At the Home for Cooperation, located in the UN buffer zone, Storheim’s visit demonstrated how art and culture are actively used to foster dialogue between the two communities on the island. Norwegian support, through the EEA and Norway Grants, has been instrumental in that regard.
Officially opened in 2011, the Home for Cooperation is a unique community centre located in the middle of the dividing lines in Cyprus, in the Ledra Palace area, UN Buffer Zone, Nicosia.
Today, the Home for Cooperation has become a landmark building in Nicosia, acting as a bridge-builder between separated communities, memories and visions through its physical presence and its peacebuilding programs benefiting from the transformative power of arts and culture.
At the Centre for Visual Arts and Research (CVAR), Storheim was guided through an impressive collection of more than 1,000 paintings produced by travellers who visited Cyprus between the 18th and 20th century, hosted at CVAR’s four floor permanent exhibition area. CVAR also houses a library and research centre with over 10,000 volumes available to scholars and casual readers alike. On the ground floor, CVAR hosts a wide range of activities, workshops and seminars aiming to bring the two communities together through culture and understanding, in order to promote a peaceful coexistence.
Overall, the visit provided a grounded understanding of both the impact and the evolving challenges of cultural cooperation efforts on the island and the importance of the support of the EEA and Norway Grants.
Through the EEA and Norway Grants new funding mechanism (2021 – 2028) approximately €17.6 million is allocated to support the country’s social and economic development while strengthening bilateral relations with Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. An independent Civil Society Fund, amounting to 3.3M euros, will be channeled to support a robust and resilient civil society on the island, including bicommunal and intercommunal cooperation.