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1. Existence of a national strategy

2. Scope and contents

3. Responsible authority for the implementation of the strategy

4. Revisions/updates

Existence of a national strategy

One of the eight fields of action of the first ‘National Youth Strategy 2017-2022’ drafted by the Youth Board of Cyprus, was ‘Creativity and Culture’. The second ‘National Youth Strategy 2030’ which is expected to be adopted within 2026 also includes the priority of strengthening youth interest and participation in culture (as mentioned in section 8.1 General Context).

In addition, the new ‘Strategic Plan 2026-2028’ (Στρατηγικός Σχεδιασμός 2026-2028) of the Deputy Ministry of Culture, it’s the first to be drafted and implemented by the relatively newly established Ministry, including actions for young people’s education and engagement in cultural activities.

Scope and contents

The ‘National Youth Strategy 2017-2022’ states that, ‘Culture’ is recognised as a major contributor to the advancement of creativeness in young people, which is considered tremendously beneficial for the whole of the society both on economic and social aspects.

The development of arts and cultural activities is one of the most important means of expression for young people in Cyprus. Therefore, the Strategy targets to the promotion of the following goals:

• Creation of opportunities for easy access and equal participation in arts and culture.

• Creation of opportunities for the development of artistic creativity.

According to the first progress report (Α ‘ Έκθεση Προόδου για την υλοποίηση της Εθνικής Στρατηγικής για τη Νεολαία 2017-2019) of the ‘National Strategy 2017-2022’, a number of diverse and dynamic activities, including performances, screenings, collaborations, and educational actions, were curated on a quarterly basis by emerging creators, enhancing access and promoting participation in arts and culture. 

Similarly, in the ‘National Youth Strategy 2030’, it is noted that young people’s participation in cultural activities, such as theatre performances, museum visits, and other events, is crucial for the development of their critical thinking and skills. Engagement in such activities fosters creativity and enhances young people’s ability to adapt to new situations, contributing overall to their personal development. For this reason, the priority explicitly focuses on advancing youth’s interest and participation in cultural activities.

Regarding the ‘Strategic Plan 2026-2028’ of the Deputy Ministry of Culture, the scope is to advance knowledge, promote research and innovation, and foster sustainability, participation, social inclusion, and economic development within the cultural sector.

Responsible authority for the implementation of the strategy

The national coordinator for the drafting, implementation and monitoring of the ‘National Youth Strategy 2017-2022’ is the Youth Board of Cyprus. For the implementation of the Strategy, a cross-sectorial working group on youth is established to ensure constant coordination and close cooperation among all governmental institutions that deal with youth issues. The Cross-sectorial Working Group has developed two 3-year Action Plans (2017-2019 & 2020-2022) and the two respective Progress Reports of the National Youth Strategy.

The effective implementation of the ‘Strategic Plan 2026-2028’ is monitored by the Deputy Ministry of Culture and reinforced through coordination and support from relevant ministries such as the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth, and other competent bodies, ensuring policy coherence, resource alignment, and the integration of culture into broader national priorities, including youth knowledge development. At the same time it seeks to secure additional resources beyond the state budget by systematically leveraging European Funds and competitive programmes, promoting the integration of culture into the next operational programme of the Republic of Cyprus for the 2028–2034 EU Multiannual Financial Framework, and strengthening support for stakeholders to access funding opportunities under programmes such as Horizon Europe (‘Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society’) and Interreg, which support cultural heritage and creative industries both financially and strategically.

Revisions/updates

The ‘National Youth Strategy for 2017-2022’ was the first policy document in its kind at national level. Before the National Youth Strategy, there was no other policy document concerning youth in culture and creativity nor the broader sector of culture. The specific Strategy has not undergone any revisions. The 2nd ‘National Youth Strategy 2030’ is expected to be adopted in 2026. 

The new ‘Strategic Plan 2026-2028’ of the Deputy Ministry of Culture has just started its implementation process; thus, there are no current updates or revisions available.