The Government will continue to invest in the cultivation of democratic culture, in the strengthening and promotion of our cultural values, in the quality upgrade, promotion and promotion of our cultural creation and in direct contact and consultation with the citizens, the President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulidis said on Thursday , in his greeting at the THOK Theater Awards Ceremony.
Starting his speech, President Christodoulidis made a special mention of the director and actor Nikos Charalambous who passed away a few days ago and who, as he mentioned, is undeniably a great chapter in the History of the Cypriot Theatre, sealing with his work and personality the theatrical events of Cyprus and beyond.
According to the President of the Republic, it is an indisputable fact that theater has a great impact on society as a whole and can shape values, perceptions and life attitudes, adding that a revolution can start through theater. “The theater has always been and as a Government we will ensure this – it is one of our main goals in relation to the theater – that it will remain our second school”, he added.
Afterwards, the President of the Republic referred to the three artists awarded by THOK, Stavros Loura, Pari Erotokritos with the Creator of the Year Award and Anastasia Dimitriadou with the New Creator of the Year award, adding that the purpose of the Awards institution THOK is the honor and recognition of the work in general of the people of the Theater of Cyprus, “who utilize and refine the gift they have with much effort and many sacrifices, many times in adverse circumstances, and offer to all of us, throughout time, a long and wholesome sight.”
From the first moment we assumed the reins of governance, we put as our priority the “man”, his needs, value and contribution, continued President Christodoulidis, adding that the Government’s policy, based on a human-centered approach, is targeted , with specific and key actions to upgrade, review and change the entire framework of benefits and the operation of state services.
“I know very well that our task is not easy at all, in many cases the changes concern institutional functions, consolidated and often rigid. But we have set a very specific path, we know where we want to go, we will follow it to the end and I am sure of the result”, he noted.
He added regarding culture, and more specifically the theatre, that the Deputy Ministry of Culture, under the guidance of Deputy Minister Vassiliki Kassianidou, began a fruitful and direct dialogue with theater operators, with the aim of drawing up a holistic plan, always for the benefit of the public, of artists and the quality of cultural creation in Cyprus.
He mentioned, for example, the institution of the pre-paid Youth Culture Card in collaboration with the Bank of Cyprus, which gives the ticket and the opportunity to young people to participate in local cultural events, and the preparation of a bill for the Status of the Artist, which, as he said, in addition to the general regulation of criteria and framework, it will also give the opportunity to secure social security benefits and medical coverage to self-employed artists.
He also stated that for the first time the creation of a framework for tax incentives to support culture is at an advanced stage and from the private sector, within the general context of the effort for Tax Transformation of the country, ways of further online and print promotion of the theater productions receiving grant from “THIMELI”, while the presentation of theater and other cultural activities abroad is supported and promoted.
He added that in cooperation with the Cyprus Center of the International Theater Institute, the Government proceeded to support and co-organize the Week of Cypriot Theatrical Work at the National Theater in Athens, while at the same time, it is planned to conduct quantitative and qualitative surveys of the audience and artists, the results of which will they serve in the formulation of targeted policy and in the design of new sponsorship programs.
He added that the creation of a sponsorship program to support first-time artists and young professionals in general in the field of Theater on the model awarded by THOK is being studied at the same time, while the grant plans concerning all aspects of cultural creation in the country are being modernized and the digital upgrade of cultural spaces is being promoted .
He also referred to the synergies developed by the Deputy Ministry of Culture with other Ministries and Deputy Ministries, such as Health, Tourism and Social Welfare, to exploit the culture of the country at multiple levels, at the same time highlighting the initiative of the Deputy Minister for the presentation of theater performances and other cultural activities in hospitals , starting with a pilot program at Makarios Hospital.
He also said that the Government is in the final stage of formulating a Strategic Cultural Diplomacy. “We’ve been saying it for years, it’s time to make it happen. Our country can and should be projected internationally as a crossroads of West and East, Asia and Africa, and its cultural creation should be opened and diffused in the modern world and be a dynamic step of representation and transfer of messages. And this is done on the occasion of our preparations for assuming the Presidency of the Council of the EU in the first half of 2026”, he noted on the subject.
All of the above reflects the intention and the clear will of the Government for radical changes and revision of many services and functions of the State in relation to its citizens in general, President Christodoulidis continued, adding that Cyprus is its citizens and this is what the government wants to consolidate Government through innovative and pioneering initiatives, through continuous reforms. “We enter into a dialogue with society, including of course the People of Culture and together we shape our policy and course, where we want to lead our country,” he added.
In closing, he congratulated the Deputy Minister of Culture and the Deputy Ministry in general for their worthy and, as he said, painstaking work, the new Board of Directors of THOK, the first, as he emphasized, Board of the Organization appointed through the open and transparent process of the Advisory Council, the former President and all members of the previous Council for the important work done, the Cyprus Theater Organization for its long-term action, theater programs and high-level productions.
“Culture produces education, social values ​​and morals. In essence, it is culture that produces politics and not the other way around. We will continue to invest in the cultivation of democratic culture, in the strengthening and promotion of our cultural values, in the quality upgrade, promotion and promotion of our cultural creation and in direct contact and consultation with the citizens, especially the citizens of tomorrow, our young people. Our only motivation, the love for our homeland and our goal to upgrade and exploit our cultural potential, our cultural services and activities”, concluded the President of the Republic.
KYPE