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YouthWiki

EACEA National Policies Platform
Cyprus

Cyprus

8. Creativity and Culture

8.2 Administration and governance

Last update: 28 November 2023
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  1. Governance
  2. Cross-sectorial cooperation

Governance

The Ministry of Education,Sport and Youth  is the main governmental authority responsible for Creativity and Culture and specifically, the Ministry’s Department of Cultural Services. As mentioned in the MOEC’s 2020 Annual Report, the Department of Cultural Services is the main actor in developing the cultural policy of the state in the field of contemporary culture. Its area of focus includes the development of Arts and Letters in Cyprus, the public’s awareness of and participation in cultural events and the promotion of the country’s cultural achievements abroad.

The Minister of Education,, Sport and Youth is also the liaison between the Youth Board of Cyprus (YBC) (state’s authority on youth issues), the rest of the Ministries and other relevant stakeholders. Therefore, regarding the policies affecting young people’s participation and involvement in culture, the Youth Board of Cyprus’ structures and mechanisms are involved. More information on how policies for youth are decided can be found on the Youth Wiki’s Chapter 1.4 Youth Policy Decision-making and 1.5 Cross-sectoral approach with other ministries.

At the same time, policies taken at the national level are enforced centrally since the responsibility of decision-making is under the central government and not the local authorities. The local authorities are in charge of the implementation of programmes through funding they receive from the government. Moreover, youth NGO’s, such us Cyprus Youth Clubs Organisation (KOKEN), are also funded to organise cultural events locally.

Also, there are some non-public actors, such us the Cyprus Architectural Heritage Organization and the Bank of Cyprus Cultural Foundation, which aim to promote and highlight the island's cultural heritage, both internally and abroad.

In 2017, the Cyprus Academy of Sciences, Letters and Arts was founded. The academy is the uppermost spiritual institution of Cyprus, and its goal – among others – is the promotion ad cultivation of science, letters and arts within Cyprus and globally.

Cross-sectorial cooperation

The Department of Cultural Services cooperates with the rest of the MOEC’s Departments when it comes to cultural issues, and also with other Departments of the public administration, such as the Cyprus Department of Antiquities of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, the Cyprus Theatre Organisation (THOC), the Cyprus Deputy Ministry of Tourism, the Cyprus Youth Symphony Orchestra and the Presidential Commissioner  whose responsibilities include the management, coordination, support and resolution of matters related to the missing persons, the enclaved persons in the occupied areas and humanitarian issues, expatriate Cypriots, religious groups and the destruction of the religious and cultural heritage in the occupied areas.

Under the National Youth Strategy though, a new cross-sectorial partnership is being developed especially on culture and creativity-related policies for youth (see also 1.5 Cross-sectoral approach with other ministries).