Visits to the Neolithic settlement at Tenta (ancient paintings there have inspired mural artists and the festival's artwork) and former copper mines
building international artistic exchange in cyprus
8 September 2026
This September, artists from the North of England will join artists from across Europe, Africa and South America in Cyprus for the final international residency of Contested Desires: Constructive Dialogues.
Hosted as part of the Xarkis Festival in Kalavasos, Cyprus, the residency marks the culmination of a three-year programme exploring how colonial histories continue to shape contemporary society, culture and identity.
D6 is proud to support UK-based artists Paul Nataraj and Patrick Ziza. Over the past three years, both artists have developed new bodies of work through residencies and collaborations in the North East, Chile, Hungary, Italy and Portugal. They have worked closely with local communities, museums and archives to uncover overlooked stories and explore the lasting impacts of colonialism.
At Xarkis, they will develop this work within a truly international context, exchanging ideas with all 22 artists who have taken part in Contested Desires, creating a unique opportunity to learn from one another and continue conversations that have developed across multiple countries and communities.
This September, artists from the North of England will join artists from across Europe, Africa and South America in Cyprus for the final international residency of Contested Desires: Constructive Dialogues.
Hosted as part of the Xarkis Festival in Kalavasos, Cyprus, the residency marks the culmination of a three-year programme exploring how colonial histories continue to shape contemporary society, culture and identity.
D6 is proud to support UK-based artists Paul Nataraj and Patrick Ziza. Over the past three years, both artists have developed new bodies of work through residencies and collaborations in the North East, Chile, Hungary, Italy and Portugal. They have worked closely with local communities, museums and archives to uncover overlooked stories and explore the lasting impacts of colonialism.
At Xarkis, they will develop this work within a truly international context, exchanging ideas with all 22 artists who have taken part in Contested Desires, creating a unique opportunity to learn from one another and continue conversations that have developed across multiple countries and communities.
Workshops with anthropologist Sheena Crawford on the lives of women in Kalavasos and with Simone on silkworm breeding
Building Connections in Kalavasos
Curated by Xarkis, the final residency takes place in the village of Kalavasos in the foothills of the Troodos mountains.
Over two weeks, artists are immersing themselves in the place through local memories, stories and archives. They are listening to the stories of former copper miners, learning traditional skills including wheat weaving and herb foraging, and exploring the journey of silk cocoons from nature to material.
This approach reflects the values at the heart of Contested Desires: building relationships through listening, reciprocity and co-creation. In doing so, artists are also examining the histories of extraction, appropriation and representation that continue to shape how places, people and resources are understood today.
This process will give rise to new work, which will be shared at the Xarkis Festival during the final three days. Now in its 12th year, the nomadic festival promotes socially engaged art practices, connecting creativity with everyday life, ecology and local communities.
Curated by Xarkis, the final residency takes place in the village of Kalavasos in the foothills of the Troodos mountains.
Over two weeks, artists are immersing themselves in the place through local memories, stories and archives. They are listening to the stories of former copper miners, learning traditional skills including wheat weaving and herb foraging, and exploring the journey of silk cocoons from nature to material.
This approach reflects the values at the heart of Contested Desires: building relationships through listening, reciprocity and co-creation. In doing so, artists are also examining the histories of extraction, appropriation and representation that continue to shape how places, people and resources are understood today.
This process will give rise to new work, which will be shared at the Xarkis Festival during the final three days. Now in its 12th year, the nomadic festival promotes socially engaged art practices, connecting creativity with everyday life, ecology and local communities.
Helen Chrysanthou shares the traditional technique of psatharouda wheat weaving from the 1930’s
New Perspectives on Colonial Legacies
At the centre of every encounter is a question that has guided the programme: How can artistic practice create new forms of dialogue around the stories, identities and colonial legacies that shape a place?
For North East artists, engaging with these questions alongside international peers offers valuable opportunities to develop new approaches to decolonial practice and community collaboration, bringing those learnings into their future work in the UK.
Artists who have undertaken residencies with D6 in Newcastle will continue their journey to Cyprus, including Elisabeth Efua Sutherland (Ghana), Andreas Mallouris (Cyprus), AFROSCOPE (Ghana), Maria Luigia Gioffrè (Italy) and Rafael Guendelman Hales (Chile).
In the North East, artist Elisabeth Efua Sutherland traced connections between Black and African lives and the region's history, revealing powerful stories of abolitionists, performers and individuals whose lives intersected with Newcastle during the era of empire.
Paul worked with community partners including Sangini in South Shields to uncover personal and collective histories of migration, belonging and cultural exchange.
Ziza's multidisciplinary project Free to Roam examined how histories are constructed and maintained, encouraging audiences to question whose knowledge is valued and remembered.
Together, these projects demonstrate how art can help us reconsider the past while opening up new conversations about the present and future.
At the centre of every encounter is a question that has guided the programme: How can artistic practice create new forms of dialogue around the stories, identities and colonial legacies that shape a place?
For North East artists, engaging with these questions alongside international peers offers valuable opportunities to develop new approaches to decolonial practice and community collaboration, bringing those learnings into their future work in the UK.
Artists who have undertaken residencies with D6 in Newcastle will continue their journey to Cyprus, including Elisabeth Efua Sutherland (Ghana), Andreas Mallouris (Cyprus), AFROSCOPE (Ghana), Maria Luigia Gioffrè (Italy) and Rafael Guendelman Hales (Chile).
In the North East, artist Elisabeth Efua Sutherland traced connections between Black and African lives and the region's history, revealing powerful stories of abolitionists, performers and individuals whose lives intersected with Newcastle during the era of empire.
Paul worked with community partners including Sangini in South Shields to uncover personal and collective histories of migration, belonging and cultural exchange.
Ziza's multidisciplinary project Free to Roam examined how histories are constructed and maintained, encouraging audiences to question whose knowledge is valued and remembered.
Together, these projects demonstrate how art can help us reconsider the past while opening up new conversations about the present and future.
Resident Gaia Olea showing how local herbs, plants and resins can be collected and used
Bringing Learning Home
Contested Desires has enabled artists to develop ambitious new work, build international networks and gain experience presenting their practice in global contexts. Just as importantly, it has created opportunities for communities in the North of England to connect with artists and perspectives from around the world, sharing and validating their own experiences.
By creating space for dialogue, collaboration and critical reflection, Contested Desires has revealed untold histories, amplified under-represented voices and encouraged new ways of understanding the complex legacies that continue to shape our world today.
Xarkis Festival
11-13 September 2026
Kalavasos, Cyprus
Contested Desires examines the impact of colonial legacies through artistic collaboration.
It is co-funded by the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union. In the UK, we are grateful for the support of Arts Council England, the National Lottery Heritage Fund, and Community Foundation North East's and Newcastle City Council's Newcastle Culture Investment Fund.
Images: Andy G. Alexandru
Contested Desires has enabled artists to develop ambitious new work, build international networks and gain experience presenting their practice in global contexts. Just as importantly, it has created opportunities for communities in the North of England to connect with artists and perspectives from around the world, sharing and validating their own experiences.
By creating space for dialogue, collaboration and critical reflection, Contested Desires has revealed untold histories, amplified under-represented voices and encouraged new ways of understanding the complex legacies that continue to shape our world today.
Xarkis Festival
11-13 September 2026
Kalavasos, Cyprus
Contested Desires examines the impact of colonial legacies through artistic collaboration.
It is co-funded by the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union. In the UK, we are grateful for the support of Arts Council England, the National Lottery Heritage Fund, and Community Foundation North East's and Newcastle City Council's Newcastle Culture Investment Fund.
Images: Andy G. Alexandru
