WHAT USED to be a derelict building little more than a stone’s throw from the Ledra Palace checkpoint in Nicosia has now been transformed into the Home for Cooperation (H4C) and a number of events to celebrate its opening are planned for this week.
A series of festivities, including music, art and talks, will take place from this Friday through to Monday, May 9.
The H4C is the brainchild of the Association for Historical Dialogue and Research (AHDR) which wanted to “provide a common meeting place” for people across the spectrum to discuss the multiple facets of history, AHDR president Chara Makriyianni said.
The inter-communal space has been designed with flexibility in mind to accommodate conferences and exhibitions. There is also a library to include archives and workspace for researchers and organisations to get together.
But the spirit of the project is definitely jovial, which sets it apart from other multi-functional spaces; the scheduled events reflect that spirit with musical performances throughout the weekend and a party with a DJ on the Sunday.
Art exhibitions will also be running throughout the four days and will include blog and media screenings, and a Sunday morning symposium with academics discussing social relationships.
An “experience walk” for Saturday is scheduled in northern and southern Nicosia. The inauguration closes on Monday, May 9, at 7pm with the premiere of a new documentary on the contested histories of Cyprus by Stefanos Evripidou and Stephen Nugent.
The building housing H4C “tells its own stories” says its architect, George Zissimos.
Bullet holes from the fighting in 1974 have been intentionally left untouched and pieces of barbed wire have been incorporated into the building itself which its renovators chose to protect rather than tear it down and start again.
“Trying to revitalise a house in the buffer zone [and] turn it into a research and education centre… People look at you a bit strangely,” Makroyianni said.
“History is controversial. In a conflicted society like Cyprus it becomes harder,” AHDR board member Rena Choplarou said adding that politics tend to get in the way.
A 2004 revision of history books in the north made reference to a common past between Turkish and Greek Cypriots but these were replaced in 2009 when Dervis Eroglu came to power.
In the south in 2008, the newly elected government of Demetris Christofias announced they would reform the educational system.
This sparked a debate and a 2009 committee had to prepare two separate proposals because no unanimity could be reached.
There is work to be done then for the AHDR who want to promote dialogue on issues of history, including its teaching and learning.
The H4C is supported by financial mechanisms within the European Economic Area, Greek and Turkish Cypriot community representatives and individual people and organisations.
Support is also provided by way of UN funding for a two-year research project implemented by the AHDR, the Multiperspectivity and Intercultural Dialogue in Education project.
Find out more and get the full schedule of the inauguration festivities at: www.ahdr.info.
