Frederick University's Department of Arts and Communication and the research lab PFM [Photography, Film + Media Lab] are collaborating with the POED Nicosia Art Group on the multidisciplinary art project titled "Sacred Offerings: Landscape, Memory, Identity".

The program aims to provide professional development for teachers while actively engaging pre-primary and primary school children in a contemporary artistic exploration of the concept of the “tama” (votive offering), as a carrier of memory, culture, and identity.

The project reinterprets the tama as a small artistic object connected to the Cypriot landscape, nature, and history. Through experiential workshops and classroom activities, participants explore materials such as clay and copper, creating artworks inspired by geological elements, plants, and cultural symbols of Cyprus.

The program runs from March to June 2026 and includes a training seminar for educators, the implementation of art activities in schools, and a final exhibition of the children’s works in collaboration with the Municipality of Nicosia.

The final outcome is a collective art installation that reflects the creativity of the children and functions as a contemporary narrative of place, memory, and cultural identity.

The first activity will take place on Monday, 30 March, at Frederick University in Nicosia and will include a presentation of the project to educators, as well as an introduction to the concept of the votive offering in both ancient and contemporary Cypriot tradition.

Mr. Nicolas Lambouris, Associate Professor in the Department of Arts and Communication and a visual artist himself, will deliver a lecture on the subject and lead a practical art workshop, in collaboration with the PFM [Photography, Film and Media Lab] research lab. Artist Susan Vargas will also participate at the workshop, as well as students from the Department of Arts and Communication.

Here is the project's framework:

The concept of the votive offering is a deeply rooted practice in Greek and Cypriot culture. Traditionally, it is a small object dedicated to a sacred space, expressing a wish, gratitude, or a promise.

In the proposed visual arts project, the votive offering is reinterpreted as a small artistic object and as a form of contemporary artistic gesture. Children and educators are invited to create small votive objects connected to the land, the landscape, and the natural history of Cyprus.

The starting point of the project is the Cypriot landscape itself: stones, rocks, geological formations, mountains, the sea, and local flora. These elements form part of the island’s collective memory and cultural identity.

The project connects artistic creation with archaeology, geography, geology, and the history of Cyprus. Thousands of ancient votive offerings made of clay, stone, and metal have been discovered at archaeological sites and sanctuaries across the island. At the same time, the tradition of contemporary votive offerings (“tamata”) continues to be part of popular religious practice.

Through this project, the votive offering is approached as a small sculpture, a clay stele, or an engraved trace on copper, an object that carries memory, place, and personal expression.