Photos Photiades Foundation
Established in the 1990s as a commitment to social responsibility, the Photos Photiades Foundation has led major initiatives in the fields of culture, art, and science, driving meaningful impact and long-term value for society.
Established in the 1990s as a commitment to social responsibility, the Photos Photiades Foundation has led major initiatives in the fields of culture, art, and science, driving meaningful impact and long-term value for society.
Notable endeavours include crafting and placing various busts in cities around Cyprus, representing historical personalities of the island, such as those of researcher Pavlos Ksioutas, folklorist Nearchos Clerides, poet Costas Montis, composer Marios Tokas, and poets Vasilis Michaelides (widely considered the national poet of Cyprus) and Dimitris Lipertis.
The foundation also organises the annual Costas Montis national student awards, and more recently, provided € 100,000 in funding for the upgrade of the ancient Idalion site.
Other initiatives include the annual presentation of awards to high school and university students for outstanding academic achievements, as well as poetry nights and the support of numerous academic conferences, lectures, and publications. Special events have also been hosted to honour personalities such as Cypriot Nobel laureate Christoforos Pissarides, linguist Yiorgos Bambiniotis, and others.
The foundation has also established the Cyprus Museum of Natural History to cultivate environmental consciousness and enhance public engagement with the natural world.
Cyprus Museum of Natural History
One of the earliest initiatives of the Photos Photiades Foundation was the establishment of the Cyprus Museum of Natural History in 1996.
Housed in a purpose-built facility within the scenic gardens of the Photos Photiades Brewery on the outskirts of Nicosia, the museum—designed to the highest European standards—remains a landmark project in the Foundation’s long history of cultural and educational contributions.
With a meticulously organized and thoughtfully designed layout, the museum aims to provide comprehensive insights into Cyprus’ flora, fauna, and geology. It cultivates a deeper love and interest in nature while contributing to a collective effort to protect the environment.
Visitors can enjoy a collection of over 2.500 thematically presented exhibits. These largely comprise stuffed mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, and insects, as well as rocks, minerals, semi-precious stones, shells, fossils, and more.