Hambis Tsangaris has strongly rejected claims that the Turkish Cypriot Properties Management Service financed repair works at the Hambis School and Museum of Printmaking in Plataniskia, disputing statements made by both the Service and Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou.
In a statement, the printmaker said no repair works on the school or museum premises had ever been carried out with funding from the Service.
"No repairs have ever been carried out at the Hambis School and Museum of Printmaking with financial support from the Turkish Cypriot Properties Service," he said.
Challenges minister's remarks
Tsangaris was responding to claims that the Service had funded repairs to both a Turkish Cypriot house allocated to him and the premises used by the school and museum.
He argued that the works being referenced related instead to a neighbouring house, drainage works and efforts to address water entering the museum archive.
According to Tsangaris, those interventions failed to solve the problem and amounted to a waste of public funds.
He also criticised comments made by Ioannou on Politis radio, where the minister reportedly said the Service had contributed more than Tsangaris towards the maintenance of the properties in recent years.
"An insult, Minister. You were not properly informed," Tsangaris said.
Ongoing leak concerns
The artist also said a long-standing water infiltration problem affecting the museum archive remains unresolved.
He insisted the issue is caused by water leaking from a neighbouring property rather than natural dampness and said he had personally raised the matter with the Interior Minister during a recent meeting.
Welcomes discussions on lease dispute
Despite his criticism, Tsangaris welcomed recent discussions aimed at resolving the dispute over the lease of the premises.
He said he was encouraged by statements recognising the cultural contribution of the school and museum and by assurances that efforts are being made to safeguard their future.
However, he suggested the tone adopted by officials in Nicosia differed from his experience dealing with local authorities in Limassol and said he would reserve judgment until concrete action is taken.
"If it isn't a dream, we will see," he concluded.
