AKEL MP Christos Christofides, member of the Education Committee of the Parliament, in coordination with the party's Culture Sector, sent a letter to the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports and Youth in which he asks for an explanation for "the unbelievable fiasco of the cancellation of Cyprus' participation in the very important Venice Biennale".
"This development has upset the art world, has created serious reactions in society and has greatly exposed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs," according to Mr Christofides.
The letter itself:
Mr Minister,
One of the most important artistic events that take place every year is that of the Venice Biennale. A visual arts institution of world renown. Since 1974, Cyprus has consistently participated in all the events with a significant presence and many benefits for the artistic creation of our country.
Unfortunately, we are faced with the tragic outcome that Cyprus has not carried out the appropriate procedures and for the first time has cancelled its participation. The "explanations" given by your Ministry can in no way justify the tragic fact of Cyprus' non-participation in the Venice Biennale. Conducting an ex-post investigation to determine what went wrong does not minimise the consequences of Cyprus' non-participation in such an important institution. Nor does it absolve your Ministry of its enormous responsibilities.
Mr Minister,
It is also worrying that visual arts bodies, as well as a large number of artists, are expressing their condemnation, not only of the tragic outcome of non-participation in the 59th Venice Biennale, but are also expressing their dissatisfaction with the whole process that has been followed in recent years. There is great controversy about the way in which the selection of curators, art theorists and artists, the dates of the call for the competition are chosen. More broadly, there is a complete lack of transparency.
There is also an absence of vision and a broader exploitation of the institution of the biennale by all visual artists and an absence of programmes in Cyprus so that citizens can become part of all this important creation that is presented annually with the participation of dozens of countries.
We therefore ask you to inform us:
What action will you take so that this is the last time that Cyprus' participation in the Venice Biennale will be cancelled?
How will you ensure the meritocratic selection of curators, theoreticians and visual artists so that all artists who meet the criteria feel that they have the opportunity to participate in the Biennale?How will you ensure full transparency as regards the actions and the persons selected to carry out this important process?
Finally, to what extent will you meet the requests of the visual arts organisations to be involved in the process in a way that ensures that it is scientific, transparent and meritocratic?
Yours sincerely,
Christos Christofides[BR]Member of Parliament AKEL
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