Cuts to cultural funding ahead of 2027 are starting to show. The Deputy Ministry of Culture’s call for the Thymelischeme for the first half of next year sets maximum grants €500 lower in every category of theatre production than in the same period of 2026. The cut to the four main funding categories was first applied in the second half of 2026 and stays unchanged in the new call. Reserve productions face a further €500 cut compared with the half-year just before, with their ceiling falling from €20,000 to €19,500.
Notably, the Deputy Ministry of Culture itself attributes the reduction in maximum grants to taking on the cost of having financial reports audited by an independent certified accountant. In other words, the Deputy Ministry has taken on one expense and cut the maximum amounts available for the theatre productions by the same amount. The same justification appeared in the call for the second half of 2026 and remains in the terms of the new scheme. It is still unclear whether the further cut for reserve productions is linked to the same arrangement. It is also unclear how much the audits cost the Deputy Ministry in total.
How grants are structured
The scheme sets out four main funding categories, based on how proposals rank in the scoring:
- The top two productions can receive up to €49,500 each
- The next six can receive up to €39,500
- The next four can receive up to €29,500
- A further four can receive up to €19,500
Compared with the first half of 2026, the maximum amounts are €500 lower in each of the four categories. In last year’s equivalent call, the top two productions could receive up to €50,000, the next six up to €40,000, the next four up to €30,000 and a further four up to €20,000.
The amounts were adjusted in the second half of 2026 and remain the same in the call for the first half of 2027. Funding can cover up to 80% of each production’s eligible budget. Theatrical monologues have a maximum grant of €15,000.
Lower ceiling for reserve productions
The new change in the call concerns reserve theatre productions, whose maximum grant falls from €20,000 to €19,500. In the four main funding categories, amounts stay at their second-half 2026 levels. The cut for reserve productions appears for the first time in the call for the first half of 2027.
Under the terms of the scheme, if an approved production is cancelled, a reserve proposal may be funded in order of ranking, provided it has scored at least 70%. Additional reserve proposals that meet the minimum score may also be funded if extra funds become available. In both cases, the maximum amount for each proposal cannot exceed €19,500.
Additional grants for Cypriot works and co-productions
On top of the basic funding, the scheme offers extra grants for certain types of theatre production. These are:
- €2,000 for staging a Cypriot play
- €1,500 for a work by a Cypriot playwright
- Up to €10,000 for co-productions
- Up to €6,000 for tours
- €2,000 to improve the accessibility of performances
The eligibility conditions are set out in the call. These grants are subject to the scheme’s specific conditions and are not a separate funding entitlement for every applicant.
Who can apply
Professional theatre organisations and groups that meet the scheme’s criteria may apply, including newly formed companies, under the specific conditions set out in the call.
Applicants must submit a complete proposal for the production, together with artistic and financial details and the required supporting documents.
Each applicant may submit up to two applications per half-year, and up to two productions may be funded. One of the two applications may be for a production for children or young people.
For productions aimed exclusively at children or young people, each applicant may submit up to two applications but secure funding for only one.
The terms also include provisions on the use of professional actors, employment contracts and the obligations that come with staging an approved production.
A minimum number of performances is also required, depending on the category and type of production. For example, theatres with more than 400 seats require at least ten performances, while newly formed theatre groups must give at least eight.
Assessment with a minimum score of 70%
Proposals are assessed against the scheme’s criteria and ranked by score. A production must score at least 70% to be eligible for funding.
The assessment considers the artistic qualities of the proposal, the make-up and experience of the creative team, the production’s planning and supporting documentation, and its financial details and promotional activities.
Under the terms, the amount budgeted in each application for publicity, promotion and advertising must be at least 2.5% of the total budget, and the financial report must show the same.
The final ranking decides which funding category each approved production falls into. Grants also depend on the funds available under the scheme.
Financial reports and beneficiaries’ obligations
Organisations that receive funding must submit a detailed financial report on staging the approved production. The report must include the necessary supporting documents, such as invoices and proofs of payment, along with a cover letter signed and stamped by the applicant.
The financial report will be audited and certified by an independent external certified auditor appointed by the Deputy Ministry of Culture. Beneficiaries must also submit evidence that the performances took place, including the number of performances and audience figures.
Applications open until 27 November
Applications for the first half of 2027 open on Monday 9 November and close on Friday 27 November 2026 at 14:00. They must be submitted online only, through the grants4arts.cy platform.
