The School
Hambis School of Printmaking has been operating in the village of Platanisteia near Limassol since 1995 and all throughout August the school offers free lessons in the memory of the great Greek printmaker, A. Tassos. The school has educated many hundreds of students. It is situated in a small traditional stone-built village on the hills north of Pissouri village, a quarter of an hour’s drive from the seaside. It comprises workshops with two etching presses, exhibition rooms and two gardens with greenery.
The school organises many cultural events every year, such as Documentary and Animation Festivals, theatrical performances, concerts, poetry evenings, lectures, printmaking exhibitions and art exhibitions in general. All exhibitions aim to encourage new creators. The Hellenic Bank is a permanent sponsor of the annual awards given by the school.
Since 2008 visiting professors of printmaking give lessons at the school on various printmaking techniques. During Spring and Autumn special workshops and exhibitions are organised.
The non-profit Company named HAMBIS SCHOOL-MUSEUM OF PRINTMAKING founded in November 2007 is supported by the Ministry of Education and Culture. The school organises educational programmes and operates workshops for students and other interested persons, hosts students and artists from other countries and in general, develops activities in compliance with the aims of the government policy on Culture.
In summer 2008 the school’s premises were converted into a big Centre of Printmaking: Museum featuring the history of printmaking, old prints, printmaking techniques, etching presses, tools, materials, prints from many countries, Cypriot, Greek, Turkish prints. Works of the printmaker Hambis and of students of Hambis School of Printmaking are permanent displays. There also operates a new bigger than the existing one open-air semi-circular theatre hosting various events.
The school of my teacher Hambis is above all a school of life. A school of offer and dedication emanating from the never ending love of Hambis in printmaking and from his ever lasting gratefulness to the exquisite printmaker, Tassos.