sectors to which funds will be allocated under the Recovery and Resilience Fund, as is the case in most European countries and as urged by the European Commission and decided by the European Parliament.
- Utilization of the Deputy Ministry of Culture in order to contribute to a substantial upgrading of cultural activity, with particular emphasis on the support, promotion and promotion of Cypriot cultural creation, the enhancement of creativity, the strengthening of the role of the Ministry of Culture, the promotion of the Cypriot cultural sector and the promotion of the Cypriot culture. Labour rights of artists[/B]
- Legislative protection of creators through a comprehensive regulatory framework
- Immediate recognition of the labour rights of people in culture and creativity, for fair treatment in terms of remuneration, collective agreements and working conditions, in order to ensure their collective representation and social security.
- Restoration of the honorary allowance for retired and experienced creators, as it was granted until 2013.
- Institutionalisation of the participation of cultural operators in decision-making processes, so that they are treated as equal partners in the cultural process, participating in all cultural policy-making bodies.
4. Infrastructure
- Maintenance and upgrading of cultural infrastructure and creation of new infrastructure that meets the contemporary needs and requirements of artists and ensures their unhindered participation and free access for all citizens.
- Decisive promotion of the procedures for the construction of the new Archaeological Museum, while preserving its public character. Substantial upgrading of all public, university, municipal and community libraries, while promoting philanthropic reading programmes.
- Establishment and operation of a Literature Museum, where the literary activity of Cypriot writers will be recorded and preserved.
- Establishment of a Film Centre, with the primary objective of the uninterrupted promotion and promotion of Cypriot film, the development and production of films and the creation of a film archive.
- Establishment of a Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, with the aim of promoting and enhancing contemporary Cypriot artistic creation and strengthening scientific research into the history and theory of art.
- Expansion of the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra, in order to make it a full orchestra, along the lines of similar orchestras abroad.
- Support and upgrade of the Music Information Centre, aiming at the preservation, archiving, promotion and enhancement of contemporary musical creation.
- Supporting the art of dance, both contemporary and traditional, through the utilization of the Dance Houses and the relevant associations active in our country.
- Checking and taking effective measures for the implementation of legislation regarding the enrichment of public buildings with works of art and the parallel extension of the institution to large private buildings with free public access. Gradually increase the 1% of expenditure on works of art to 5%, as is the case in many foreign countries.
5. International promotion of Cypriot Culture
- Elaboration of a comprehensive plan of action to attract as many visitors as possible, taking into account the religious, racial, ethnic and other diversities of these people.[BRP][/B] - Strengthening and upgrading of the Cultural Offices. The Cultural Office of Cyprus in Athens House of Cyprus, the Cultural Department of the High Commission of Cyprus in London and the Cultural Department of the Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus in Berlin to work towards strengthening international cultural relations and cultural diplomacy.
6. Deepening arts education
- Recognition of the high value of the arts in school programmes, for the development of critical thinking and the improvement of cultural skills, which enhance students' creativity and their ability to participate effectively in multicultural social and working environments later on.[BRP]
- Supporting and upgrading the successful institution of Music Schools, school theatre and other cultural activities at school.[BRP]
- Supporting and upgrading the successful institution of Music Schools, school theatre and other cultural activities at school. In Higher Education, promote the upgrading and expansion of the School of Fine Arts of the CUT and the creation of a Music Department in all the Universities of Cyprus.
- Support the writing activity and promote the Cypriot book and literature in general. Increasing funds for the purchase of books by Cypriot authors, as well as for their participation in conferences and book fairs abroad. Enrichment of all libraries with the literary work of Cypriot authors. Expansion of plans for the translation of literary and other works into Greek, Turkish and foreign languages.
7. Inter-community activities
- Encourage and strengthen inter-community activities by providing appropriate resources and infrastructure for effective action and operation.
Our proposals for Culture are posted at the following link: https:/mavroyiannis.cy/programma-diakivernisis/politismos/
Contents of this article including associated images are belongs Cyprus Times
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or Cyprus Times
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