AKEL initiative for the approval of legislation on the enrichment of public buildings with works of art

 

30 June 2022, AKEL C.C. Press Office, Nicosia

The AKEL Bill Proposal for the enrichment of public buildings with works of art has been tabled. AKEL’s initiative aims to demonstrate practical support to culture and artistic creation in our country. As it is known, the pioneering and innovative measure ensuring the obligatory enrichment of public buildings with works of art worth 1% of the total cost of a given project was adopted by the legislation approved in 2009. However, as the data submitted by the government to Parliament reveals, this mandatory provision was not implemented even in 1/3 of the public buildings erected by the state and other public institutions.

Now, Bill Proposal put forward by AKEL amends the existing legislation in 12 points with the primary objective of ensuring its implementation in practice by assigning the newly established Deputy Ministry of Culture the responsibility of monitoring, exercising scrutiny and guaranteeing accountability for the implementation of the relevant obligation.

At the same time, the AKEL proposal extends the obligation to enrich buildings with works of art beyond those buildings erected by the state. More specifically, AKEL proposes that the legislation should be extended to the cases of the purchase, rent or renovation of public buildings.

At the same time, provisions and regulations are being promoted to enhance transparency in the procedures for selecting the works of art that will adorn the country’s public buildings. With the start of the debate on AKEL’s bill proposal in the relevant Parliamentary Committee, all relevant state and cultural bodies and organisations will be called on to submit their views and suggestions.

The adoption of the AKEL Proposal by Parliament will represent practical support for cultural artists and especially for visual artists. At the same time, it will constitute another step towards bringing cultural creation into the everyday life of society and of the people.