Press Releases

As part of the ongoing Art Educational Programmes at the State Gallery of Contemporary Art – Majestic, children, adolescents, educators and adults are invited to participate this February, March and April in the following art, emotional intelligence, music and kinetic improvisation workshops:  

1.  Monday 26 February 2024, 10:00-12:00

Psychoeducational program for adults – “Bodies of Resilience”

A body-positive culture challenges societal norms and expectations surrounding body image, promoting acceptance, inclusivity, and self-love for all bodies. During the psychoeducational discussions, selected artworks of the permanent exhibition at the State Gallery serve as catalysts in conversations about body diversity and gender theory. Facilitators guide participants in analysing and interpreting specific artworks, encouraging them to reflect on how the artworks challenge or reinforce societal norms and expectations. These discussions provide a rich context to explore the complexities of body image and gender, connecting artistic expressions to lived experiences. 

The workshop aims to create a safe and supportive space where participants can explore and express their relationship with their bodies and gender identities through artistic creation. Also, the workshop encourages participants to use diverse materials as media for self-reflection, challenging societal expectations and norms. By engaging in the process of sculpting new bodies, participants can foster self-acceptance, self-expression, and a deeper understanding of the complex interplay between gender, identity, and physical form. The goals include promoting body positivity, celebrating individuality, and fostering a sense of empowerment and agency over one's own body and gender narrative.

The program is also designed for special groups (i.e. people with disabilities or neurodevelopmental disorders) and is being implemented through the collaboration of Elpida Fragkeskidou, Artist and Founder Kuns Studio - Functional Sculpture Studio and Showroom (MA Fine Arts & Arts Education) and Art Psychotherapist Eleni Petridou (MSc Art Psychotherapy | MA Fine Arts & Arts Education), with the view to welcome participants with a range of abilities to a museum environment, where they can enjoy cultural goods and develop empathy.

Workshop dates:

Monday 26/2/2024, 10:00 - 12:00 - Special Group (18+ years)

The workshops will be held in Greek.

Participation is free and open to everyone. Limited number of participants (15).

Reservations by order of priority. 

Materials to be used: Air dry clay, fabrics, papier-mâché, wood sticks, acrylics etc

Reservations for neurotypical participants, via the link, by stating: Name, age, contact telephone.

For more information please call: 99883150

Reservations for Special Groups, (e.g.  neurodevelopmental disorders, etc.) can be made by the respective Associations/Foundations, directly to the Kuns studio.

Please send an e-mail to: kuns-studio@outlook.com (stating name and age of participant, development profile, interests, contact telephone/email).

For more information please call: 99933436

2. Saturday 2 March 2024, 15:30 - 17:30, Saturday 9 March 2024, 15:30 - 17:30 and Saturday 6 April, 15:30 - 17:30

Experiential workshops of emotional intelligence for children 7-10 years – “Everything I felt – everything I expressed”

During these experiential workshops, children will explore the world of emotions through various ways of expression such as role play, painting, symbolic play and improvisation. By engaging in group activities they will identify and express different kinds of emotions, by associating them with everyday experiences. Finally, they will learn how to express their feelings, especially feelings of gratitude for what they have.

The workshops were designed based on the work of Antis Ioannidis Second Letter to Mother (1992) and through a series of exercises and activities they aim to help children to develop "emotional empathy", that is, to understand the feelings of others, develop their self-esteem, communicate effectively with others, harmonically cooperate within a group and develop their cognitive skills (e.g. thinking, concentration, evaluation and problem solving, etc.).

Designed and facilitated by Chrysovalanto Christofi (craft artist)

Workshop dates:

1. Saturday 2/3/2024, 15:30 - 17:30

2. Saturday 9/3/2024, 15:30 - 17:30

3. Saturday 6/4/2024, 15:30 - 17:30

Suitable for children 7-10 years. Participation is free.

The workshops will be self-contained.

Limited number of participants (10), by order of priority.

Reservations required, via the link.

 For more information: 99883150 

3. Wednesday 6, 19, 20 and 27 March 2024, 18:00- 20:30

Series of printmaking workshops for adolescents and adults –"Woodcuts: Techniques and Inspirations"

Based on the work of Telemachos Kanthos and his prints presented in the permanent exhibition at the State Gallery, the participants of the workshops will learn about the history of printmaking, its methodology and how it has evolved over the years.

Printmaking is considered to be the engraving of a design on a surface that is subsequently inked and printed on paper. The basic methods include wood engraving, copper engraving and lithography, and are divided into two categories such as woodblock printing and intaglio printing. Through printmaking, however, skills about the material media are developed, prompting the creator to explore various methods and discover their needs and desires in the field of visual art. This process requires research, experimentation, and a technical and aesthetic appreciation that helps develop a new identity and a new vocabulary of printmaking expression.

Participants in the workshops will engage in wood engraving and multi-copy printing. This method requires minimal tools and is simple to implement, helping individuals to eliminate the timidity they often experience in terms of drawing.

Previous experience is not required. It is recommended that participants bring along any A4 drawings they wish to work on.

Designed and facilitated by Kyriakos Theocharous (visual artist)

Workshop dates:

1.   Wednesday 6/3/2024, 18:00 - 20:30

2.   Wednesday 19/3/2024, 18:00 - 20:30

3.   Wednesday 20/3/2024, 18:00 - 20:30

4.   Wednesday 27/3/2024, 18:00 - 20:30

Suitable for adolescents (16+) and adults. Participation is free.

The workshops will be self-contained. Participation in all 4 workshops is recommended.

Limited number of participants (8), by order of priority.

Reservations required, via the link.    

For more information: 99883150 

4. Saturday 30 March 2024, 15:30-17:30, Saturday 20 April 2024, 10:30-12:30 & 15:30-17:30 and Saturday 27 April 2024, 15:30-17:30

Educational program for children 7-10 years – “Museum stories through imagination, colours and a fairy tale”

The program it is based on the book by Sophia Dardzali entitled " Where is everyone?" and aims to promote the contact and acquaintance of children with contemporary Cypriot art. Through the main character of the book and the exploration of selected artworks from the permanent exhibition, children will create their own stories, developing their imagination and creativity.

The program will unfold in 3 parts and will take place on all floors of the Gallery. Children will engage in a game of exploration using the information provided, in order to find selected artworks of three Cypriot artists and learn more about their work and action. At the end of the program the children will have the opportunity to write their own stories based on the information they collected, and present their own creations.

The program it is based on museum pedagogy of Niki Nikonanou, the pedagogy of dialogue of Maria Mpirmpili and the box of folk culture of Niki Kantzou. The main pedagogical aspects of the program are the exploration of the artwork, the development of children's imagination, creative thinking and writing and children's essential contact with Cypriot art and culture.

Designed and facilitated by Androula Fouskotou (archaeologist specialized in museum education)

Workshop dates:

1. Saturday 30/3/2024, 15:30 - 17:30

2. Saturday 20/4/2024, 10:30 - 12:30 and 15:30 - 17:30

3. Saturday 27/4/2024, 15:30 - 17:30

Suitable for children 7-10 years. Participation is free.

The workshops will be self-contained.

Limited number of participants (10), by order of priority.

Reservations required, via the link.

For more information: 99883150 

5. Saturday 6 April 2024, 10:30-12:00, Saturday 13 April 2024, 15:00-16:30, Thursday 18 April 2024 & Thursday 25 April 2024, 19:00-20:30, Friday 19 April 2024 & Friday 26 April 2024, 17:30-19:00

Creative movement and music workshop for children, adolescents, adults and educators –  “Atitlo”

The workshops are designed to develop the creativity of participants in the field of movement and music. Inspired by Stelios Votsis' painting Atitlo (1993), interactive actions were designed by analysing and deconstructing the painting which is being approached as a multimodal text. Reading this artwork, Demetris and Maria invite you to an aesthetic experience of viewing, participating and creating inside the Gallery space.

Designed and facilitated by Maria Kamberis (dance educator, choreographer) and Demetris Yiasemides (musician, composer).

Workshop dates:

1. Saturday 6/4/2024, 10:30 - 12:00 - (children 7-12 years)

2. Saturday 13/4/2024, 15:00 - 16:30 - (adolescents 12-15 years)

3. Thursday 18/4/2024 and Thursday 25/4/2024, 19:00 - 20:30 - (adults)

4. Friday 19/4/2024 and Friday 26/4/2024, 17:30 - 19:00 (educators of all school grades)

The workshops will be self-contained. Participation is free.

A certificate of participation will be given to educators.

Limited number of participants (10), by order of priority.

Reservations required, via the link.

For more information: 99883150 

Stasinou Ave. & 1 Kritis Street, 1060 Nicosia

Working hours: Monday-Friday 10:00-16:45, Saturday 10:00-12:45

Contact

+357 22 458228

stategallery@culture.moec.gov.cy

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(IA/NGian)