Celebrating World Poetry Day at Phaneromenis 70

World Poetry Day is celebrated annually on March 21 and in Nicosia, Cultural Centre Phaneromenis 70 and poet Alexandros Chronides are putting together a special event, one that is even in-person!

For World Poetry Day, Phaneromenis 70 is taking art into the street with their latest project titled The LocoMotion Box/A series of small projects. A travelling box with wheels will sit outside the shop and neighbouring areas in the hope of becoming a small world full of art, words and visuals. Inside it anyone who wants to share a project, an idea, an art piece can feature their work by getting in touch with the cultural centre.

“The box is full of ideas,” says Phaneromenis 70, “some obscure, some well-known, others merely looking for a safe channel to express themselves through. This month, the box is hosting Petrol Blues by Alexandros Chronides.”

Alexandros’ poetry collection book, with poems in both Greek and English, is the first project the LocoMotion Box hosts and on Sunday from 5pm to 8pm, the public is invited to discover Alexandros’ poetry and participate in an open mic event. Though he is a business consultant by day, Alexandros has been involved with poetry since childhood.

At the age of 10, he received his first poetry prize from the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation. As a teenager, he received numerous poetry prizes at his school’s annual Lipertis Poetry Competition and a short story prize from the Ministry of Education. While studying in Edinburgh, poems of his were published in literary journals both in Cyprus and the United Kingdom. In 2018, he published his first poetry collection Petrol Blues which was shortlisted for the 2018 Young Writer Award, at the State Literary Awards of the Ministry of Education. More recently, he has published his second poetry collection, Interim Report on Growing Up, which can be found on the website: www.interimreportongrowingup.com. With every purchase of his poetry book at the event next week, Alexandros will donate €5 euros to Sistema Cyprus.

The afternoon of March 21 is not just about Alexandros’ poetry, however. After all the event is called Never Alone. It’s about the love and appreciation for poetry and anyone can share their spoken word during the open mic. Ten local poets have been invited to participate but any person can sign up via the form on the Facebook event (Νot Alone/World Poetry Day) and book a performance slot.

Νot Alone / World Poetry Day

Open Mic event and launch of a new project by Phaneromenis 70 in collaboration with poet Alexandros Chronides. March 21. Phaneromenis 70, Old Nicosia. 5pm-8pm. Free