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1. Acquiring cultural and creative competences through education and training

2. Specialised training for professionals in the education, culture and youth fields

3. Providing quality access to creative environments

Acquiring cultural and creative competences through education and training

Young people’s talents and creative skills are supported through the educational system since cultural topics are offered as obligatory subjects throughout the curriculum in the lower and upper secondary level of education. Arts, music, design and technology as well as literature are taught as separate obligatory subjects. Dance, theatre, photography etc. are either included in other subjects or they are performed through the realisation of cultural events and the participation in relevant programmes.

At the secondary education, there are specialised schools for students with a talent in music (Μουσικά Σχολεία) as mentioned in section 8.1 General Context. There is only one music high school in every city. Based on an all-day school format, music schools are integrated in the state educational system. In addition to the official school curriculum, the music school programme includes additional music subjects in all grades, offered as afternoon classes.

The Adult Education Centres operate in all non-occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus (rural and urban), offering learning opportunities for further personal, professional, cultural and social development to thousands of adults aged 15 and over. For more information, refer to section 8.1 General Context.

As for non-formal learning and youth work opportunities, targeting at stimulating cultural and creative skills through funding or relevant courses, you can find information in section 8.4 Reducing obstacles to young people’s access to culture of this chapter and section 6.7 Fostering innovation through non-formal and informal learning and youth work in Chapter 6 for ‘Education and Training’ on Youth Wiki.

Specialised training for professionals in the education, culture and youth fields

The Cyprus Pedagogical Institute (CPI) as the official department of the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth runs teachers’ professional learning. It offers a variety of training programmes that are repetitive and compulsory for teachers, mainly because they are provided by the education laws or their service plans, or because these programmes are developed with reference to the current needs and the context of schools. 

In relation to culture and creativity, such training programmes include:

• Music teachers’ in-service training programme focusing on music counselling seminars, the annual inspectors’ seminars, one-day choir conference, school networks, visits, music technology seminar, teaching resources development and implementation based on Adequacy and Attainment Targets. 

• A list of seminars/workshops to teachers of all disciplines in various topics, such as Museology, technologies useful in music education, creative thinking in the learning process, etc.. 

Educational programmes are also offered by the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra for students and their teachers on a yearly basis. Educational concerts, open rehearsals and school specific educational projects are designed to promote musical knowledge, musical skills and creativity, aiming to connect school music education with community music, foster a diverse and comprehensive education for future artists, and increase public participation in arts. 

Lastly, the Cyprus Theatre Organisation organises separate workshops (Εκπαιδευτικά προγράμματα). Two weeks before a theatre premiere, the production team meets with teachers and students during a rehearsal. The visitors are invited to watch how the director works with actors and then engage in a creative dialogue with them and other theatre professionals involved in the particular production. Participants are given printed material with information regarding the actors and other theatre contributors, the performance and its preparation. They also receive certificates of participation.

There is no specialised training, directly organised or funded by top-level authorities, for educators and youth workers.

Providing quality access to creative environments

The Youth Board of Cyprus (YBC) has introduced over the last years a number of initiatives for boosting innovation and creative skills to all young people in the island as mentioned in section 6.7 Fostering innovation through non-formal and informal learning and youth work of Chapter 6 ‘Education and Training’.

The most important are the:

• ‘Youth Leadership and Creativity Academy’ (6η Καλοκαιρινή Σχολή Ηγεσίας και Δημιουργικότητας) which introduces young participants to creative ways of thinking and to ways to develop and exhibit leadership skills in order to put their innovative ideas in action.

• ‘Up To YOU(th)’ Festival (9ο Φεστιβάλ Nέων 'Up To YOU(th)')  which is co-organised annually from YBC, the NGO Support Center and the Cyprus Youth Council. The aim of the festival is to promote the programs and services of the YBC and to highlight the action that the young people themselves develop. This is achieved through the participation of youth and cultural related organisations, the presentation of innovative actions developed by groups of young people or individuals, the presentation of artistic expression and creation and finally the presentation of actions related to human rights, social discrimination, environmental actions etc. It includes many activities such as NGO Fair, open discussions, workshops, presentations, art installations, concert, dance, and more.

• ‘Makers Fair’ (Makers Fair 2025) which was  hosted at the premises of the Youth Makerspace in Larnaca and serves as an open platform for inspiration, knowledge sharing, and creative dialogue, strengthening the local creative community and promoting collaborative making.