The city of Limassol has had the honour of hosting the Art Explora Festival a pioneering, traveling exhibition sailing across the Mediterranean, offering a unique cultural and artistic experience, for free and open to all members of the public. Under the auspices of this cultural event, the Limassol Marina proudly welcomed the impressive catamaran Art Explorer, the world’s first floating museum and largest sail powered catamaran ever built, measuring in at 47 meters in length.

Among the supporters of the Art Explora Foundation are the Louvre Museum, UNESCO, and the European Union’s Culture Office. This initiative brings art and culture closer to people in innovative and alternative spaces and spans 15 Mediterranean countries.

From October 25th to November 4th, the museum-ship was docked at Limassol Marina, hosting two captivating onboard experiences; an immersive sound exhibit highlighting the richness and diversity of the Mediterranean, and a journey through time and space where participants were given a glimpse at life in the ancient cities of Alexandria, Athens and Venice thanks to the Mediterranean Wonders virtual reality series. During its voyage, Art Explorer visited several countries including Malta, Italy, France, Morocco, Spain, and Greece, with Cyprus being the last port of call for the floating museum for 2025.

The selection of Limassol as one of the select few hosts of the world’s first museum-ship was the result of three years of intensive preparation and collaboration. The festival succeeded in attracting thousands of visitors in just ten days and reaffirms the city’s status as an international cultural destination.

This collaboration seamlessly combined art, culture, and creativity, bringing together artists, curators, and cultural organisations. The Art Explora Festival is a groundbreaking cultural initiative, offering immersive artistic and cultural experiences, fostering interaction with the public, and creating a truly unique celebration of creativity, inspiration, and cultural dialogue.

The Art Explora Festival program in Cyprus was curated by The Island Club, a non-profit exhibition space based in Limassol and founded in 2017. As a member of the Art Explora Foundation’s artistic team, The Island Club played a pivotal role in bringing the festival to Cyprus and contributed decisively to the realisation and artistic curation of the program.

For more information, please visit the Art Explora Festival website or our Facebook page and Instagram account.