Cyprus Museum of
Natural History
Carlsberg Cyprus

Within the framework of its long and versatile, social and cultural contributions and on the occasion of the celebrations, in 1994, for the 25th Anniversary of the Carlsberg Brewery in Cyprus, Photos Photiades Group of Companies and Cyprus Carlsberg have established, in 1994, the «Photos Photiades Foundation», a Charity, Scientific and Cultural Institution.  The year 1994 had marked also 52 years from the establishment, in 1942, of Photos Photiades & Co. Ltd., the Mother Company of the Group, and 102 years from the commencement, in 1892, of their Ancestors multisided Enterprises «Hajicoumis Photiou · Photiades» father of Dr. Photos Ja. Photiades, founder of the Group.

An initial amount of one million Cyprus pounds was granted to the Foundation by Photos Photiades Group of Companies.

One of Photos Photiades Foundation£s first projects, in their long list, was the establishment, in 1996, of the Cyprus Museum of Natural History, in a specially designed building located within the beautiful gardens of the Carlsberg Brewery, on the outskirts of Nicosia.

The Museum was inaugurated by the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr. Glafkos Clerides, on the 29th May 1996.

The Cyprus Museum of Natural History has been classified by specialists, as well as by its innumerous visitors, both local and foreign, as a superb museum of its kind in every way and a project of great significance for the cultural life of Cyprus. The founders ambition for this museum is to render itself one day, the most important museum of Natural history in the eastern Mediterranean. It has already been decided that the Museum will be expanded shortly into the adjacent spacious buildings, after they become available, soon as the new extensions of the Brewery, for renovation and increase of its production capacity, are compleded.

The Photos Photiades Foundation plans to build, in the near future an Amphitheater in Nicosia for public cultural use. To be used for state functions as well as for the use of charitable organizations in the private sector, for theatrical, cultural and athletic activities.

In the long-term the Foundation plans to set up an Aquarium and in the distant future a Zoo.

In the meantime the Foundation continues the Group's tradition of participating and generously contributing to various social activities. Photos Photiades Group's public gestures include numerous scholarships, grants to charity, culture, education, athletics and other fields.  Also it contributes to the expansion of the green by sponsoring yearly competitions among the villages as to which one has expanded the green most, kept the area cleaner than all the others and protected the environment best, during the year, thus encouraging planting of more trees and protecting the environment.  For the protection of the environment the Photos Photiades Group of Companies has been officially prized by the State, with the «Protection of the Environment Award».

Other cultural contributions of the Group and the Foundation: Restoration of the Hatzigeorgakis Cornesios Mansion in Old Nicosia, a Monument erected in memory of our National Singer Sofia Vembo, unique in the world, erection of the bust of the late famous intellect and author Pavlos Xioutas, the bust of the National Cinema Star of Greece, Aliki Vougiouklaki, one in Athens and another one in Cyprus, erection of the bust of the great teacher, historian and writer Nearchos Clerides at Agros etc. The Foundation also contributes to the publishing of various books of famous authors.

The Foundation and its founders take initiatives for the promotion of the national economy and the cause of Cyprus internationally, as well as initiatives towards the promotion of Cyprus accession in the European Union as a solution of its political problem.

The above are some of the gestures «Photos Photiades Foundation» has been called upon to accomplish by continuing the tradition in the field inherited from the Photos Photiades Group of Companies.


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