Open Letter to the Deputy Ministry of Culture
https://www.neme.org/blog/open-letter-to-the-deputy-ministry-of-culture-2
To
Honorable Deputy Minister Dr. Vasiliki Kassianidou
Director of the Deputy Ministry of Culture Mrs Emmanuela Lamprianidi
Director of the Department of Contemporary Culture, Dr Ioanna Hadjikosti
CC
Mass media
Co-signing organisations
30 May 2025
Subject: Public intervention by cultural organisations for grants from the “Culture II Programme”
Following the publication of the results of the “Culture II – Supporting Visual Arts Activities and Development” programme for 2025, and following our repeated interventions to the Department of Contemporary Culture – both through the Working Group and independent stakeholders – since November 2024, documented concerns and proposals for the Culture Programme have been submitted. In this context, we are taking a public position on the rejection of a significant number of proposals, as well as the systemic problems highlighted by the evaluation process.
Although the total amount of funding shows a slight increase of 4% compared to 2024 (€453,660 compared to €434,667), this increase is not accompanied by a substantial increase in access to resources. On the contrary, there is an exclusion of almost 60% of proposals (only 29 out of 73 proposals were approved, with a success rate of 39.73%), the lowest percentage ever approved, to our knowledge. We note that this is not due to the increase in the number of applications, as 83 proposals were submitted in 2023 with a success rate of 60.24%, but to the levelling of the funding rate at 80%, as the working group warned in 2024 in two letters to the Deputy Ministry. The significant reduction in the number of proposals approved cannot be interpreted as an indication of quality or a strategic selection process, but as the result of the introduction of a system that is neither inclusive nor sustainable.
The allocation of funds also raises serious questions about the transparency of the choice of evaluators, and the strategic focus of the Management. Instead of fostering cooperation, the process intensifies competition, undermining the potential for collective development. Moreover, access to the data and qualifications of the evaluators has not been ensured, which limits the credibility of the process.
The rejection of proposals from organisations with a long and internationally recognised track record, without documented justification, demonstrates a lack of expertise on the part of the evaluators and an inability to make an effective judgement on the subject matter. Furthermore, the continuing weakening of the field of visual arts within the already understaffed Department of Contemporary Culture, due to its depletion of qualified, experienced staff, is a matter of great concern. This situation is an indication of institutional incoherence and undermines the functional coherence and the possibility of providing effective support for the sector.
We underline the need for further systematic and institutionalised dialogue and clear cultural policy making that fosters pluralism, innovation and sustainability. The lack of systematic information hampers the development of synergies and exacerbates the gap between institutions and the real needs of the field.
Despite the difficulties encountered by the community we represent, the visual arts sector wishes to continue the dialogue and empower the sector through a more systematic programme of consultation with the Deputy Ministry, and the visual arts working group. This can only be achieved through ongoing dialogue.
We call on the Deputy Ministry of Culture to:
- Make a substantial increase in the budget, with the aim of funding at least 70% of proposals that meet the basic conditions.
- Re-evaluate the evaluation system as a whole, introducing clear guidelines, intermediate scoring categories and meaningful feedback to enhance the quality of the process and confidence in the institution.
- Ensure the expertise and objectivity of evaluators, preventing conflicts of interest, with clear selection criteria.
- Re-staff the Department with experienced visual arts officials.
Supporting the cultural sector is essential for preserving diversity, developing contemporary art and social cohesion.
- ABR – Alternative Brains Rule
- Art Seen
- Celadon Center for the Arts
- Ένωση Γραφιστών και Εικονογράφων Κύπρου
- P.S. Artist Led Projects
- Graphic Stories Cyprus
- Ίδρυµα Νίκος Κουρούσιης
- NeMe
- NiMAC Ίδρυµα Πιερίδη
- MAMA Contemporary
- Point Centre for Contemporary Art
- Phaneromenis 70
- Sic. Contemporary culture
- Σύνδεσµος Αγγειοπλαστών Κεραµιστών
- Σύνδεσµος Εικαστικών Καλλιτεχνών και Θεωρητικών Τέχνης – φυτωριο
- TERRA ARTE CY
- Korai Project Space
- Kimonos Art Centre
- Φωτοδός
- Urban Gorillas
- D6 Culture EU
- Ξαρκής
- ΕΚΑΤΕ
- ΚΥΠΡΙΟΙ ΧΑΡΑΚΤΕΣ
- Κέντρο Παραστατικών Τεχνών ΜΙΤΟΣ
- Υπόγεια Σκηνή/ Πολυχώρος Συνεργείο
- Actus Anima
