AKEL’s draft bill brings artistic creation into the everyday life of society and supports the people of the arts and culture

 

Statement by AKEL MP Giorgos Koukoumas after the meeting of the Parliamentary Education and Culture Committee

26 April 2023, AKEL C.C. Press Office, Nicosia

The article-by-article discussion of AKEL’s draft bill for the enrichment of public buildings with works of art began today in the Education and Culture Committee. This is an initiative that aims to support the artistic world of Cyprus and, at the same time, to bring the cultural creation of Cypriot artists into the everyday life of Cypriot society and of the Cypriot people.

As it is known, in 2009 a very innovative legislation was approved which stipulates that all public buildings erected should be enriched with works of art of a value equal to 1% of the total value of the building. Unfortunately, however, this provision has not been implemented even in a third of the public buildings erected over the last decade.

With our draft bill, we are strengthening the implementation of this legislation in practice. We are introducing provisions that extend its application to squares, as well as to cases where the state proceeds with the renovation, rental or conversion of public buildings, and not only to their construction and purchase. We are also introducing a number of other provisions which respond to the needs of cultural artists.

By doing so, we are ensuring that public buildings throughout Cyprus are indeed enriched with works of art. This will bring artistic creation into the everyday life of citizens and support the artists of Cyprus.