Filenews 17 January 2026
Processes have begun, including the staffing of the organization of the European Capital of Culture "Larnaca 2030", as well as the acquaintance with artists who will participate in events that will take place when the city will host the institution of the European Capital of Culture.
Kelly Diapouli, Artistic Director of Larnaca 2030 told CNA that "after the designation of Larnaca as the European Capital of Culture for 2030, the Deputy Ministry of Culture should officially designate Larnaca as the European Capital of Culture, since the decision of the Committee of Experts is advisory. The Deputy Ministry naturally adopts this opinion and designates, on the basis of a formal procedure, Larnaca as the European Capital of Culture, informing the European Commission and the European Parliament of this decision."
So he continued "formally from the moment the specific definition is made by the Deputy Ministry of Culture, Larnaca will now be the European Capital of Culture for 2030. Then all the procedural issues will begin which will last for the first period and are related to the setting up of the company, since from the 4 people that existed until today, there should be staff who can manage a project of €27 million."
As Ms. Diapouli said: "We have moved very quickly in this direction. There is already an open call that expires on January 30, for the recruitment of the General Manager and the Communication and Marketing Manager," he said and noted that "the goal is to have staffed the key positions of the company within the first quarter, i.e. by March".
Answering a relevant question, he said that "the staffing of the artistic team will follow and essentially the first year after the declaration of Larnaca as the European Capital of Culture for 2030, will mainly include procedural and organizational issues in order to achieve funding".
Specifically, he continued "the Deputy Ministry of Culture has already announced that it will give €10 million to the Capital of Culture, however exactly how the disbursements will be made, when the money will be received and under what conditions, are issues that will be agreed and finalized now so that the company can start operating and then the artistic work can begin".
Asked whether European bodies will give money for Larnaca 2030, Ms. Diapouli replied that "in the Capitals of Culture, the available budget comes from national resources. Europe gives at the end of the process one and a half million euros," he said and noted that "the money has been declared in the file submitted by Larnaca 2030, where there are the competent bodies with the amount they will contribute."
Specifically, he continued "the Municipality of Larnaca will give €7.5 million, the Larnaca District Self-Government Organization €2 million, about €3.5 million are estimated to be received from sponsorships, while another €2 million will be raised through competitive European programs, i.e. by submitting funding applications to European programs."
Already, he continued, "we have earned money from two European programs from last year and this year, we will have some artistic activities. We have been funded by a project related to social art, that is, six artists from abroad will arrive in Cyprus, stay for a month and work with the people who live in the Settlements of Tsiakkilero and Agioi Anargyroi."
Essentially, he noted "through these meetings of these artists with the residents of the Settlements, works will be created that will be part of a Festival that will take place in October".
He also added that "Larnaca 2030 will also receive funding from another program in which it is a member, as well as all candidate cities and cities that in the past received the title of European Capital of Culture. Specifically, between 6 and 8 May, close to Europe Day, we will host a large European Conference in which more than 100 delegates – representatives from all these countries of Europe will participate."
As Ms. Diapouli "there is still another European program, which is done in collaboration with the European Network for the Mobility of Artists. In particular, there will be a conference with representatives from the field of culture from various European countries, which will focus on artists' rights, how we can make working conditions better for artists and with special emphasis and provision for artists who are in danger, for artists who are in exile and for persecuted artists."
To another question, Kelly Diapouli replied that "soon there will be a big party to officially celebrate our success, to which all the artists who have worked for Larnaca 2030 will be invited. Both musicians and other artists will be invited to celebrate our success," he said.
Around April, he continued, "we will invite all the artists of the city and province and cultural institutions involved in Larnaca 2030 as well as artists who want to get involved, to present and explain the program, to get to know and connect with other artists and institutions from Europe, while it will be explained to them how they can take part. Through this process, the projects that will be presented in 2030 will emerge."
CNA
