Visual Voices

Visual Voices Visual Voices is a Nicosia-based non-profit supporting socially engaged art to spark dialogue and amplify diverse voices on urgent societal issues.

Visual Voices supports youth artists from communities affected by violent conflict. The Visual Voices vision is to become a global network of peacebuilding organizations, practitioners and artists that recognize the value of arts-based interventions in peacebuilding and the power of art in peace advocacy. Our mission is to strengthen the capacity of young artists (18-35 years old) from communities affected by violent conflict, while building non-commercial platforms of expression for them to share their voice and advocate for peace through contemporary visual art. In doing so, we aim to combine traditional arts-based peacebuilding activities with substantive peace advocacy campaigns. For this reason, we define ourselves as working at the intersection between strategic social art and peacebuilding.

(GR & TR below)The Kartzin SEA Lab Colloquium presents the lecture "Hydro-Hegemony and the Politics of Water in Lebanon ...
08/09/2026

(GR & TR below)

The Kartzin SEA Lab Colloquium presents the lecture "Hydro-Hegemony and the Politics of Water in Lebanon and Palestine" by Reem Rizk.

Tuesday, 08.09.26, 18:00-19:30
Kartzin by Visual Voices at Aishylou 83, 1011 Nicosia
Livestreamed on the Visual Voices YouTube channel : https://www.youtube.com/-voices/streams

Rizk's work, drawing on fieldwork conducted in July 2026, examines how the targeting of the Litani River, Lebanon and its irrigation systems, amid the ongoing war with Israel, threatens both rural livelihoods and the fragile ecosystems that sustain them. Water has become an instrument of occupation and territorial control. In Gaza, this strategy has taken a more devastating form: the destruction of desalination plants, wells, pipelines, and sewage systems has induced famine, spread waterborne disease, and deepened an already severe humanitarian crisis.

The talk will be followed by responses from Dr. Rebecca Bryant Ph.D, Professor of Anthropology, Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Utrecht University, and Socrates Stratis Ph.D. Architect and Urbanist, Professor, Department of Architecture, University of Cyprus.

This event marks the opening of the "Across Waters" program, running from September through December 2026, encompassing a performance, an exhibition, film and discursive series taking place between Lebanon and Cyprus.

Reem Rizk (b.1994, Beirut) is a curator and researcher based between Beirut and Nicosia. From 2020 to 2024, she was Programs Coordinator at Ashkal Alwan and lectured in Civilization Studies at the American University of Beirut (AUB). Her recent curatorial projects include "The Near and the Elsewhere" (2025), which explored notions of Otherness, and "Across Waters" (2026), examining water weaponization and hydro-politics across the Mediterranean East.
In parallel, her research examines institutional and market structures. She has published on the Iranian art market in the "International Journal of Persian Literature" and is currently completing her thesis at the Université Saint-Joseph de Beyrouth, examining crisis management within Lebanese cultural institutions between 2019 and 2026.
"Hydro-Hegemony and the Politics of Water in Lebanon and Palestine" takes place as part of the Kartzin Socially Engaged Arts (SEA) Lab programming, a Visual Voices initiative funded by the Commonwealth Foundation. Updates and announcements are published on social media and through a mailing list dedicated to the socially engaged arts.

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Visual Voices, Reem Rizk’in “Su Hegemonyası ve Lübnan ile Filistin’de Su Siyaseti” başlıklı söyleşisini sunar.

Salı, 08.09.26, 18:00-19:30
Canlı: Aiskhylos 83, Posta Kodu 1011, Lefkoşa
Çevrimiçi: Visual Voices YouTube Kanalı : https://www.youtube.com/-voices/streams

Konuşma, Temmuz 2026’da Lübnan’ın güneyinde gerçekleştirilen saha araştırmasından yola çıkmakta ve “Across Waters” programı kapsamında yer almaktadır. Rizk, İsrail ile devam eden savaşın ortasında Litani Nehri ve sulama sistemlerinin hedef alınmasının, hem kırsal nüfusun geçim kaynaklarını hem de bunları sürdüren kırılgan ekosistemleri nasıl tehdit ettiğini inceliyor.
Konferansın ardından, Utrecht Üniversitesi Sosyal ve Davranış Bilimleri Fakültesi'nden antropolog Dr. Rebecca Bryant ve Kıbrıs Üniversitesi Mimarlık Bölümü'nden mimar, şehir plancısı ve öğretim üyesi Dr. Sokrates Stratis'in konuşmaları yer alacaktır.

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To Visual Voices παρουσιάζει την διάλεξη “Υδρο-ηγεμονία και η πολιτική του νερού στον Λίβανο και την Παλαιστίνη” της Reem Rizk.

Τρίτη, 08.09.26, 18:00-19:30
Δια ζώσης: Αισχύλου 83, Τ.Κ. 1011, Λευκωσία
Διαδικτυακά: Visual Voices YouTube Channel : https://www.youtube.com/-voices/streams

Η ομιλία αντλεί από επιτόπια έρευνα που πραγματοποιήθηκε τον Ιούλιο του 2026 στα νότια του Λιβάνου και εντάσσεται στο πλαίσιο του προγράμματος “Across Waters”. Η Rizk εξετάζει πώς η στόχευση του ποταμού Λιτάνι και των αρδευτικών του συστημάτων, εν μέσω του συνεχιζόμενου πολέμου με το Ισραήλ, απειλεί τόσο τα μέσα βιοπορισμού του αγροτικού πληθυσμού όσο και τα εύθραυστα οικοσυστήματα που τα συντηρούν.
Μετά τη διάλεξη θα ακολουθήσουν παρεμβάσεις από την Dr Rebecca Bryant, Καθηγήτρια Ανθρωπολογίας, Τμήμα Ανθρωπολογίας, Σχολή Κοινωνικών και Συμπεριφορικών Επιστημών, Πανεπιστήμιο της Ουτρέχτης, και τον Δρ Σωκράτη Στρατή, Αρχιτέκτονα και Πολεοδόμο, Καθηγητή, Τμήμα Αρχιτεκτονικής, Πανεπιστήμιο Κύπρου.

03/08/2026

Are you between 18 and 30 and looking for a meaningful way to explore the intersection between the arts, culture and social change — in Cyprus and beyond?
Here is a great chance to get started!

Join us as a volunteer through the European Solidarity Corps and help strengthen existing socially engaged art projects while bringing new ones to life.

Placements run from 2 weeks to 12 months — so whether you're after a short, focused experience or a longer placement to really dig in, there's a format that can work for you.

📍 Aischylou 83, 1011, Nicosia, Cyprus

More information: https://visual-voices.org/volunteer

Join us on 16 July for two exhibition openings, roundtable discussions, and the Vis-à-Vis Celebration in Nicosia.19:00 —...
14/07/2026

Join us on 16 July for two exhibition openings, roundtable discussions, and the Vis-à-Vis Celebration in Nicosia.

19:00 — Opening and roundtable discussion of The Ocean of Consciousness – ReDesign Fashion by Mathieu Devavry and Dostouchance at after:noon / hybrid / space, exploring upcycling, creative reuse, and the potential of discarded materials.

20:00 — Roundtable discussion for Peace • Love • Positivity at Kartzin, Aishelou 83, bringing together artist Hakan Çoban, Berfin Süreç from Collective Beat, journalisCollective Beatacovou, and Giorgos Papakonstantinou from nestopia, moderated by Pavlos Christou.

21:00 — Peace • Love • Positivity by Hakan Çoban and Collective Beat at nestopiCollective Beatlaughter, connection, and the community created through shared experiences.

Both exhibitions run from 16–30 July.

End the evening at the Vis-à-Vis Celebration at 7 Kledia, with a raffle and a Moleskine notebook giveaway.

Vis-à-Vis is implemented by Visual Voices within the framework of the PLATO programme, co-funded by the European Union through the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) Programme, the Bodossaki Foundation, and the NGO Support Centre.

Nestopia, as part of Visual Voices’ Vis-à-Vis Nicosia programme, invites you to the opening of Peace • Love • Positivity...
04/07/2026

Nestopia, as part of Visual Voices’ Vis-à-Vis Nicosia programme, invites you to the opening of Peace • Love • Positivity , a collaborative exhibition by Hakan Çoban and Collective Beat. Through photographs, short videos, and performance art, this exhibition captures the energy, emotions, and connections that have grown within our community. It is not only a photography of our comedians, but also of the audiences who laughed, participated, and became an essential part of every experience.

CollectiveBeat was founded on a simple belief: laughter has the power to bring people together. Since the beginning, Collective Beat created spaces where people from different backgrounds, cultures, and stories can meet, not through labels, but through shared moments of joy. While stand-up comedy is at the heart of what they do, their journey has always extended beyond the stage into performance, storytelling, and creative expression. Peace • Love • Positivity is a celebration of that journey.

The opening evening will also feature a roundtable discussion. The conversation will bring together Hakan Çoban (Artist), Berfin Süreç (Co-founder, Collective Beat), Christothea Iacovou (Journalist), and Giorgos Papakonstantinou (Nestopia), moderated by Pavlos Christou (Member of Collective Beat).

Roundtable: 16 July - 20:00 @ Kartzin (Aishelou 83, 1011)
Opening: 16 July - 21:00 @ Nestopia (Trikoupi 77Z, Nicosia)

Exhibition Dates: 16–30 July
Mon–Fri, 18:00–22:00
Closed Sundays
nestopia

Begin the evening with:
The Ocean of Consciousness – ReDesign Fashion Opening @ afternoon : hybrid : space
Vis-à-Vis Celebration @ 7 Kledia

After the opening, continue the evening at the Vis-à-Vis celebration: 21:00 @ 7 Kledia

The project “Vis-à-Vis” is implemented by Visual Voices within the framework of the PLATO programme. PLATO is co-funded by the European Union through the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) Programme, the Bodossaki Foundation and the NGO Support Centre, with a total grant amount of €3.1 million

afternoon : hybrid : space, as part of Visual Voices' Vis-à-Vis Nicosia programme, invites you to the opening of The Oce...
04/07/2026

afternoon : hybrid : space, as part of Visual Voices' Vis-à-Vis Nicosia programme, invites you to the opening of The Ocean of Consciousness – ReDesign Fashion, a collaborative exhibition by Mathieu Devavry and Dostouchance . Through artistic experimentation, upcycling, and creative reuse, the exhibition invites audiences to reflect on consumption, waste, environmental responsibility, and the transformative potential of discarded materials.

afternoon : hybrid : space (Perikleous 01, Nicosia 1010)
16 July
Opening & Roundtable: 19:00
after:noon / hybrid / space

Exhibition Dates: 16–30 July
Tue-Sat 17.30 - 21.00
Sun-Mon Closed

Continue the evening with:
Peace • Love • Positivity Opening @ Nestopia

Vis-à-Vis Celebration @ 7 Kledia

The project Vis-à-Vis is implemented by Visual Voices within the framework of the PLATO programme. PLATO is co-funded by the European Union through the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) Programme, the Bodossaki Foundation, and the NGO Support Centre, with a total grant amount of €3.1 million.

Join us on 16 July for two exhibition openings, roundtable discussions, and the Vis-à-Vis Celebration in Nicosia.19:00 —...
04/07/2026

Join us on 16 July for two exhibition openings, roundtable discussions, and the Vis-à-Vis Celebration in Nicosia.

19:00 — The Ocean of Consciousness – ReDesign Fashion by Mathieu Devavry and Dostouchance at after:noon / hybrid / space, exploring upcycling, creative reuse, and the potential of discarded materials through an opening and roundtable discussion.

20:00 — Roundtable discussion for Peace • Love • Positivity at Kartzin, Aishelou 83, bringing together artist Hakan Çoban, Berfin Süreç from Collective Beat, journalisCollective Beatacovou, and Giorgos Papakonstantinou from nestopia, moderated by Pavlos Christou.

21:00 — Peace • Love • Positivity by Hakan Çoban and Collective Beat at nestopiCollective Beatlaughter, connection, and the community created through shared experiences.

Both exhibitions run from 16–30 July.

End the evening at the Vis-à-Vis Celebration at 7 Kledia, with a raffle and a Moleskine notebook giveaway.

Vis-à-Vis is implemented by Visual Voices within the framework of the PLATO programme, co-funded by the European Union through the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) Programme, the Bodossaki Foundation, and the NGO Support Centre.

Nicosia

04/06/2026

Over the past months, RELATE has created spaces for artistic expression, intercultural dialogue, learning, and community connection across Cyprus.✨
RELATE connected artists with migrant backgrounds with cultural practitioners, young people, activists, and local communities through mentorship, exhibitions, performances, workshops, festivals, and public discussions. The work centered on themes of identity, displacement, resilience, and inclusion, drawing directly on the experiences of the artists and communities involved.
The project offered ten artists from diverse migrant backgrounds a residency program, which included mentorship from established local artists, masterclasses with cultural practitioners, production support, and platforms to showcase their work publicly for the first time in Cyprus. From visual arts and dance performances to music, storytelling, and community-based workshops, RELATE highlighted the power of creativity as a tool for visibility, empowerment, and social connection.
Across Nicosia, Limassol, and Larnaca, participants engaged in exhibitions, intercultural festivals, antiracism discussions, language and cultural exchange activities, creative workshops for children and adults, and performances celebrating the cultural richness that participating artists brought with them.
The project also fostered important conversations around representation, racism, participation, migration, and access to cultural spaces, creating opportunities for dialogue between artists, researchers, policymakers, activists, and the wider public.
By engaging communities through art, RELATE encouraged people to encounter different cultures through dignity, creativity, and shared humanity, helping build more open, empathetic, and inclusive communities.
More than a series of events, RELATE built friendships, created professional opportunities, and demonstrated the strength of collective creative action.
Video documentation by Giorgos Stylianou and Leda Ayiomamiti.
🔗Explore the RELATE Catalogue:
https://generationforchangecy.org/relate-relate-project.../

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Larnaca
6022

Opening Hours

Monday 09:00 - 17:00
Tuesday 09:00 - 17:00
Wednesday 09:00 - 17:00
Thursday 09:00 - 17:00
Friday 09:00 - 17:00

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