Droushia, Cyprus. A new nomadic platform focused on ecological imagination and interdisciplinary collaboration has launched in Cyprus, with its first public event set for February 27 and 28 in Droushia in the Paphos district.
Platform and format
PIKNIK is an initiative of the Xarkis NGO and includes an artist residency hosting artists from Cyprus and abroad, culminating in a public event in the form of a large two-day picnic. The organising team said it chose the picnic format because it enables light-hearted outdoor gatherings where people share food and engage in mutual learning and exchanges of stories and experiences.
Aims and focus
The initiative aims to dismantle typical conference structures for knowledge exchange and production, describing such environments as often rigid and directed at expert audiences. PIKNIK focuses on discussions about the ecological and climate crises, and seeks to include curiosity, humour, creativity and accessibility in these processes.
It also challenges who holds knowledge at such events and who can access it, aiming to make the space accessible to all individuals regardless of specialised understanding.
Programme and activities
The organisers said the event combines artistic and curatorial methodologies with ecological, agricultural and craft practices, with the aim of deepening understanding of the climate crisis in culture, agriculture, animal husbandry and rural life. They described the approach as an outdoor, informal space intended to bridge experiences, disciplines and knowledge gaps, and promote intergenerational, interdisciplinary and cross-thematic exchanges.
On February 27 and 28, the public will be able to listen to artists, farmers, activists, curators and civil society professionals and take part in collective meals, discussions, workshops, walks, contemporary art and local crafts. Activities include foraging wild edible plants such as wild asparagus and wild mustard greens, exploring Droushia on foot, and experimenting with guerilla gardening, alongside discussions on developing a holistic approach to physical and mental health through food.
Workshops will include local crafts such as decorating gourds with the muhktar of Droushia, Filippos Michail Koupari. Stories and perspectives on rural development and protecting the diverse species and habitats of Akamas will be shared by locals, environmental organisations and local institutions including the Regional Museum of Droushia.
The programme will also include artistic interventions and three performances by resident artists from the Creative Europe programme Feed your Future. The organisers said details about each activity will be shared on Xarkis’ social media accounts.
What part of the two-day PIKNIK programme would you be most interested in attending?