The bill on the status of the artist will be submitted to the Cabinet of Ministers in January 2025, according to the Deputy Ministry of Culture.

In a statement, the Deputy Ministry referred to yesterday’s remarks by AKEL MP Christos Christofias on cultural issues during the discussion of the 2025 Budget in the Plenary of the House of Representatives.

“The recognition of culture as one of the productive and developmental sectors of the economy is a primary goal for the Deputy Ministry. This is why we aim for an annual increase in cultural spending through the state budget and alternative funding sources, in order to support the implementation of policies, actions, and planned reforms,” the Deputy Ministry noted.

It also emphasized the importance of finalizing the bill on the status of the artist, which has been a priority since the establishment of the Deputy Ministry in July 2022.

The Deputy Ministry added that the bill, prepared in collaboration with the Commissioner for Legislation, was submitted to the Legal Service for legislative review in September 2024, following intensive consultations with artists and cultural organizations that lasted four months.

“The bill is expected to be submitted to the Cabinet of Ministers in early January 2025 for approval and then to the House of Representatives for voting,” it said.

The Deputy Ministry highlighted that the modernization of grant programs is a dynamic and evolving process, starting with improvements to the THYMELI, Culture, and KYPRIA programs. “Further and more radical revisions to these and other grant programs will take place after analyzing the results of recently completed surveys of the public and artists, as well as after the completion of sector-focused studies to be conducted in 2025,” it stated.

The statement also underscored the importance of the Grants4Arts platform, designed to facilitate the submission and evaluation of applications. The platform, launched in 2024, aims to enhance transparency and speed in processing applications.

Additionally, the Deputy Ministry stressed that cultural stakeholders' participation in decision-making processes is ensured through ongoing open consultations addressing policy issues across the cultural spectrum. Stakeholders also participate in established Advisory Committees and Evaluation Committees for grant programs, among others.

Regarding cultural infrastructure, the Deputy Ministry stated that it is advancing several projects, including the creation of the Cyprus Archaeological Museum, the enhancement of public spaces at Kourion, the Pallas Theatre, the Lemba Cultural Village, the unification of archaeological sites in Larnaca and Polis Chrysochous, the restoration and promotion of the Famagusta Gate Monument, the digitization of cultural infrastructure, and more.