European Capital of Culture – Pafos 2017

Pafos was designated European Capital of Culture, for 2017. The central concept of the Pafos2017 is “Open Air Factory”, which guarantees a wider outreach into all parts of the region and community, mass exposure for the Pafos2017 activities and a shared space open to communication and collaboration.

The concept of the Open Air Factory is not just about the openness of space; it is about tolerance, acceptance, encouragement and inclusion of different cultures, ideas and beliefs. The Open Air Factory encompasses the entire district, both spatially and socially. It has a decentralised structure with various sections, units, and workshops within the centre of Pafos, extending outwards to the district’s municipalities and smaller communities.

The motto pertaining to the activities of Pafos2017 is: LINKING CONTINENTS – BRIDGING CULTURES. The aforementioned motto also expresses the need for linking and bridging the differences between Pafos’ various groups of citizens: residents, visitors and migrants. Moreover, it stresses the importance of uniting the scattered parts of the city and transforming the entire district of Pafos into a common and a shared space for all its citizens – symbolically and physically. Moreover, it highlights the need for bridging the differences between the Greek and the Turkish Cypriot communities through various comprehensive and capacity building projects that Pafos2017 has been developing along the way.

For the implementation of Pafos2017 thousands of volunteers have been involved. There are also certain initiatives within the framework of this institution that aim to build  capacity skills that creative practitioners will need for organising outdoor arts events and civic celebrations (i.e. Pafos School of Spectacle).