CVAR - Severis Foundation

CVAR - Severis Foundation Unique museum showcasing the work of foreign artists on Cyprus, historical costumes and memorabilia

The Centre of Visual Arts and Research (CVAR), located at 285 Ermou Street in the heart of the old city of Nicosia, is home to the unique collection of the Costas & Rita Severis Foundation showcasing the work of foreign artists on Cyprus. The CVAR also includes historical costumes and memorabilia related to three centuries of Cyprus’ history. It frequently holds educational events, workshops, tour

s, seminars and its research centre which is open to the public, houses an extensive collection of archives, over 10,000 books, and over 40,000 old photos related to Cyprus.

It is with great pleasure that we announce the latest donation to the Centre of Visual Arts and Research: the Dr. Takis ...
12/06/2026

It is with great pleasure that we announce the latest donation to the Centre of Visual Arts and Research: the Dr. Takis K. Evangelides, Pulmonary Physician, Private Clinic (1935–2007), generously donated by his children, Annita and John Evangelides.

The exhibit is now on display on the first floor of the Museum, within the Medical and Hygiene section.

We are very grateful to the Evangelides family for choosing to entrust this interesting and valuable exhibit to our care.

👀 Sneak Peek: Ayios PhotiosDrawing of the tenth-century church at Agios Fotios with a clear blue sky above it. The surro...
12/06/2026

👀 Sneak Peek: Ayios Photios

Drawing of the tenth-century church at Agios Fotios with a clear blue sky above it. The surrounding grass and trees are rendered in shades of grey, giving the scene a cool feeling.

Andreas Philippou (1933–2023) was a prominent Cypriot artist, architect, and author. A co-founder of the prominent Nicosia-based firm J+A Philippou Architects, he dedicated over 60 years to design and to painting, with a focus on historical Cypriot landscapes.

You can find this 'Sneak Peek' and more on our website
https://bit.ly/45zDlSJ

👓 This artwork is not currently exhibited but is located in the CVAR’s ground-floor store room.

🎨PNT-01016 > Andreas Philippou (1933–2023), Ayios Photios, Coloured Pencil, 32x28cm, 2002

🔍What am I looking at? Vermeiren Trunk Red metal trunk with light green interior, two front latches and large, looping m...
10/06/2026

🔍What am I looking at? Vermeiren Trunk

Red metal trunk with light green interior, two front latches and large, looping metal side handles. Contains numerous art supplies belonging to the artist Joseph Vermeiren, including palettes, brushes, sketch books and other equipment. Painted on front: VERMEIREN. NICOSIA. CYPRUS. VIA LIMASSOL. 19.

Joseph Vermeiren was born in Belgium and studied at the Art Academy of Calais in France. Later, he graduated from the University of Louvain as an electrician and mineralogist. He worked in many countries, including Belgium, Colombia, Congo, and Cyprus. He never forgot his love for painting and in Belgium he attended lessons at the atelier of Marcel Astir. In 1959, he entered the Royal Arts Academy of Antwerp and specialised in portraits. He married the Cypriot Agnes Markides and settled in Cyprus, where he devoted most of his time to painting. He had many exhibitions in Nicosia, Larnaca and the British bases. He died in 1990.

🔖mmr-00544.01 > Easel, Wood, 20th century

👓 You can see this exhibit up close, along with many others, in the 3rd-floor exhibition room of CVAR.

❗Head to our website to explore this and future entries!
https://bit.ly/3QASPkM

Με επιτυχία ολοκληρώθηκαν και αυτή τη σχολική χρονιά τα εκπαιδευτικά προγράμματα «Σάββατο στο Μουσείο» του Κέντρου Εικασ...
06/06/2026

Με επιτυχία ολοκληρώθηκαν και αυτή τη σχολική χρονιά τα εκπαιδευτικά προγράμματα «Σάββατο στο Μουσείο» του Κέντρου Εικαστικών Τεχνών & Έρευνας. Ευχαριστούμε θερμά τα παιδιά, τις οικογένειες και όλους τους συνεργάτες που γέμισαν το Μουσείο με ενθουσιασμό, φαντασία και δημιουργικότητα.

Μέσα από δραστηριότητες εμπνευσμένες από τις συλλογές και τις εκθέσεις του CVAR, τα παιδιά είχαν την ευκαιρία να εξερευνήσουν την τέχνη και την ιστορία της Κύπρου. Πίνακες, αντικείμενα, ενδυμασίες και ιστορικές φωτογραφίες αποτέλεσαν αφορμή για ανακάλυψη, συζήτηση, παιχνίδι και καλλιτεχνική έκφραση.

Στο CVAR πιστεύουμε ότι η γνωριμία με την ιστορία μάς βοηθά να κατανοήσουμε καλύτερα τον κόσμο γύρω μας και να χτίσουμε ένα πιο αισιόδοξο μέλλον. Ευχόμαστε οι εμπειρίες που μοιραστήκαμε να καλλιεργήσουν στα παιδιά τις αξίες της κατανόησης, της συνεργασίας και της ειρηνικής συνύπαρξης.

🍉

Τα εκπαιδευτικά προγράμματα Summer at CVAR 2026 ξεκινούν σύντομα!

Τα προγράμματα αυτά αποτελούν μέρος των Εκπαιδευτικών Προγραμμάτων CREATES, τα οποία πραγματοποιούνται με τη στήριξη του The Hellenic Initiative, Καναδά και του Active Citizens Fund.

Κυριάκος Θεοχάρους
Εκπαιδευτικός Λειτουργός

-----

The “Saturday at the Museum” educational programmes of the Centre of Visual Arts & Research, were successfully completed once again this school year. We warmly thank the children, their families, and all our partners who filled the Museum with enthusiasm, imagination, and creativity.

At CVAR, we believe that learning about history helps us better understand the world around us and build a more optimistic future. We hope that the experiences we shared will instil in children the values of understanding, cooperation, and peaceful coexistence.

🍉

The Summer at CVAR 2026 educational programmes are starting soon!

These programmes are part of the CREATES Educational Programs, which are carried out with the support of The Hellenic Initiative, Canada, and the Active Citizens Fund.

Kyriakos Theocharous
Education Officer

👀 Sneak Peek: Caterina Cornaro returns to VeniceA lively scene depicting Caterina Cornaro's return to Venice after agree...
05/06/2026

👀 Sneak Peek: Caterina Cornaro returns to Venice

A lively scene depicting Caterina Cornaro's return to Venice after agreeing to abdicate the throne of Cyprus in favour of the Doge of Venice, Agostino Barbarigo. In this scene, Cornaro can be seen disembarking from the Bucentaur, the ceremonial barge of the Doges of Venice. Horns are being blown both left and right and a variety of people crowd the square.

Luigi Benfatto known as Alvise dal Friso (1551–1611) was an Italian painter of the late-Renaissance period. He was born at Verona, was the nephew and pupil of Paolo Veronese. He painted “Glory of the Saint” for the church of St. Nicholas and pictures of St. Marta for the Church of Santa Marta al Collegio Romano. He is also called Luigi dal Friso. A pupil of his was Maffeo Verona.

❗️You can find this 'Sneak Peek' and more on our website
https://bit.ly/45zDlSJ

👓 You can see this artwork up close, in CVAR’s 2nd-floor exhibition room.

🎨PNT-01133 > Circle of Veronese (1528-88). Attributed to Alvise dal Friso (1551–1611), Caterina Cornaro returns to Venice, Oil on Canvas, 90x377cm, 16th-17th century

Στο CVAR υποδεχθήκαμε τον Ιουλιάν Στέφαν Μοκάνου, μαθητή του Δημοτικού Σχολείου Ανθούπολης και νικητή του 5ου Παγκύπριου...
04/06/2026

Στο CVAR υποδεχθήκαμε τον Ιουλιάν Στέφαν Μοκάνου, μαθητή του Δημοτικού Σχολείου Ανθούπολης και νικητή του 5ου Παγκύπριου Διαγωνισμού Εικαστικών Τεχνών – CVAR «Βασίλισσες της Κύπρου».

Ο Ιουλιάν απέσπασε το Α΄ Βραβείο στην κατηγορία 9–12 ετών με το έργο του “Αικατερίνη Κορνάρο”. Ως μέρος του βραβείου του, παρέλαβε κάρτα δωρεάν συμμετοχής σε όλα τα εκπαιδευτικά προγράμματα του CVAR για την επόμενη σχολική χρονιά, συμπεριλαμβανομένων των δράσεων «Σάββατα στο Μουσείο», «Festive Times» και «Spring Break Activities».

Τον νεαρό νικητή συνεχάρη θερμά η Δρ. Ρίτα Σεβέρη, εκφράζοντας την εκτίμησή της για τη δημιουργικότητα, το ταλέντο και την προσπάθειά του, καθώς και τη σημασία της ενίσχυσης της καλλιτεχνικής έκφρασης των παιδιών από μικρή ηλικία.

Θερμά συγχαρητήρια στον Ιουλιάν για τη δημιουργικότητα και την εξαιρετική του διάκριση, καθώς και στην εκπαιδευτικό του, Μαρίνα Κωνσταντίνου του Splash Art Studio, για την πολύτιμη καθοδήγηση και στήριξή της.

---

Δείτε όλα τα βραβευμένα έργα και επιλεγμένες συμμετοχές, στη διαδικτυακή έκθεση:
https://bit.ly/4dLf5jV

Thank you all for attending June's Music Talks!We had a lovely time learning about Carl Maria von Weber and his work, un...
04/06/2026

Thank you all for attending June's Music Talks!

We had a lovely time learning about Carl Maria von Weber and his work, under the guidance of Iosif Hadjikyriacos, Curator of Stavrides Archive, Larnaca, Demetrios Michaelides, Emeritus Professor of Archaeology, University of Cyprus, and Costas Severis, President of The Costas & Rita Severis Foundation.

Today we were happy to welcome the Norwegian State secretary Trude Storheim and her delegation to CVAR. We are extremely...
03/06/2026

Today we were happy to welcome the Norwegian State secretary Trude Storheim and her delegation to CVAR. We are extremely grateful for the help extended to us through the years by the Norway Grants and for all their support. We hope to be able to host Minister Storheim again soon.

🔍What am I looking at? Wedding boxA wooden box in the shape of a heart with a glass cover on top, containing wedding cro...
03/06/2026

🔍What am I looking at? Wedding box

A wooden box in the shape of a heart with a glass cover on top, containing wedding crowns and ribbons. It was a tradition that wedding crowns were kept by the couple in their home. In the box were also placed ribbons with the signatures of the best men and bridesmaids. It was believed that the box should be placed somewhere safe and not be moved. Each move would cause a quarrel amongst the couple!!

🔖mmr-00668 > Keepsake box, Wood, [s.d.]

👓 This exhibit is a new donation, not currently exhibited.

❗Head to our website to explore this and future entries!
https://bit.ly/3QASPkM

Με αφορμή την επίσκεψη του Γάλλου δημιουργού Cyril Lafon στο CVAR και την έρευνά του γύρω από τη μνήμη και το Βαρώσι για...
02/06/2026

Με αφορμή την επίσκεψη του Γάλλου δημιουργού Cyril Lafon στο CVAR και την έρευνά του γύρω από τη μνήμη και το Βαρώσι για το επερχόμενο ντοκιμαντέρ του, το Μουσείο υλοποίησε εικαστικό εργαστήρι με θέμα το Βαρώσι. Το εργαστήρι βιντεοσκοπήθηκε και θα συμπεριληφθεί στο ντοκιμαντέρ.

Στις 28 Μαΐου, στο πρόγραμμα «Βαρώσι, Ιδέες, Ελπίδα» τα παιδιά γνώρισαν την ιστορία του Βαρωσιού μέσα από φωτογραφίες της δεκαετίας του ‘60 και τη σημερινή εικόνα της περιοχής μέσα από πρόσφατα πλάνα του Cyril Lafon. Η παρουσίαση του υλικού αποτέλεσε αφορμή για συζήτηση γύρω από την ιστορία της πόλης και τις αλλαγές που έφερε η ιστορία.

Με την καθοδήγηση του Κυριάκου Θεοχάρους, τα παιδιά δημιούργησαν ένα ομαδικό έργο, αποτυπώνοντας ζωγραφικά τις ιδέες τους, γεμάτες χρώμα και ελπίδα. Μέσα από τη διαδικασία αυτή εκφράστηκαν σκέψεις και προσωπικές ιδέες για το πώς μπορούν η ιστορία και η δημιουργικότητα να συνδεθούν με το μέλλον.

Σχεδιασμός & Υλοποίηση προγράμματος: Cyril Lafon & Κυριάκος Θεοχάρους

-------

On the occasion of French filmmaker Cyril Lafon’s visit to CVAR and his research on memory and Varosha for his upcoming documentary, the Museum organised an art workshop on the theme of Varosha. The workshop was filmed and will be included in the documentary.

On May 28, as part of the “Varosha, Ideas, Hope” program, the children learned about the history of Varosha through photographs from the 1960s and the area's current state through recent footage by Cyril Lafon. The presentation of the material served as a starting point for a discussion concerning the city’s history and the changes brought about by history.

Under the guidance of Kyriakos Theocharous, the children created a group project, expressing their ideas through painting, creating new narratives with colour and hope. Through this process, they expressed thoughts and personal ideas on how history and creativity can be connected to the future.

Programme Design & Implementation: Cyril Lafon & Kyriakos Theocharous

Address

285 Ermou Street
Nicosia
1017

Opening Hours

Tuesday 09:30 - 17:00
Wednesday 09:30 - 17:00
Thursday 09:30 - 17:00
Friday 09:30 - 17:00
Saturday 09:30 - 17:00
Sunday 09:30 - 17:00

Telephone

+35722300994

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when CVAR - Severis Foundation posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Establishment

Send a message to CVAR - Severis Foundation:

Shortcuts

Share

Category