In the halls of the Polydynamic Multipurpose Centre of the Municipality of Larnaca in the city centre, expression and creativity take on a new dimension.
There, a group of young artists is building the creative future of Larnaca.
Under the auspices of the Cultural Creation Foundation for Children and Youth, artists nurture and develop the skills of children.
Through specialized workshops, which even target infants, as well as model programs implemented in schools, children are transformed into creators, learning to express themselves without limitations.
It has been quietly operating here for many years, with its activities now widely known in Larnaca.
The foundation, moreover, is one of the key partners of Larnaca 2030, providing the opportunity for dozens of children to contribute to the city’s major effort to claim the title of European Capital of Culture.
Three of the organization’s professionals spoke to Phileleftheros and unfolded its diverse and significant work.
“We feel like we are working for the next generation of Larnaca,” says the soul of the foundation, cultural officer Salome Paraskeva, indicating that the strength of the organization lies in collaborations with groups and individuals who maintain their autonomy but work towards the same goal.
“We are a non-profit organization supported by the Ministry of Culture. What we want to achieve through cultural cultivation is the empowerment of children and youth, as the arts can provide an outlet for all the social challenges they face today.”
Salome Paraskeva is a musician specializing in music education. Her collaboration with the foundation began in 2016, and two years ago, she was appointed its head.
“I found an outlet to realize ideas that I didn’t know how to implement. Our vision is for the organization to develop in various directions, and we now have a large audience in Larnaca. In 2022, new collaborators joined us, and we started implementing proposals from young people in Larnaca. We work in various fields.”
“We have weekly drama classes, music pre-education, and a youth theatre group. The youth theatre group gradually became autonomous and produces its own productions in the Cypriot dialect, addressing issues relevant to young people today, such as social and racial inequality. Recently, they also presented the first part of a short film called ‘Museum of Modern Society.'”
Hundreds of schoolchildren also participate in the cultural education programs of the foundation.
“We have, for example, the ‘λefkart’ program in collaboration with the Larnaca Archives – Phoivos Stavrides, which worked very successfully in 19 high schools in Larnaca, Nicosia, and free Famagusta. The children used lefkaritika embroidery as a source of inspiration”.
“In November, a program for primary education will start, focusing on sustainability and recycling, within the framework of the BioDesign Festival of Larnaca 2030. Additionally, we will prepare another program for primary schools for the creation of postcards for the tourist needs of Larnaca. Through this program, children will have the opportunity to show what their place means to them and what identity it gives them.”
“The material will be provided to the Larnaca Tourism Board, and then, in collaboration with Larnaca 2030 and the Larnaca Archives – Phoivos Stavrides, a space with postcards curated by the children themselves will be created.”
