Newsroom
Larnaca Municipality has given artists and performance groups from Greece until October 23 to submit proposals for this year’s Christmas celebrations, leaving applicants just two days to prepare their bids and less than three weeks before the first scheduled event.
The deadline has drawn criticism over the timing of the process, with questions over how artists are expected to develop performances, calculate production costs and arrange travel and accommodation within such a short period.
The invitation covers two events: the lighting of the commercial centre on November 11 and the lighting of the city’s Christmas decorations on November 28.
The municipality has allocated a maximum of €10,000, plus VAT, for the first event and €20,000, plus VAT, for the second.
Applicants must submit a detailed artistic concept, the proposed programme and performance duration, technical and production requirements, and a full breakdown of costs. These must include artists’ and collaborators’ fees, transport, accommodation where necessary, sound and technical equipment, copyright payments and any other expenses required to deliver the performance.
Proposals must be submitted in a sealed envelope to the municipality’s tender box by the October 23 deadline.
Planning questioned over tight deadline
The short submission window has prompted questions about when preparations for the Christmas programme began and why the invitation was issued so close to the event dates.
A proposal meeting the municipality’s requirements would need to cover both the creative concept and the practical arrangements for staging a performance. For groups travelling from Greece, this could also involve coordinating transport, accommodation, personnel and equipment before a budget can be finalised.
The two-day deadline also raises questions about how many artists will realistically be able to prepare a complete application, and whether the process gives prospective participants sufficient time to compete on equal terms.
Artists who already have suitable performances prepared may be better placed to meet the deadline than those developing new concepts specifically for Larnaca’s celebrations. Applicants with larger teams may also find it easier to assemble the required documentation at short notice.
The municipality has not provided, in the published announcement, an explanation for the timing of the invitation or when the planning process began.
Six months recommended for preparation
A more conventional lead time for organising such a selection process would be at least six months, according to the criticism directed at the municipality’s approach. That would give more artists an opportunity to submit proposals and allow officials adequate time to evaluate artistic quality, technical feasibility, originality and suitability for the intended audience.
Instead, applications are due on October 23, just 19 days before the first lighting ceremony. The second event follows on November 28.
The municipality says artists and performance groups may apply for either event or both. It retains the right to select proposals according to their artistic quality, technical standards, originality and suitability for the character of the celebrations and their audience.
The central question remains whether the compressed timetable reflects a late start to planning or another consideration that has yet to be explained.
For further information, applicants can contact Larnaca Municipality on 24657745 or 24629333.
