The intervention by Interior Minister Konstantinos Ioannou appears to be crucial in finding a solution to the issue that arose regarding the lease of the premises of the School and the in Plataniskia.
The Alpha News program and journalist Olga Konstantinou visited the school and spoke with the printmaker and founder of the School and Museum of Printmaking.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
As he explains, the story began with an attempt to transfer the lease of the building—which is classified as Turkish Cypriot property—to his son, Giorgos Tsangaris.
“We submitted an application; it was rejected. Then we applied to have it transferred to the non-profit organization ‘Chambi School and Museum of Engraving’; that, too, was rejected. And they suggested we set up a for-profit corporation—something I know absolutely nothing about. I don’t want that; our school and museum are neither for-profit nor commercial enterprises. So I said, I won’t beg them again. That’s it. I’m starting to dismantle what I’ve built—I’m giving the materials to friends who need them, there will be a “transplant” of the materials, and when the time comes for me to leave, the Turkish Cypriot Properties Agency can take back the ruins just as I received them. This, humanely, with dignity.”
He expresses his gratitude to the people who have supported him and who recognize the value of the site for Cypriot culture.
“Those who do not see it—as if there were no heritage, only buildings—are the Limassol branch of the Turkish Cypriot Properties Agency, and I’ll say this: I’ve been in their crosshairs for many years. And they do exist—these aren’t just words; I have countless letters that reveal their hostile attitude toward the school, the museum, and me personally.”
He states that, fortunately, following his decision, a great many people took an interest, including the Minister of the Interior and the Deputy Minister of Culture, with whom he has been in consultations since yesterday.
“There were various ideas and suggestions, and in the end, two solutions emerged—potentially good solutions—which the Minister said he would announce soon, I suppose in one or two weeks, and I don’t want to announce it before the Minister does.”
When asked if he is satisfied with either of the two solutions, he replied that he would be satisfied with both solutions, since both the school and the museum will continue to operate normally and offer whatever they wish, in line with their vision.
“What do we do? All our lives we’ve been saying, saying, saying. We embody the saying of the Apostle Paul, ‘Blessed is the one who gives as well as the one who receives’; you’ll see it on two signs in the school courtyard. That’s who we are.”
“I am grateful—deeply grateful—to everyone who made such moving, powerful posts; the public is outraged,” Mr. Tsangaris states emphatically.
As he reports, his minister told him that one solution—which he considers a good one—could be implemented in one or two weeks, or alternatively, he could wait for the transfer to take place in January, when the legislation changes and the transfer to George Tsangaris as heir can be finalized.
“We’re not interested in owning property ourselves. We’re interested in gathering ruins to create something, to offer something to others. We’ve proven this both here and in Nicosia with the ruins we took on and turned into a remarkable museum, the Haraktiki Hambi Municipal Museum.”
When asked what it was that concerned him and set the process in motion, he replies:
“I’m 80. I have friends, classmates of mine who passed away 5–10 years ago; one by one, we’re leaving. You never know when. Maybe I’ll go like my aunt, who lived past 100. I wish. But it could happen at any moment—we’re all leaving. If I don’t do it, what’s the point? There are plenty of vultures ready to snatch it up.”
Chambis Tsangaris also notes that there are over 6,000 engravings in the museum dating from the early 16th century.
“They don’t belong to me. We find them, buy them, restore them, and add them to the museum’s collection so that future generations can learn from them, to raise the cultural level of the region. And nothing belongs to me. At any time—and I’m saying this now— if they left us hanging and did nothing, I would bring it before the Council—why shouldn’t we give the 6,000 engravings to a civilized country so they can enjoy and appreciate them?”
He also expresses his grievance and anger regarding the Limassol Branch of the Turkish Cypriot Properties Authority and extends his thanks to the Minister, however, he issued a statement regarding certain inaccuracies in the Minister’s remarks.
The response to the Minister:
I read the statement from the Turkish Cypriot Property Service regarding the buildings of the Hambis School-Museum of Engraving in Platanistia and was pleased with its wording. I wondered how such a change in the behavior of its officials was possible, and I immediately realized that this civilized announcement originated in Nicosia.
On Thursday, October 8, 2026, in Nicosia, ways to resolve the issue were discussed
in a positive spirit.
I note the following excerpt from the announcement:
“The Service recognizes the significant cultural contribution of Hambis Tsangaris, as well as the contribution of the School and the Museum of Printmaking to cultural events in Cyprus.”
Thank you for the recognition and for noting that “the artist has invested significant time and financial resources in renovating the premises and transforming them into a landmark.”
However, the announcement contains inaccurate information stating that
“in previous years, repairs were approved and carried out both on the Turkish Cypriot residence granted to the artist and on the commercial premises he uses, with financial assistance from the Service, with the aim of preserving and strengthening the School’s work.”
NO REPAIRS WERE EVER CARRIED OUT WITH FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FROM THE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT SERVICEPROPERTY SERVICE ON THE PREMISES OF THE SCHOOL-HAMBI ENGRAVING MUSEUM IN PLATANISTIA.
This may refer to the construction of a building, the digging of a drainage pit, and other work at a neighboring residence. It was a commendable effort on the part of the Turkish Cypriot Property Trustee to resolve the problem of water seepage into the Museum of Engraving’s archives, as well as the waste of funds resulting from the shenanigans of technical service staff in the Limassol Turkish Cypriot Property Management Branch. I have addressed these issues publicly and in detail regarding the relentless water damage plaguing the Museum’s Archives.
If the Guardian is interested, I have much to say. However, they should not write that “repairs to the professional premises it uses were approved and carried out, with financial assistance from the Service, with a view to preserving and strengthening the School’s work.”
And the worst part is today’s statement by the Minister of the Interior on the program “Morning Review” on Politis 107.6 & 97, that
“the Turkish Cypriot Properties Management Service has contributed financially, far more than Mr. Tsangaris, to the maintenance of the properties in recent years, at least since 2023, when he
took over the Ministry of the Interior.”
That’s an outrage, Mr. Minister! You were not properly informed.
I
appreciate everything you were able to do, and I thank you very much, but whatever the Ministry of the Interior’s agency provided to renovate the neighbor’s house is a mere fraction of what we contributed to build the School and the Museum in Platanistia. You’ll be able to see this for yourself if you visit the Museum in Platanistia. And, as I told you personally, Mr. Minister, at our last meeting, the problem of moisture in the Museum’s Archives has not been resolved. I am repeating this to you today. It is not natural humidity. It is a leak from the neighboring residence. Why? Do the officials at the Turkish Cypriot Property Branch in Limassol know something they didn’t tell you? Repairs were made to the Turkish Cypriot refugee residence two decades ago. In recent years, there has been significant damage to the house, and I am, quite understandably, not requesting repairs due to the blatantly hostile attitude of officials at the Turkish Cypriot Property Branch in Limassol.
Let them prove me wrong and do their job properly by repairing the damage, as is their duty. I won’t beg them, and that’s a good excuse for them to mind their own business.
As for the reference to a “spirit of goodwill” in considering the request to transfer the lease to the nonprofit organization, everyone can judge for themselves based on the Branch’s constant “NO”s. I appreciate the Agency’s statement that “it fully respects the cultural and social dimensions of this specific activity and has demonstrably supported and embraced the artistic community and cultural initiatives in our country, recognizing their multifaceted contributions.”
How wonderful it would be if they thought that way in Limassol, too…
The announcement concludes:
“In this context, we are in consultation with Mr. Tsangaris regarding the best course of action for managing the current contract in a way that ensures the continuity of the cultural activities of the School and the Museum of Printmaking.”
I read this and think I must be dreaming… Or maybe I’ve just gotten used to it in Limassol…
If it’s not a dream, time will tell…
Chambis Tsangaris
, October 9, 2026
