Ambassador and Mrs. Koenig visited the future home of the Center for Visual Arts and Research in the heart of the historic walled city of Nicosia on February 11, 2014. Once completed, the Center will provide a platform for the exploration of Cyprus' cultural heritage through visual and creative arts, including by hosting a unique collection of paintings and artifacts that highlight the island's multicultural past. The Center will support research and scholarship in related fields of study. In addition, it will provide a home for the varied exhibitions and programs of the Sharing History, Arts, Research and Education in Cyprus (SHARE) initiative—a unique partnership between the Costas and Rita Severis Foundation, the Turkish Cypriot Association of University Women, the NGO Support Center and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)—designed to build bridges between local communities and increase the potential for improved understanding and peaceful coexistence in Cyprus. The transformation of this historic property on Ermou Street has been made possible by support from the Costas and Rita Severis Foundation, USAID, the European Economic Area/Norway Grants, the Municipality of Nicosia, and the DeMinimus Fund. The Center hopes to open its doors to the public later in 2014.
