The local art scene is levelling up in the New Year as a brand-new event seeks to place Cyprus on the global art map. VIMA, the first international contemporary art fair in Cyprus, will debut in Limassol on May 16-18. The fair will take place at an ex-industrial building overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, originally part of one of Cyprus’ oldest wineries.

With a focus on showcasing contemporary art from Cyprus and its neighbouring countries, VIMA Art Fair aims to collectively embrace the diversity of coastal cultures in a manner that is inclusive and accessible. While spotlighting artists and galleries at home, the fair will also invite artistic and curatorial exchanges from abroad. It will host emerging and established galleries in addition to artist-run spaces, offering a comprehensive showcase of contemporary art from Cyprus and the surrounding Mediterranean region.

Participation in the fair is by invitation, and every year an international curator will also be invited for a Cyprus residency to work with regional artists, encouraging international dialogue and incubating conversations at home. VIMA positions itself as a place for discoveries and fresh perspectives alongside established artistic practices, all within an intimate art fair environment. Fair participants and the curatorial project for VIMA’s inaugural edition will be announced later this year.

VIMA Art Fair is co-founded by Edgar Gadzhiev, Lara Kotreleva and Nadezhda Zinovskaya, with gallery participation and fair programming spearheaded by an expert committee comprising Alexandros Diogenous (Founder of Pylon Art & Culture, Co-founder of Limassol Art Walks), Tasos Stylianou (Director and Co-founder of Limassol Art Walks and Gallerist), and Andre Zivanari (Founder and Director of Point Centre for Contemporary Art, Nicosia).

Vima, which in Greek means ‘step’ but also a ‘podium’ or ‘platform’, aspires to build bridges between the fast-growing art ecosystems in Cyprus and those in its neighbouring countries. Not entirely in the East nor geographically West, it carves out a social space for interaction and practices of neighbourliness. Occupying this unique position, VIMA aims to offer participants and audiences an inclusive, accessible and meaningful entry point to diverse cultural exchanges. More details and the fair’s programme are expected to be announced closer to the time.

VIMA

The first international contemporary art fair in Cyprus. May 16-18 2025. Limassol. www.vima.art