Press Release
The WIP (Work in Progress) Arts & Technology Festival, organised by CYENS Centre of Excellence and its Thinker Maker Space, is entering a new chapter. Since its inception, WIP has become a vital platform at the intersection of art, science, and technology—attracting over 7,500 visitors during its latest edition and sparking collaborations across disciplines.
What is new?
WIP evolves into a biennial initiative, launching a dynamic two-year cycle designed to deepen its impact and expand its global reach. WIP is no longer just a festival—it’s a thriving ecosystem of creativity, research, and innovation. Each cycle alternates between two distinct phases:
- WIP LAB | October – December 2025 | A high-impact developmental incubator phase focused on initiating, testing, and refining research-based projects. This year serves as a powerhouse of experimentation and collaboration, laying the foundation for future showcases through cross-disciplinary residencies, fieldwork and data collection. A series of public events and exhibitions will reveal the development of workflows and concepts.
- WIP Festival | June 2026 | A large-scale, internationally recognized event featuring exhibitions, performances, panels, and public programming. It celebrates the culmination of long-term artistic and technological partnerships.
WIP LAB 2025: Invisible Waters
This year’s WIP LAB theme, "Invisible Waters", invites creative practitioners working at the intersection of art, science, and society to engage with one of the region’s most urgent environmental challenges: water. Cyprus faces recurring droughts, aquifer depletion, inefficient
irrigation, and pollution. WIP LAB 2025 brings together artists, designers, researchers, scientists, and technologists to explore water’s many dimensions—from traditional knowledge and urban infrastructure to community-driven adaptation and climate resilience.
Program & Activities
Set in Nicosia’s old city, WIP LAB 2025 unfolds an immersive program from 19th of November to the 05th of December, inviting the public to reflect, engage, and explore how artists, scientists and technologists collaborate, investigate and illuminate complex environmental challenges.
KEY EVENTS:
- Showcase Opening | November 28
Launch of the WIP LAB 25 Invisible Waters accompanied by a live DJ set. - Showcase-in-Progress| December 01– December 11
A living laboratory that brings together six artistic residencies in an ever-changing exhibition where creative processes unfold in real time. - 6 + Hands-on Workshops | November 17–19
Exploring emerging tools and collaborative methodologies through creative practices. - POP UP Lab for Students| Fieldwork & Workshop | November 20 -21
A two-day workshop invites university students to explore and respond creatively to the urgent environmental challenge of water scarcity and desertification in Cyprus. CYENS - CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE | 1 Plateia Dimarchou Lellou Dimitriadi, Nicosia, 1016, Cyprus | +357 22747575 - Participatory Installation & Community Dinner | November 27
A unique participatory installation experience — accompanied by a community dinner — invites visitors to taste the lionfish while listening to its story and reflecting on the transformation of Eastern Mediterranean ecologies. - Creative Talks & Open Play | November 29
Fluid exchanges between artists, researchers, and the public, exploring environmental resilience and local challenges through shared processes, participatory dialogue and play. - Screenings | December 1, 3 & 5
Screening of “Water in Cyprus - Memories of bygone times", a documentary film about the efforts of Cypriots, in a semi-arid geographical area.
VENUES:
WIP Lab 25 will be hosted in the heart of Nicosia’s old city at the CYENS CoE’s neighbourghood; the CYENS Agora building, STOA building and Dimarchou Lellou Demetriadi Square.
The Future of Arts & Technology in the Mediterranean
Organized by the CYENS Centre of Excellence, WIP is a dynamic, ever-evolving ecosystem of creativity, collaboration, and innovation in the Eastern Mediterranean—connecting scientists, artists, and technologists across borders. Whether you're a visitor, artist, scientist, or technologist, WIP25 promises an inspiring journey into the future of art and innovation.
Join Us!
For more information, visit the WIP LAB website: https://wip.cyens.org.cy
Follow us on social media:
Facebook / Instagram /LinkedIn: @wipfestival | @cyens.thinkermakerspace |
@cyens_coe
Directions | https://maps.app.goo.gl/EqczdS8qjtdXtbCP8
