The Nicosia Municipal Arts Center

19 Apostolou Varnava, Tel. (357)(2)-432577.

The Nicosia Municipal Arts Center is operating in collaboration with the Pierides Museum of Contemporary Art in Athens, Greece, and it is housed in the building of the old Power Station that was granted by the Electricity Authority to the Municipality of Nicosia.

The building is one of the finest examples of industrial architecture in Cyprus. It was built in the late 1920s and meets with the principles of the Bauhaus movement. The intention of the architects was to restore the building to its original state with very few alterations and meet all the needs of a contemporary cultural center. The center covers approximately 3.000 sq. meters, and it is the first in a series of projects by the Municipality to upgrade and regenerate this part of Old Nicosia, so close to the Green Line.

The center which is unique in its kind in Cyprus, aims to promote contemporary creation at the highest level. Its policy is to organise important and prestigious exhibitions, thematic, retrospective or others, from home and abroad.

The Center also organises specialised seminars and cultural programs for young people and students of the newly founded University of Cyprus.

The Center is in the process of establishing and promoting close cooperation with other similar institutions abroad, especially in Europe, so that there will be a constant flow and exchange of ideas, proposals and experience in the field of contemporary creation.

Furthermore, the Center is interested in experimental expression and all the latest movements connecting Art and Technology.

The Large Exhibition Hall. Its area covers approximately 1.000 sq. meters. International and Greek thematic exhibitions are staged here as well as retrospective exhibitions of recognised artists. Other cultural International events of a very high standard will also be hosted.

Library of the History of Art. This specialised library, consisting of 6.000 volumes of books on Art, is unique in Cyprus and has been donated to the Municipality of Nicosia by Mr Demetris Z. Pierides, founder of the Pierides Museum of Contemporary Art in Athens, Greece. This collection of books contains rare art publications and a large variety of international art magazines and periodicals. The Library will be computerized and linked to similar Centers abroad so that it will operate as a research and study center and a point of reference for artists and students. It is not a lending library, but a reference library, and it has established close collaboration with the University of Cyprus.

Restaurant - Coffee Shop. The Center would like to attract art lovers by offering, among other things, delicious traditional home made food in a pleasant and distinguished environment. The Restaurant and the Coffee Shop stay open until late in the evening every week-day and until noon on Sundays. They serve as meeting points for art fans and intellectuals.

The Center's Shop. At the Center's Shop the visitor can find posters, prints, art publications, small sculptures, artifacts and other souvenirs for sale.


Opening Hours:
Exhibition Hall and Coffee Shop Tuesday - Saturday: 10.00 - 15.00 17.00 - 23.00 Sunday morning: 10.00 - 16.00 Library Tuesday - Saturday: 10.00 - 14.00 17.00 - 20.00 Admission to the Center is free. Return to main.


Last modified: May 1, 1996.
Copyright © Nicosia Municipality