Nicosia welcomes Xarkis Festival this weekend
The 11th edition of nomadic festival Xarkis travels to Nicosia this week for three days of participatory workshops, performances, installations, multidisciplinary art and collaborative practices. From Friday to Sunday, Xarkis will present a vibrant and eclectic international programme for both children and adults.
The events will unfold in the old town of Nicosia, following this year’s theme – Unearthing Care – Ecologies of Collaboration. With just a few days left before the official programme starts, Xarkis’ activities have already begun with the Multi-Residency Programme in late August. A group of selected artists and curators have been collaborating with the local community, preparing works which will be presented during the festival.
Workshops such as Create Your Own Koilaniotiko Handkerchief and Kourellou Weaving with Folkmona will take place as will intercommunal walking tours in collaboration with Home for Cooperation and AHDR.
“Xarkis Festival is deeply rooted in the environments and communities it inhabits each year,” say organisers. “In Nicosia, the festival aims to embed values of care through a feminist lens, fostering knowledge sharing on collaborative and participatory practices. Nicosia is a mesh of practices, lifestyles, customs, rituals and traditions, and therein lies its strength. The selected artists will explore and deconstruct themes such as Cypriotness, the locale, intangible cultural heritage, craft practices, rituals and vernacular traditions through contemporary art forms.
“The idea behind this year’s theme,” they explain, “Unearthing Care: Ecologies of Collaboration, emerged from the standpoint that care is something that is already embedded within us, it is just a matter of observing, and unearthing care, and placing emphasis on those who are already at the heart of it.”
From Friday to Sunday, a rich series of events, workshops and performances will take place downtown. Following a few pre-festival activities, the festival will commence on Friday afternoon with a workshop at 3pm by Despina Rangou, then a Gathering event by Eleni Christou and Lauren Mavromati at 4pm and a performative walking tour by Marjolein Guldentops. Three performances will follow from 6.20pm onwards, followed by an intervention and another performance at 11pm.
Saturday and Sunday are packed with walks, workshops, exhibitions and installations, all connecting back to elements of care and collaboration. The full agenda has been published and can be found on the festival’s social media channels.
Xarkis Festival
11th edition. September 13, 14, 15. Old Nicosia. www.xarkis.org