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1. Reducing obstacles to young people's access to culture

2. Disseminating information on cultural opportunities

3. Knowledge of cultural heritage amongst young people

Reducing obstacles to young people's access to culture

The Youth Board of Cyprus (YBC) runs the 'Youth Initiatives' funding scheme which subsidizes young people and youth NGO’s, youth clubs and local youth councils to organise their own projects on different action fields. Three of those action fields are related to Cultural Interventions; Innovation and Creativity Projects; Youth and Books. According to the YBC Annual Report 2024, 345 applications were submitted in 2024, of which 254 were approved with a total budget of €473 613. Activities included cultural events, educational excursions, seminars, sports activities, as well as funding of the youth organisation for the purchase of technological equipment.

The ‘Youth Culture Card’ was launched in 2023 by the Deputy Ministry of Culture in cooperation with the Youth Board of Cyprus and the Bank of Cyprus Public Company Ltd. Its purpose is to reduce obstacles to young people’s access to culture and to encourage them to participate in cultural life and to enjoy activities that may not be financially accessible without it. Furthermore, it promotes young people's involvement in the cultural community and contributes to the development of cultural thinking and interest. The Youth Culture Card is a prepaid card loaded with €220, which allows 18-21 years old young people to attend concerts, festivals, theatre, dance performances, art exhibitions, film screenings, arts festivals, visits to museums, and archaeological sites free of charge. As stated in the Deputy Ministry’s ‘Annual Action Plan 2026-Annual Report 2025’ (Ετήσιο Σχέδιο Δράσης 2026 και Ετήσια Αναφορά 2025), the inclusion of book purchases has been introduced among the eligible categories of expenditure in the Youth Culture Card.

Also, in 2025,  the Deputy Ministry of Culture in collaboration with the AbleBook Software Company, completed an accessibility study for cultural venues, aiming to enhance access and ensure that cultural spaces are inclusive and accessible to all (Annual Action Plan 2026-Annual Report 2025/Ετήσιο Σχέδιο Δράσης 2026 και Ετήσια Αναφορά 2025). The ‘AbleBook’ is a startup company which focuses on providing services and information for people with disabilities and vulnerable groups, around and beyond accessibility through an online platform/ application.

Another foundation promoting the access of young people to culture is the Larnaca Cultural Foundation for Children and Youth (Ίδρυμα Πολιτιστικής Δημιουργίας για Παιδιά και Νέους) established by the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth in 2010, and hosted by Larnaca Municipality. The key objectives of the Foundation are to provide equal opportunities to children and youth to participate in creativity through cultural and artistic experiences. Also, it aims to strengthen interculturalism, to promote our cultural identity and participate in cultural and artistic projects by focusing on children, teenagers and the youth.  The Foundation organises on an annual basis a number of activities and programmes (e.g. creative workshops on theatre, music, personal development, creative writing, workshops with emphasis on architecture as well as script writing and film making) which enhance cultural participation of young people regardless of their nationality or financial background, in the broader region of Larnaca.

The Cyprus Theatre Organisation (THOC) during the year 2023/2024 organised scenography and theatrical play workshops, named ‘Valitsa’ (Εργαστήρια βαλίτσα σε δομές εφήβων (Hope for Children Λευκωσίας καιΛάρνακας, T.Ε.Ν.Ε./Ψυχιατρικό Κέντρο Ασφαλούς Νοσηλείας Μακάριου Νοσοκομείου) in which minors who live in juvenile facilities had the opportunity to participate. Also, THOC offers reduced ticket price (for THOC’s productions), to young people under 25 years of age, as well as organised visits to their buildings with an educational programme for theatre evaluation.

The Deputy Ministry of Culture and specifically the Department of Contemporary Culture, offers a wide range of schemes and funding opportunities for individuals and organisations active in the cultural sector, including theatre, cinema, dance, visual arts, libraries, and more. While many of these programmes are open to creators of all ages, several specifically support young people and youth organisations in Cyprus, including initiatives linked to General Secondary and Technical Secondary Education.

Key programmes that engage youth include the “Schools as Ambassadors of Culture-Children as Cultural Ambassadors scheme” (Πρόγραμμα «Σχολεία Πρεσβευτές Πολιτισμού–Παιδιά Πρεσβευτές Πολιτισμού»), which promotes cultural participation and learning among students, and projects in theatre, dance, and arts that provide young creators with opportunities for experimentation, professional development, and networking. 

Other initiatives, such as the ‘CYPRIA Arts Festival’ (Χορηγικό Πρόγραμμα Φεστιβάλ Τεχνών «ΚΥΠΡΙΑ»-Τμήμα Σύγχρονου Πολιτισμού), Culture Programme III 2026–2030 for cultural artists (Διατομεακό Σχέδιο του Προγράμματος “ΠΟΛΙΤΙΣΜΟΣ ΙΙΙ” για τους πολιτιστικούς δημιουργούς), and the “Art and Health” Pilot Plan 2026 (Πιλοτικό Σχέδιο «Τέχνη και Υγεία» 2026), encourage youth engagement by combining educational, creative, and community-focused activities. Funding schemes for operating expenses (Σχέδιο Χρηματοδότησης Θεατρικών Οργανισμών για Κάλυψη Λειτουργικών Δαπανών/ Σχέδιο Χρηματοδότησης Πολιτιστικών Φορέων για Κάλυψη Λειτουργικών Δαπανών), promotion, networking (Σχέδιο Ενίσχυσης Πολιτιστικών Φορέων για την Κάλυψη Δαπανών Προβολής, Επικοινωνίας και Διεθνούς Δικτύωσης), and sector-specific support, including cinema (Cyprus Cinema Office-National Funding), literature, and book programmes (Πρόγραμμα: «Φιλαναγνωσίας Διαδρομές» …σε Βιβλιοθήκες), also enable young people, young artists and organisations to access and support the development of Cyprus’s cultural life.

The Department of Theatre Development of the Cyprus Theatre Organisation (THOC), has been engaged since its establishment in 1979 in ways and projects that broaden and promote theatre activity in Cyprus, in cooperation with other bodies and social groups, empowering among other the young people. The main activities of the Department of Theatre Development are the following:

• School theatre–Organisation of the Pancyprian Theatre School Games and workshops for teachers.

• Amateur theatre–Organisation of the Pancyprian Festival of Amateur Theatre.

• Organisation of Masterclasses for various theatre disciplines.

• Collaboration with non-governmental organisations and groups for the promotion of activities for theatre.

• Financial support of organised groups that have among their objectives the development of theatre (Cyprus Centre of the International Theatre Institute, Actors Union of Cyprus, Cyprus Playwrights Society, etc.).

• Provision of information to prospective students, parents, professionals, organisations interested in the theatre in Cyprus, educational institutions, organised groups, etc.

Disseminating information on cultural opportunities

One of the main information providers to young people in Cyprus are the Youth Multipurpose Centres (Πολύκεντρα Νεολαίας) operated by the Youth Board of Cyprus. Information on cultural opportunities is disseminated through the Centres which are located in every city of the non-occupied part of the island.

There is also the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra Foundation with the aim to become the primary provider of specialized information, publications and music scores about the whole range of Cyprus music. Similarly, THOC, and the Cyprus Cinema Office provide relevant information to their field of action.

In addition, the website of the Deputy Ministry of Culture and the Department of Contemporary Culture, provide relevant information on cultural opportunities, funding schemes and events.

Knowledge of cultural heritage amongst young people

Several actions for raising awareness on cultural heritage among youth take place in the context of formal education, through school activities, and targeted programmes. Within the school system, the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth (MESY) supports cultural engagement through activities such as music and theatre programmes, as well as student competitions at the secondary education level, as highlighted in its ‘Annual Report 2024’.

An important complementary initiative is the “Pancyprian Symposium of the UNESCO Associated Schools Network (ASPnet)” co-organised annually by the Cyprus National Commission for UNESCO  in collaboration with the ASPnet National Coordinator for Cyprus, the MESY and selected secondary schools. The Cyprus National Commission for UNESCO operates under the supervision of the MESY through the Secretary General of the Ministry. The MESY provides the Commission with funding for its organisational needs and the promotion of its programmes. The Commission actively promotes the implementation of the UNESCO Conventions and Programmes in Cyprus in collaboration with all Ministries and Government Services, as well as with Non-Governmental Organisations, across key thematic areas, including Education, Natural Sciences, Culture, Social and Human Sciences, Communication and Information. 

According to the ‘Annual Report 2025’ of the National Commission for UNESCO, the “47th Pancyprian Symposium of the ASPnet” was held in April 2025, in Nicosia under the theme “Shaping identity amid the complexity and challenges of the modern world”. The two-day event included student presentations, experiential workshops, and artistic activities. Through creativity and artistic expression, the vital role of the arts in education was highlighted, fostering imagination, critical thinking, and empathy. Within the framework of the Symposium, theatrical workshops  were also held with the support of cultural institutions. 

In addition to educational initiatives, research institutions contribute to youth access to cultural knowledge. The Cyprus Research Centre (CRC), established in 1964 provides scholarly research on the history and civilisation of Cyprus and provides valuable resources accessible to researchers and academics, including young scholars. Its work spans key areas such as history, folklore, linguistics, literature, ethnography, and sociology. The CRC maintains a specialised library and publishes a wide range of academic works, including monographs and collective volumes in established series such as:

• Texts and Studies in the History of Cyprus.

• Publications of the Cyprus Research Centre.

• Conference Proceedings Publications.

• Publications of the Cyprus Social Centre.

• Digital Discs.

• Collected Studies. 

The publications are distributed either at the CRC or through bookstores in Cyprus and abroad (MESY ‘Annual Report 2024’).

The Organisation of European Programmes and Cultural Relations, established in 2020 by the decision of the Council of Ministers, undertakes the management of the National Contact Points for the European programs related to the field of culture, as well as the promotion of other related programs and actions. The Organisation manages, among others the 'Creative Europe Desk' for Cyprus and the National Contact Point for the "Citizens, Equality, Rights, Values" programme.

The Creative Europe Desk for Cyprus provides assistance to cultural and creative agencies, including youth and youth-led organisation, regarding the Creative Europe Programme. The Desks are designed to provide services such as:

• Free information and guidance on how to access funding opportunities under the Creative Europe Program.

• Regular updates on audiovisual and culture related issues at European level.

• Networking support facilitating contact between cultural operators in different countries and partner finding opportunities.

According to the Creative Europe Desk for Cyprus site, in the period 2023/2024:

• 213 proposals from Cyprus were submitted to the Creative Europe programme.

• 36 proposals, in which Cypriot organisations participated, were selected for funding.

• €3 million were given to Cypriot organisations.

While these figures demonstrate active participation in European cultural programmes, there are no publicly available evidence specifically identifying the extent of direct youth or youth-led organisational involvement in the funded projects.