2
3
T
his issue of Cyprus Today starts off with the State Prizes for Literature, presenting the award-
winning authors of books published in 2013 as well as the awards ceremony, which was
addressed by the Minister of Education and Culture, Costas Kadis.
The 15
th
Cyprus Contemporary Dance Platform follows, this year having hosted 15 established and
younger choreographers to celebrate the equivalent number of years since the Platform was first
established by the Cultural Services of the Ministry of Education and Cutlure. The Services were
also behind the Nicosia leg of the global phenomenon
Play Me, I’m Yours
, an interactive installation
which saw local artists decorate pianos that were then placed around the capital city for all to play
and enjoy.
We also present the Centre of Visual Arts and Research, which opened its doors to the public in
Nicosia last September; and of course we had to follow the celebrations to mark the A.G. Leventis
Gallery’s one-year anniversary in February. One such event was the Gallery’s first ever international
temporary exhibition entitled
Nativity Stories
.
The late Minister of Education and Culture, Pefkios Georgiades, continues to provide support
and love to those in need, eight whole years after his sudden passing. Widely acknowledged as
the children’s favourite minister, the Musical Talent Development Program has confirmed this by
holding its annual concert in his memory, with the proceeds going to the Patients Welfare Council of
Archbishop Makarios III Hospital in Nicosia.
Speaking of classical music, the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra (CySO) kept classical music lovers
entertained over the chilly winter months with a variety of performances.
Our issue also presents The Cyprus Theatre Organisation (THOC) and National Theatre of Greece
signed a Protocol of Cooperation on 22 January 2015, opening the way for the two theatres to
implement an artistic programme aimed at promoting and developing the art of theatre.
We are also proud to present Cypriot director Kyros Papavassiliou’s achievement of having his
film
The Impressions of a Drowned Man
selected was among thirteen other international movies to
compete in the competition section of the 44
th
International Film Festival Rotterdam, which took
place on 21 January – 2 February 2015.
We follow it up with Cypriot poet Roula Ioannidou Stavrou, who gained international recognition
for the second year running after receiving an Honorary Mention for her poem
Yellow Ribbons on
the Tree
at the XXX Nosside World Poetry Prize 2014 in Italy, and member of the Greek Cypriot
diaspora Petros Hadjitofi Makris with his first book,
The Apostate
.
We wrap our issue with two painting exhibitions: Susan Kerr’s collection
The Magic of Heaven and
Earth
and Yiannis Pelekanos’ 36
th
solo exhibition
The World of Cyprus.
Editorial
Yiannis Pelekanos
The Impressions of a Drowned Man
15
th
Cyprus Contemporary Dance Platform
Play me, I’m yours
It was 1
st
of April
