Cyprus theater workers protest 2027 cultural budget cuts

The Theatre Artists Branch of the SEK-PEO trade union has announced plans for mobilized action following the unveiling of the 2027 budget for the Cypriot Deputy Ministry of Culture. The union expressed strong indignation, arguing that the proposed financial plan reflects a governmental policy that downgrades the cultural sector by treating it as an unnecessary expense.

The proposed 2027 budget for the Deputy Ministry is set at €64.3 million, marking a decrease from the €65.7 million allocated in 2026. The union emphasizes that cultural funding currently accounts for only 0.45% of the total state budget, which they describe as insufficient. They argue that these cuts and the stagnation of grants negatively impact working conditions for artists and impede the production of new creative work.

In response to these developments, the union is taking initiative to form a united front with other theatrical organizations to coordinate a collective protest. The goal is to challenge the government's current funding priorities and ensure that the arts sector receives adequate resources to maintain artistic creation and professional stability.