UCLan Cyprus and Xarkis NGO have entered a significant partnership by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the 23rd September 2024. This MoU aims to foster collaboration in areas such as socially engaged contemporary art, design and cultural heritage through creative practices, social innovation, artistic innovation and more, providing both organizations with a framework to jointly organize artistic projects, exhibitions, practice-based research initiatives, educational workshops and student opportunities.

The MoU outlines several areas of cooperation, including:

Collaborative Projects – Joint efforts in organizing events, workshops, seminars, and student internships      aimed at promoting contemporary art, design and cultural heritage      through creative and novel practices.

Research and Innovation – Establishment of joint research and know-how transfer projects in areas such as cultural heritage, arts, fashion, design and media, further expanding academic and artistic output.

Student Internships and Volunteering – UCLan Cyprus’ students will have opportunities to engage in hands-on creative projects through internships and volunteer work with Xarkis, including the annual Xarkis Festival among others. Students will benefit from real-world experience in areas such as design, digital media, filmmaking, and more.

Xarkis NGO, known for its unique approach to exploring aspects of local culture through socially engaged and site-specific projects, brings its extensive experience in working with communities in Cyprus and abroad. With its strong academic foundation in arts, science, business, and law, the British University of Cyprus adds significant academic and research capabilities to this collaboration.

The partnership will serve to nurture a creative ecosystem where students, faculty, artists and professionals from both entities can come together to tackle pressing cultural and social challenges. “As Xarkis, we are honoured to embark on this new journey with UCLan Cyprus. Through this collaboration, we aspire to co-create a dynamic knowledge base that can strengthen local cultural production, education and research in matters of contemporary culture and heritage in Cyprus, aiming towards social change and sustainable innovation” said Ms. Christina Skarpari, Founder and Creative Director of Xarkis NGO.

Dr Christos Karpasitis, Head of the School of Arts, Media, and Communication at UCLan Cyprus, also emphasized the importance of the partnership, stating, “This agreement strengthens our commitment to providing students with opportunities that bridge academic learning and practical experience, while also contributing to meaningful projects related to arts, media and culture. It also marks a new chapter in how our University in general and our School of Arts, Media & Communication in particular can collectively contribute to preserving and advancing cultural heritage through innovative, creative practices“.

UCLan Cyprus, a leading British educational institution, offers individuals a unique opportunity to enhance their knowledge and skills in current art, media, science, law and business topics, practices, and trends through its wide range of programmes. The British University of Cyprus is further committed to the development and application of social initiatives through its programmes and research projects.