Reimagining Colonial Heritage: Environmental Impact and Cultural Response
CONTESTED DESIRES: Constructive Dialogues is an international cultural conversation between artists, communities and the museums and archives that shape our colonial narratives. Working across Cyprus, the Netherlands, Italy, Ghana, Tunisia, Chile, Hungary, Slovenia, Portugal, Spain and the UK, 22 artists and 20 culture and heritage organisations delve into the complex, untold and often surprising legacies of our colonial history.
From 23 to 25 January 2025, the Contested Desires partners in Cyprus D6:EU and Larnaka2030 welcome 60 international artists, producers, cultural institutions and museums from the participating countries to engage in critical discussions around colonial heritage and environmental stewardship. The event will address urgent global challenges on decolonisation, with opportunities for the public to take part in a live conference and join online presentations with guest speakers.
PUBLIC CONFERENCE AND ONLINE PRESENTATIONS
Public conference, Friday 24 January, 17:30-19:00
In person: Cathedral Saint Lazarus – Schooling Venue, Larnaka (map)
We spotlight how artists are responding to the climate crisis, giving opportunities to hear from artists, take part in critical discussion and find out about arts-led approaches to environmental stewardship. Larnaka2030 and notable civic figures will welcome guests and set the context of colonialism and the climate crisis.
Artists Sümer Erek and Andreas Mallouris from Cyprus, Rocío Paz Guerrero Marín from Chile and Amaia Molinet from Spain will share their practice followed by a panel discussion exploring the ways art is addressing the impact of colonialism on the environment.
Online presentations, Thursday 23 January
We invite people to hear from speakers who set the scene through the lens of how colonialism via capitalism has led to the climate crisis.
12:00-13:15
The colonial history of Cyprus – introduction by Argyro Toumazou, Director D6:EU, and a brief colonial history of Cyprus by historian Loizos Kapsalis from the Association for Historical Dialogue and Research (AHDR) and explorations of artistic negotiation of identity in colonial eras by Dr. Andonis Danos from the Cyprus University of Technology.
15:30-17:15
Keynote addresses: from Colonialism to a Climate Crisis, with Dr. Nicholas Anastassopoulos who will give the global context of climate and capitalism, followed by the Cyprus Energy Agency on Cyprus climate change mitigation and sustainability, and Dr. Christos Carras on how to ensure sustainability is at the core of strategic planning for museums, facilitated by Clymene Christoforou, Director, D6:EU.
**HOW TO JOIN**
For the in-person conference (Fri 24 Jan) - book your free place here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1118797466339?aff=oddtdtcreator
For the online conference (Fri 24 Jan) and online sessions (Thurs 23 Jan) - select and book your free places here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1144086145459?aff=oddtdtcreator
ARTISTS RESIDENCIES IN CYPRUS
Following the conference, five artist residencies will take place in Cyprus, Chile, Hungary, Spain and Portugal. In Cyprus in collaboration with the H401 and Creative Court institutes in Amsterdam and La Fabrique in Tunis, Larnaka2030 will host artists Sithabile Mlotshwa and Mohamed Ben Slama. The artists’ residencies will create a space for research, exploration and engagement with local history, culture and communities. At the end of their residencies in February, the artists will have the opportunity to hold public presentations of their work in progress and engage with audiences in Cyprus.
Produced by Cyprus-based D6:EU, who lead the global arts programme for CDCD, this programme is a collaboration between D6:EU, Larnaka2030, Xarkis, CDCD’s international partners and local stakeholders. It is supported by the Creative Europe programme of the European Union, the Cyprus Deputy Ministry of Culture, and Larnaka2030 – European Capital of Culture Candidate City.
For Media Inquiries and Further Information: Halime Özdemir-Larusso, Associate Producer, D6:EU, [email protected]
Image credit: Under the Fig Tree (2018-22) by Sümer Erek**HOW TO JOIN**
For the in-person conference (Fri 24 Jan) - book your free place here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1118797466339?aff=oddtdtcreator
For the online conference (Fri 24 Jan) and online sessions (Thurs 23 Jan) - select and book your free places here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1144086145459?aff=oddtdtcreator
From 23 to 25 January 2025, the Contested Desires partners in Cyprus D6:EU and Larnaka2030 welcome 60 international artists, producers, cultural institutions and museums from the participating countries to engage in critical discussions around colonial heritage and environmental stewardship. The event will address urgent global challenges on decolonisation, with opportunities for the public to take part in a live conference and join online presentations with guest speakers.
PUBLIC CONFERENCE AND ONLINE PRESENTATIONS
Public conference, Friday 24 January, 17:30-19:00
In person: Cathedral Saint Lazarus – Schooling Venue, Larnaka (map)
We spotlight how artists are responding to the climate crisis, giving opportunities to hear from artists, take part in critical discussion and find out about arts-led approaches to environmental stewardship. Larnaka2030 and notable civic figures will welcome guests and set the context of colonialism and the climate crisis.
Artists Sümer Erek and Andreas Mallouris from Cyprus, Rocío Paz Guerrero Marín from Chile and Amaia Molinet from Spain will share their practice followed by a panel discussion exploring the ways art is addressing the impact of colonialism on the environment.
Online presentations, Thursday 23 January
We invite people to hear from speakers who set the scene through the lens of how colonialism via capitalism has led to the climate crisis.
12:00-13:15
The colonial history of Cyprus – introduction by Argyro Toumazou, Director D6:EU, and a brief colonial history of Cyprus by historian Loizos Kapsalis from the Association for Historical Dialogue and Research (AHDR) and explorations of artistic negotiation of identity in colonial eras by Dr. Andonis Danos from the Cyprus University of Technology.
15:30-17:15
Keynote addresses: from Colonialism to a Climate Crisis, with Dr. Nicholas Anastassopoulos who will give the global context of climate and capitalism, followed by the Cyprus Energy Agency on Cyprus climate change mitigation and sustainability, and Dr. Christos Carras on how to ensure sustainability is at the core of strategic planning for museums, facilitated by Clymene Christoforou, Director, D6:EU.
**HOW TO JOIN**
For the in-person conference (Fri 24 Jan) - book your free place here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1118797466339?aff=oddtdtcreator
For the online conference (Fri 24 Jan) and online sessions (Thurs 23 Jan) - select and book your free places here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1144086145459?aff=oddtdtcreator
ARTISTS RESIDENCIES IN CYPRUS
Following the conference, five artist residencies will take place in Cyprus, Chile, Hungary, Spain and Portugal. In Cyprus in collaboration with the H401 and Creative Court institutes in Amsterdam and La Fabrique in Tunis, Larnaka2030 will host artists Sithabile Mlotshwa and Mohamed Ben Slama. The artists’ residencies will create a space for research, exploration and engagement with local history, culture and communities. At the end of their residencies in February, the artists will have the opportunity to hold public presentations of their work in progress and engage with audiences in Cyprus.
Produced by Cyprus-based D6:EU, who lead the global arts programme for CDCD, this programme is a collaboration between D6:EU, Larnaka2030, Xarkis, CDCD’s international partners and local stakeholders. It is supported by the Creative Europe programme of the European Union, the Cyprus Deputy Ministry of Culture, and Larnaka2030 – European Capital of Culture Candidate City.
For Media Inquiries and Further Information: Halime Özdemir-Larusso, Associate Producer, D6:EU, [email protected]
Image credit: Under the Fig Tree (2018-22) by Sümer Erek**HOW TO JOIN**
For the in-person conference (Fri 24 Jan) - book your free place here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1118797466339?aff=oddtdtcreator
For the online conference (Fri 24 Jan) and online sessions (Thurs 23 Jan) - select and book your free places here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1144086145459?aff=oddtdtcreator