2 September 2026

Read the Policy  Recommendations Towards Fair Working Conditions in the Cultural Sector – English
Διαβάστε τις Συστάσεις Για Δίκαιες Συνθήκες Εργασίας στον Πολιτιστικό Τομέα – Ελληνικά

Cyprus boasts a wealth of creative ambition, innovation and collaboration. Across the island, artists and cultural workers contribute to the country’s social, environmental and economic development, creating cultural value that reaches far beyond the sector itself.

Yet, cultural work in Cyprus is still too often treated as a hobby or temporary project activity rather than professional labour. Artists and cultural workers face precarious incomes and frequently navigate multiple employment statuses in order to secure financial stability. Public support remains largely project-based, while existing social-protection systems do not adequately recognise artistic professions or reflect the intermittent nature of cultural work.

At the same time, artists and cultural organisations are expected to deliver significant public value without the infrastructure and long-term support needed to sustain their work. Consultation mechanisms remain inconsistent, while comprehensive and transparent data on the cultural sector is still limited.

These challenges are not unique to Cyprus. Similar issues are being experienced across Europe, where efforts are underway to develop more sustainable, fair and resilient conditions for cultural work.

From dialogue to action

Building on the discussions, experiences and insights shared during ASK PAY TRUST – Towards Fair Working Conditions in the Cultural Sector, the one-day public conference held in Larnaka on 10 June 2026 by D6:EU and Larnaka2030 in partnership with Culture Action Europe, we have developed a series of policy recommendations for improving working conditions and strengthening the cultural sector in Cyprus. The conference brought together artists, cultural workers, researchers and policymakers, with contributions from speakers including Lars Ebert (Culture Action Europe), Argyro Toumazou (D6:EU), lawyer Alexandros Efstathiou, Yiannis Colakides (NeMe), Marina Kakoulli (Dance House Lemesos), Evagoras Vanezis (Phytorio) and international guests Rocío Nogales-Muriel, Katrien Reist-van Gelder and Noel Kelly, sharing fair-pay models from Spain, Belgium and Ireland respectively.

The recommendations are available in both English and Greek and are open for everyone to read, share and engage with.

Read the Policy  Recommendations Towards Fair Working Conditions in the Cultural Sector – English
Διαβάστε τις Συστάσεις Για Δίκαιες Συνθήκες Εργασίας στον Πολιτιστικό Τομέα – Ελληνικά

The recommendations have also been submitted to the Ministry of Culture, with the aim of contributing to ongoing discussions and encouraging meaningful policy development for a stronger and fairer cultural sector in Cyprus.

Because supporting culture means supporting the people who make it possible.