Future of Hambis Printmaking School and Museum under discussion

On October 8, 2026, high-level discussions took place in Nicosia involving the Interior Minister, Konstantinos Ioannou, and representatives of the Hambis Printmaking School and Museum to resolve a dispute over the facility's lease. The conflict arose after the founder, artist Hambis Tsangaris, threatened to dismantle the premises in Platanisteia and return them to their 1994 state, following the rejection of his request to transfer the lease of the Turkish Cypriot-owned property to a non-profit organization.

The Turkish Cypriot Properties Management Service clarified that it had not evicted the artist and that lease agreements remained in force. The Service acknowledged Tsangaris's cultural contributions and significant personal investments in the site. During the October 8 meeting, participants, including Deputy Ministry of Culture officials and the president of the non-profit entity, Giorgos Tsangaris, discussed potential arrangements to ensure the institution's continuity.

While Hambis Tsangaris expressed guarded optimism, he maintained his stance that he would wait only a reasonable amount of time for a concrete resolution before proceeding with his plan to dismantle the buildings. The authorities are currently evaluating the legal framework to find a permanent solution that preserves the school's ongoing cultural operations.