The first days of ArtCargo Festival brought thousands into the streets, squares and parks of Nicosia for remarkable contemporary circus performances and unexpected encounters with international artists. This week, the festival continues to transform the city’s public spaces into stages, with more performances for audiences of all ages, and a parallel events programme.

Week two’s performances open with Blindly by ELELEI, a creative duo from Spain performing blindfold in Eleftheria Square on October 22 and 23 at 6.30pm and 8pm. At the Nicosia Municipal Gardens, the water fountain remains the screen for a special project – Parametric Deep. A dancer comes to life, projected on the water by a special tech system, transforming a mist of water into the screen and parts of the dancer himself. October 22 and 23 will be the last two days of this special production by Panos Malactos and ArtCargo Festival.

Then, Catalan artist Joan Català invites the audience to build the performance, Pelat, with him and discover the balance between physical effort, trust and collaboration. On October 23, Pelat will be presented at Eleftheria Square at 17:00 and on October 24, at the Townhall.

Kanon Ito, ArtCargo’s youngest artist this year, is arriving in Cyprus for the first time with the support of the VF Foundation to present her slackline tricks. The 12-year-old artist from Japan has won several distinctions around the world for her slacklining skills, which she will present in Nicosia on October 24, in front of the old Nicosia City Hall at 1pm and 3pm and on October 25 at 5pm.

The ELELEI group returns on October 24 and 25 to present another performance: Too Much. Here, dance, theatre and acrobatics become vessels of expression to discover what happens when love becomes too much, when care turns into control and obsession.

ArtCargo’s only live music performance is by the Cypriot trio Nabu Pēra, staged at the archaeological site of the Palaion Demarchion on October 24 at 9.30pm, presenting the group’s Soundscapes of Nicosia project.

The grand finale will take the festival to new heights as the Basinga group brings their Soka Tira Osoa show to the Old GSP Square on October 24 at 8pm. French artist Tatiana-Mosio Bongonga will walk across a 25-metre-high wire, without a harness, which will be set up by members of the audience, making viewers part of the action one last time.

Beyond the main programme, parallel activities invite the crowd to get involved. On October 21, Cypriot group Quantum Circus host an Open Juggling Jam session at the Ayios Andreas Municipal Skate Park at 5pm. Then, the artists behind ELELEI will host a workshop on October 25 morning at [space available], looking at conflict movements, movement research and scenic composition.

On the same day, young star Kanon Ito will share with participants the world of slacklining, guiding them through the fundamentals of finding balance on a thin line, jumping and the techniques of tricklining. The slackline workshop will take place in front of the old Nicosia City Hall on October 25 at 1pm.

Bringing the art of graffiti is a Spot Tag workshop by George Kyrou, who will teach participants how to make their own graffiti signature, find their style, font and characteristic colours, held at Eleftheria Square at 3.30pm on October 25.

ABR participates in ArtCargo by placing small screening installations around the old town. The Birdbox Cinemas allow viewers to peak in, and watch a short film. The birdhouses will be at Eleftheria Square, in the Municipal Gardens and near the Palaion Demarcheion Archaeological Site on October 22, 23 and 24 between 10am and 6pm.

The OPU Collective will host a relaxed evening cycling ride on October 22 to promote safe and sustainable urban mobility, setting off from Ratio Cycling Club on Nikis Avenue at 7.30pm. Finally, a walk and talk is organised for October 24, inviting the public to an urban exploration of Nicosia’s old city while pausing for discussions and reflection. The walk will set off from the old Nicosia City Hall at 12pm.

ArtCargo Performing Arts Festival

Public street perfomances from local and international artists, installations and workshops. Until October 25. Throughout Nicosia. www.artcargofest.com

This Saturday, the Nicosia Municipal Gardens will become a meeting point for music, street culture, art, food and solidarity as Solidarity Beats Festival brings together different communities, scenes and voices for a full day of live music, DJs, dance, graffiti, performances, markets and more.

Running from 1pm to midnight, the festival features rebetiko and hip-hop music as well as street culture, celebrating music that historically has given a voice to people on the margins. The music genres are rooted in freedom of expression, resistance and dignity.

With free admission, the festival’s programme also includes live performances and DJ sets from Troubles All Around Me, Bark o’clock, Vikkie, Mira, Indra, Soluta and DJ 2ns, alongside Xikkosou and Simpetherka.

Plus, an open-level Hip-Hop social dance workshop by T.E.A.M Hip Hop Collective will take place alongside the performance ‘A Dance For The End of The World’ by Diamanto Chatzizacharia with Areti Chourdaki, Elina Karacosta and Julie Charalambidou, a Graffiti Workshop by Mathieu Devavry, and street ping pong by Pingy Pongo.

Happening throughout the day are pop-up markets from The Old Classic Thriftshop, Sixteen Rounds Tattoo Studio, Notions of Siana, Afoa Bookstore, Pirgos Elegxou 506, Anakoutrefko Market and Studio Tooki, with food from different cultures and Cypriot craft beer from Radical Way and Crossline Brewing.

And that is not all. At the entrance, essential food and hygiene supplies will be collected for the humanitarian programmes of Mission Solidarity, supporting people and communities facing hardship.

The festival is built around the belief that solidarity is a daily act of care, respect and collective responsibility. It aims to create a space where everyone has a place, regardless of gender, nationality, religion, background or identity. Racism, sexism, violence, abuse and any form of discrimination have no place at the festival.

Solidarity Beats Festival

One-day festival with live music, workshops, performances and markets. October 24. Nicosia Municipal Gardens, Nicosia. 1pm-12am. Free admission. @Solidarity Beats

Five years after its Cyprus debut, Quatuor Diotima returns to Nicosia on the occasion of its 30th anniversary. One of France’s most renowned string quartets, and one of the most sought-after chamber ensembles on the international stage today, heads to the capital city for a concert at The Shoe Factory.

On Friday, October 30, the quartet performs in Cyprus presenting an intense, searching and deeply expressive programme. Across the European chamber music scene, Diotima has captured a distinctive place, boasting a repertoire that ranges from the great masterpieces of the 19th century to the some of the most important music being written today.

Having performed at esteemed venues such as Wigmore Hall, Pierre Boulez Saal, Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, and Philharmonie de Paris and received critical distinctions, its musicians arrive in Cyprus. Yun-Peng Zhao and Léo Marillier on violin, Franck Chevalier on viola and Alexis Descharmes on cello have prepared a rich programme for October 30.

Masterpieces by Beethoven and Brahms will be paired with Georges Aperghis’ strikingly original String Quartet No.2, which was commissioned by Radio France and given its world premiere by Diotima at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées a few months ago.

Quaturo Diotima

French string quartet performs live. October 30. The Shoe Factory, Nicosia. Tel: 22-663871. www.pharosartsfoundation.org, www.soldoutticketbox.com

A new exhibition soon enriches Nicosia’s art scene as it blends vibrant marine creatures with expressive figurative storytelling. Blue Mind is the solo exhibition of visual artist Ioanna Philippou which will run at IN TOTO exhibition space in Ayioi Omologites from November 26 to December 13.

Through bold, lively colours, the exhibition offers visitors an immersive journey into vibrant underwater realms, personal memory and expressive art.

Central to Blue Mind is Philippou’s lifelong fascination with the Mediterranean Sea. Grounded in fond memories of exploring rocky shores, discovering hidden seashells, and observing marine organisms, the collection captures the sea as a meditative sanctuary.

Across these canvases, viewers will encounter a striking array of extraordinary marine creatures, including the Mako shark, Moray eel, Manta ray, Sea Hare, Tonna galea (giant tun shell), Sunfish and Abalone.

Rendered in vibrant, otherworldly colours, the collection juxtaposes marine life with Philippou’s signature expressive figures, distinguished by their stylised, prominent features, juicy lips and sharp noses. Blue Mind represents a reflection of the artist’s current creative journey, merging aquatic fascination with bold, figurative storytelling.

Blue Mind

Solo art exhibition by visual artist Ioanna Philippou. November 26-December 13. IN TOTO exhibition space, Kanari 8a, Agioi Omologites, 1080 Nicosia. Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 5.30pm – 7pm. Saturday, Sunday: 4.40pm-6pm. ioannaphilippoupitsillides@gmail.com. Instagram: @ioannaphilippouillustrations

For the first time, a retreat on the art of clowning arrives in Cyprus, organised by the Yasemin Collective and Quantum Circus, led by Chilean artist Marco Antonio Cepeda Cortes.

This November 7 and 8, a two-day educational event Clowning Retreat: Present (of the) Moment takes place at Ananke Home in the capital, welcoming the artistic community and beyond to delve deeper into the skills and transformative possibilities of clowning performances.

Artists, performers, movement artists and anyone curious about stepping outside their comfort zone through movement, play and presence is invited to join the retreat. No previous experience is required and as the retreat happens in English, it welcomes the island’s diverse communities.

Drawing on the many elements that make up clowning, participants will explore comedy, stage presence and non-verbal body language. The training will include physical techniques drawn from miming, breathing and the elements of nature, movement and mindful presence, awareness on and off stage, as well as the fundamental principles of comedy and clowning, such as timing, simplicity and sincerity, presence, interaction and connection with the audience.

The focus on the art of clowning is deeply intentional and important to the organisers. “In ancient traditions, including those of Greece, Egypt and South America, clowning and related forms of comic and ritual performance have long been closely connected to spirituality, self-exploration and questioning or reflecting on the society of their time,” they explain.

“Physicality, imagination and comedy open up countless possibilities for expression, connection and discovery. This retreat invites us to experience the body consciously as a tool for exploration and self-awareness, embracing the gifts of play, spontaneity, curiosity, vulnerability and the freedom to be truly present in the moment.”

Participants will get to witness how in clowning mistakes become opportunities, limitations become sources of creativity, and how joy can be transmitted.

“It encourages us to learn how to be present, prepared and available for whatever life may bring,” organisers conclude and open an invitation to those interested in joining them.

Clowning Retreat: Present (of the) Moment

Two-day educational retreat on the art of clowning. Led by Chilean artist Marco Antonio Cepeda Cortes. Organised by Yasemin Collective and Quantum Circus. November 7-8. Ananke Home, Nicosia. Saturday: 10am-7pm. Sunday: 10am-5pm. €165 with meals, snacks and drinks provided. €190 for accommodation as well. Registrations at https://forms.gle/TDnXjxP4Sezu5T6j9. Tel: 97-725259. thequantumcircus.cyprus@gmail.com