The Mission
The Pharos Arts Foundation is a non-profit cultural and educational
foundation based in Cyprus dedicated to the promotion of the arts and
humanities. The Pharos Arts Foundation aims to promote artistic excellence
by bringing audiences in Cyprus into contact with some of the most exciting
and talented musicians and artists on the Cypriot and international scene.
In the long term the Pharos Arts Foundation aims to create a permanent home
for the arts, culture and global dialogue in Cyprus, bringing artists,
writers, musicians, composers and philosophers together for creative
expression and exchange, taking advantage of the island's unique cultural
and geographic situation on the crossroads of Europe, Asia and Africa and
the European Union's south-eastern boundary.
Message from the
President
I would like to welcome you to our site, which offers an overview of the
activities of the Pharos Arts Foundation where you may find information
about what the Pharos Arts Foundation has done over the years, our current
programmes as well as the Foundation's future plans.
The Pharos Arts Foundation is dedicated to making a difference in people's
lives by offering inspiration and by fostering excellence and innovation.
Living in a mundane world, sadly deficient in ideals and values, people's
lives can be enriched when offered opportunities to create and experience
great music and art.
The Pharos Arts Foundation has established a world-wide reputation for its
commitment to excellence and for promoting classical music in Cyprus, having
presented more than 300 concerts over the past decade. Outstanding musicians
are hosted in the Pharos Arts Foundation's Concert Series and the annual
International Chamber Music Festival, with programmes ranging from ancient
to contemporary. The recent acquisition by the Foundation of a beautiful
harpsichord made by O' Brien and Bandini in Italy, will also give us the
opportunity to present more Baroque music. This year we have also
inaugurated a highly successful Contemporary Music Festival which we plan to
make an annual event. It took place in the Shoe Factory, the foundations new
space for intimate chamber music in the heart of the old city.
The Pharos Centre for Contemporary Art (PCCA) presents the work of major
international artists. A variety of contemporary art forms are included in
the Centre's programme - visual, performance, photography, video - as well
as lectures and discussions. Exhibitions are in many cases individually curated by internationally recognized curators from all over Europe. The
PCCA has an on going policy of showing major Brazilian artists every year.
The Educational Programmes are an important aspect of the Foundation's work,
giving thousands of students from all communities in Cyprus the opportunity
not only to hear music performed by some of the great artists who visit us,
but also to learn from them and develop a serious and deep enthusiasm for
classical music. Over the past five years more than 30,000 students have
participated in the Music Education Programme.
I would like to express my sincere thanks to all the Pharos Arts
Foundation's supporters and friends for their valuable help. We are truly
grateful for your commitment to our mission and programmes. I would also
like to encourage others to consider supporting the Foundation's work. I
believe passionately in the Pharos Arts Foundation's mission to enrich
people's lives through the arts, education and culture. Societies may be
transformed for the better through a deep commitment in exploring the
spiritual world expressed through the arts and education. Our aim is for the
Pharos Arts Foundation to become a beacon of light in Cyprus; bringing
beauty and enthusiasm into people's lives through the power of great music
and art, and offering people the opportunity to discover and share the
essential humanity that links us all.
I invite you to participate in our activities and to join the Pharos family
in the traditions of artistic excellence and cultural diversity, for which
the Pharos Arts Foundation is widely acknowledged.
Garo Keheyan
President
