Programme: “Creative Partnerships – Artists in Schools”
Cyprus Society for Education through Arts (CySEA)
Published: Print Article ΠΑΙΔΙΚΗ ΧΑΡΑ Magazine – December 2024, Volume 64, Issue 3 (502)
The Cyprus Society for Education through Arts (CySEA) was founded in 1980 to help make education and culture in Cyprus richer and more engaging by harnessing the power of art.
CySEA created a programme called “Creative Partnerships – Artists in Schools.” In this programme , artists work together with teachers and children in schools. The idea is for children to experience and learn about art from people who are experts in Cypriot traditions—such as pottery, embroidery, weaving, mosaics, and other crafts.
The programme ran in 2014–2015 and again in 2019–2020, benefiting over 600 children from 18 schools across Cyprus, in collaboration with 18 artists and 27 teachers.
Children had the chance to work alongside artists both in their schools and in the artists’ workshops. They learned how to create beautiful handmade works and discovered traditional techniques that keep Cyprus’s cultural heritage alive. The artworks they created together now decorate their school spaces.
On Saturday, November 9, 2024, a major celebration was held in Nicosia to mark the 10th anniversary of the programme’s launch. The event was attended by notable guests, including the Deputy Minister of Culture, the President of POED (Cyprus’ Primary Teachers’ Union), and other education stakeholders. Teachers who participated in the programme presented the activities and artworks of the children. Albums featuring photographs of their collaborations with the artists were also showcased.
The children who took part in the programme were overjoyed, while teachers and artists felt proud of the creative work they had accomplished together. The “Creative Partnerships – Artists in Schools” programme has shown how art can make education more beautiful and inspiring.
Testimonials by students who participated in the project:
Anastasia Kapari
Deputy Secretary, CySEA
