The newly architecturally enlarged Tempra Contemporary Art Museum was officially inaugurated on three floors at the Mgarr Local Council earlier this month during the at the opening of the 29th edition of the 2012 Tempra Academy.
The Tempra Academy was created in London, in 1975 and presents, during the year some 50 cultural events namely art exhibitions, lectures, concerts, recitals, poetry readings, film showings, fashion shows and literary evenings. This year the Tempra Academy will be presented in France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and the USA.
The Tempra Contemporary Art Museum holds paintings, sculptures and graphics by 250 artists from 75 nations in the world, illustrating most of the 20th century Art Movements such as Cubism, Abstract Art, Futurism, Metaphysical Art, Constructivism, Suprematism, Surrealism, Essentialism, Action Painting, African Art, Conceptual Art, Arte Povera, Space Painting as well as 21st Century Movements such as Fusionism, a unique privilege for any Modern Art Museum, in the world.
The 2012 Tempra Academy at the Mgarr Council Tempra Museum was inaugurated in the Five Continents Temporary Exhibition Hall and the Concert Hall on the first floor as well as in the Penthouse Hall on the second floor. Many of the participating artists hold works in other eleven 2012 Tempra Academy venues in Malta.
On the opening day, Fr Marius Zerafa O.P., former curator of the National Museums who received the 2011 Gold Medal of the Malta Society of Arts, Manufactures & Commerce, confirmed that the previous attempts to create a Contemporary Art Museum had failed and was delighted with the creation of the Tempra Contemporary Art Museum in Mgarr.
After the presentations a concert was held with the participation of Marie Therese Vassallo conducting her internationally famous Voice Studio, Mro Manuel Pirotta and his University of Malta Junior College Orchestra, A Piano and Vocal recital by pianist Rosanne Busuttil Bellizzi and tenor Bernard Busuttil who received the most extraordinary acclaim at the 2008 Tempra Academy in France at the Centre Culturel Christiane Peugeot.
The extraordinary performance of Gaia Cauchi, the nine-year-old singer from Mgarr whose interpretation of Proud Mary on Rai’s programme Ti Lascio una Canzone entertained the international public who defined her as Malta’s Ambassador for young talent. The no less fascinating Michela Galea, the 14-year-old performer who directs her own musical choir in Mgarr added to the entertainment during the concert. The public applauded in total enchantment to the musical performances while discovering the art works of the 2012 Tempra Academy.
The Tempra Contemporary Art Museum is located at the Mgarr Local Council, opposite the Church. The opening hours are Monday to Friday 8am to 12pm, Monday, Wednesday and Friday 1pm to 2.30pm, Tuesday and Thursday 1pm to 4.30pm, Saturday 8am to 11am.
For more information phone the Mgarr Local Council on 2152 0011; email: Mgarr.lc@ gov.mt. Dame Francoise Tempra can be contacted on 2157 9767, 7901 0140, 9703 1842; email: [email protected]