The President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, has said that this week he will announce together with the Deputy Minister of Culture the Youth Culture Card.

Addressing the opening of an exhibition in Nicosia on Saturday, the President referred to the substantial support and promotion of culture, which, he said, is one of the government's main objectives, with the obvious aim, among many others, of preserving and promoting the country's  rich cultural heritage and within this framework, the enhancement of creative expression.

He also referred to the actions to strengthen and upgrade the sponsorship programmes for creators and artists, to further strengthen the effort for cultural decentralisation, as well as to encourage the mobility of artists and cultural professionals, in order to work creatively in their country.

The President also said that the implementation of the institutional framework regulating the status and professional status of the artist is also important. There has been a major, long-standing distortion that we will address in 2024, he said.

He added that a bill that has been prepared supports in practice the artistic world to continue the important work it performs and indirectly promotes the development and upgrading of our culture and arts.

He also said that next week he will announce, together with the Deputy Minister of Culture, the Youth Culture Card, aimed at giving financial support to young people who turn 18 years of age, with a prepaid card to come closer to culture and contemporary artistic creation.

Christodoulides noted that culture is a living and dynamic mechanism that, among many other positive effects on our daily lives, defines our identity and educates our society.

This is a treasure that, if properly exploited, can make a decisive contribution to progress, growth and creation and contribute much more to the economy and social development of our country, he concluded.