Press Releases

The Department of Antiquities announces that on 2 April 2018, International Autism Awareness Day, monuments and museums will be lit blue once again, as a response to the invitation by Autism Speaks, and as part of the Light it Up Blue international awareness campaign. This year the Department of Antiquities will light up blue the Cyprus Museum in Nicosia, the Archaeological Museum of the Lemesos District, the Local Archaeological Museum of Marion-Arsinoe, the Castles of Kolossi, Pafos, Lemesos, and Larnaka, the Medieval Manor House at Kouklia, and the archaeological sites at Choirokoitia and Amathous.

Participation during the last years in this important world-wide endeavor to raise public awareness, concerning the idiosyncrasies and difficulties faced by persons in the autism spectrum and their families is related to the recognition on behalf of the Department of Antiquities of the role that culture may play in addressing modern social problems. Social cohesion and development can only be accomplished based on cultural values. Following this principle, the Department of Antiquities promotes activities within the context of archaeological heritage, so as to raise public awareness on various issues. The ultimate objective is to make known and reinforce the relationship that the entire society should maintain with the past, so as to secure our future. By all means, the variability of our culture is in accordance with autism itself, as the differences apparent in the autism spectrum, comprise an added value, especially considering that in our days we owe to seek and rediscover the true universal values.

(EL/II)