A new visual arts education programme for sixth-grade primary school pupils is being established at the Presidential Palace, giving children the chance to see works from the State Collection of Cypriot Art up close. A total of 18 sessions are planned between November 2026 and June 2027, with places limited to small groups.
The programme forms part of the initiative “Presidential Palace Open to Citizens” launched by First Lady Philippa Karsera Christodoulides.
Who is running the programme
The programme is being implemented by the Presidency of the Republic, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth and the Deputy Ministry of Culture, which is responsible for its design and coordination.
The works on display
The educational activities will be based on the works presented at the Presidential Palace under the title “Cyprus: The World, the Place, the Word, the Matter”, curated by Kostas Mantzalos and Konstantinos Kounnis. The exhibition includes works from the State Collection of Cypriot Art and from private collections.
Aims of the programme
According to the announcement, the programme aims to bring pupils into contact with Cypriot visual art, leading Cypriot artists and the history of the Presidential Palace.
Through hands-on and interactive activities, including observing artworks, discussion, exploration games and collaborative creation, it seeks to develop visual literacy, creative expression and critical thinking.
Eighteen sessions until June
In total, 18 sessions of the programme are planned for the period from November 2026 to June 2027.
In November, visits are scheduled for 6, 12 and 27 November, with two sessions each day and up to 25 pupils per group.
Arrangements for schools outside Nicosia and small schools
Each session lasts 90 minutes. To make participation easier for schools outside Nicosia, an adapted 60-minute version is available.
Pupils in combined fifth and sixth-grade classes at small schools may also take part, provided the total number in the group does not exceed 25 children.
Schools wishing to take part with two groups in consecutive sessions will be offered a parallel activity at a museum space run by the Deputy Ministry of Culture.
How to book
Interested schools can apply through the Deputy Ministry of Culture’s online platform. Bookings will be confirmed on a first-come, first-served basis according to the time the application is submitted, and a separate booking is required for each school group.
Further dates will be announced gradually, depending on the availability of spaces at the Presidential Palace.
Practical information
- Dates: 6, 12 and 27 November 2026
- Venue: Presidential Palace, Nicosia
- Who can take part: Sixth-grade primary pupils, with provision for combined fifth and sixth-grade classes
- Duration: 90 minutes, or 60 minutes for schools outside Nicosia
- Bookings: Online platform of the Deputy Ministry of Culture, with a separate application for each school group
Source: Parathyro
