The government's intention is not only to support culture, but also to use it as a driving force for social progress, prosperity and economic development, President of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, said on Saturday evening, addressing the opening of the group art exhibition "Casts of an Island 2024" at the PSI Foundation, in Limassol. President Christodoulides acknowledged that the state has not invested adequately in the country's cultural wealth and said that "we were very late and I must note that it was the private sector that pushed us to move forward to recognize the importance of the cultural wealth of our country." He noted that the implementation of a series of actions and institutional interventions in culture has begun. The President referred to his government's efforts to upgrade the country's cultural heritage. "In terms of strengthening contemporary artistic creation, we are moving forward with the adoption of specific legislation to recognise and upgrade the status of artists - we are a coun try founded in 1960 and in 2024 we have not established the profession of artists. So, within 2024 we are moving forward with this important development", he noted. Source: Cyprus News Agency