Europe, Performing Arts, Raising Awareness, Interethnic Dialogue
The Buffer Fringe Performing Arts Festival (BFPAF) is a cultural event organised by Home for Cooperation, based in Cyprus. Its primary goal is to bridge the gap between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots by creating opportunities for artistic expression, cultural exchange, and dialogue. The festival aims to challenge preconceived notions, stereotypes, and biases by bringing people from different backgrounds, including international artists, together through arts.
Intensive report on BFPAF 2020 done by Brandeis University could be read here.
Due to the division of Cyprus, which dates back to the mid-20th century, the city of Nicosia is physically divided into two parts: the southern part, controlled by the internationally recognised government of Cyprus and inhabited primarily by Greek Cypriots, and the northern part, controlled by the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, recognised only by Turkey and inhabited mainly by Turkish Cypriots.
The division is symbolised by the Green Line, a United Nations-controlled buffer zone that runs through the city, separating the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities. It has persisted for decades, despite numerous attempts to find a peaceful resolution to reunify the island. The difficulties in maintaining meaningful contact and communication among two communities hinder efforts to address issues of mutual concern, and further heighten frictions in an increasingly militarised region. This is backed by the organisation's difficulties in having to comply with different regulations and policies, as well as being attentive to sensitivities and narratives across the divide and around the buffer zone.
Community needs-based approach focuses on actual issues communities are facing and includes local expertise in developing solutions for reconnection and dialogue
Diverse arts practices gather a variety of participants from different ethnic groups which allow for cross-border participation regardless of political challenges
By providing opportunities for people to learn about each other's cultures and histories, Buffer Fringe Festival has contributed to increased understanding and empathy between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. Its events provide safe spaces for individuals from both communities to interact, share experiences, and build relationships. At the same time it overcomes a lot of barriers, such as the language barrier: by using English or expression of ideas, which are in other ways hard to express, through dance, mimics, music etc.
By participating or just visiting festivals, people who have never crossed the border before, have done it for the first time, or they meet someone from other communities for the first time. This inevitably results in some degree of humanisation of “the other”, an essential first step in building peace.
I think that's the major contribution of Buffer Fringe, that it introduces this humanising element to the topics that seem abstract or too complex to talk about.
