Over two days in April, the Centre of Visual Arts and Research (CVAR) in Nicosia welcomed 160 schoolchildren from Cyprus public schools for educational sessions on Cyprus Handcrafted Heritage, organized by the BE OPEN Foundation. The initiative aims to preserve and popularize traditional Cyprus fabric production techniques.
The sessions included lectures on craft-related entrepreneurship by Andreani Panayide, a young entrepreneur who shared her journey from exploring cultural heritage to establishing an international fashion brand, and masterclasses in traditional Cypriot weaving by Elli Filokyprou, a weaver with over 20 years of experience.
Representatives from Cyprus’s cultural and educational authorities and institutions, including the Deputy Minister of Culture and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Sport, and Youth, supported and inaugurated the classes. They emphasized the importance of promoting traditional crafts to preserve cultural heritage and ensure that future generations have access to these essential aspects of their heritage.
BE OPEN Founder Elena Baturina stressed the importance of keeping handcraft traditions alive, as they provide a connection to history, culture, and individuality. She announced that the professional transportable looms used in the masterclasses would be gifted to the workshop authors to continue their creative work.
The educational sessions on Cyprus Handcrafted Heritage were well-received by the schoolchildren, who actively participated in the masterclasses and expressed their appreciation for learning about their traditional crafts. The initiative is a valuable contribution to preserving and promoting Cyprus’s rich cultural heritage and inspiring future generations to appreciate and continue these traditions.
