Hambis Tsangaris was recently awarded the European Heritage Award in the category ‘Heritage Champions’. The Committee that selected him explained in its reasoning that “Hambis Tsangaris has dedicated his life to the transmission of knowledge, both locally and internationally, incorporating in his works stories and myths from the tradition of his homeland and, in the process, succeeding in raising awareness among an impressive number of people and being an inspiration to other European citizens”.

Hambis was congratulated by many people, who spoke highly of his work. Among them was the Deputy Ministry of Culture, which in a statement characterized Hambis’ contribution as valuable and noted, among other things, the establishment (with the initiative, effort and labour of the creator) of the ‘Hambi Museum of Engraving’ in Platanisteia, with a collection of works from the 16th century to the present day, as well as the creation (later) of the museum of the same name in Nicosia. On the occasion of Hambis receiving the award, the Deputy Ministry announced its ambition “to develop and implement a national strategy for the management and protection of cultural heritage and the promotion of contemporary cultural creation”.

Four months after all this good stuff, Hambis complains that the museum is filled with water flowing in from an adjacent building. Both buildings are Turkish Cypriot properties and are managed by the Limassol Turkish Cypriot Property Service. He first addressed the village’s community leader who, judging by the many incidents that preceded today’s, never took a good view of Hambis’ presence there and his actions. So he referred him to the Service, to which five letters with photographs have been sent to date. But the problem has been going on for years, with the result that the contents of the museum are at risk. “It is not a personal business, nor a profit-making one”, the author is forced to explain. “It is a service to Cyprus”.

Four months ago it was indeed evaluated. “The legacy left by Hambis is rich and priceless and must not be lost,” Nicosia’s mayor Constantinos Yiorkadjis had said. But at the present moment (and all along the way) it is left to a mukhtar and some civil servants to evaluate and decide on the preservation of this heritage.

“In a world of ugliness, people like Hambis bring poetry and beauty to our lives,” Europa Nostra secretary general Sněska Michalović had said – presenting him with the award.

In other places, perhaps – places where muktars do not decide on culture, on Akamas, on the present and the future.