The Parliamentary Committee on the European Capital of Culture met today, and Jason Micallef, V18 Foundation Chairman, said that the major projects are on track and that substantial progress on the cultural programme has been observed.
He said that an international consultant, who was an artistic director in other cities that were culture capitals. "The capital projects, such as the strait street regeneration project, are on schedule. We have seen substantial progress with the cultural programme as well”.
As for infrastructure and parking, he said that this is not the responsibility of the V18 Foundation
He will soon be given another update regarding the Renzo piano project. He said that the plan is for there to be a number of parking spots which, while walking over the bridge entrance to Valletta, wouldn’t be visible. He stressed again that this project does not fall under his remit, however the GHRC does indeed keep him updated. “The GHRC says that the projects will be complete”. Under the bridge, he explained, there would be a garden.
He confirmed that he hopes to open the MUZA, where the MTA is currently situated (Auberge d’Italie), prior to 2018. It is a national-community museum, the first of its kind, being developed in a historic site within the Capital City of Valletta, a UNESCO World Heritage Site built as a city-fortress. It shall be green-powered, generating its energy requirements through renewable sources, and represent a best practice in retro-fitting a Maltese historic building. He said he would have preferred if the MTA found another home sooner in order for interior works to begin, however was quite positive that the deadlines would be reached.
Turning to the Pageant of the Seas, a unique spectacle taking place in the Grand Harbour on 7 June, he said that it will be shown on PBS, adding that the spectacle will again occur in 2018.
As for foreign coverage, he explained that the EU Commission has channels which can show news on Valletta and the spectacles as well given that it will be the European Capital of Culture, he said. During the first opening weeks, there will be events shown on Euronews as well, he said, due to agreements between the Commission and the channel. It is also encouraged for V18 to go for corporate business sponsorships. Work has already begun in this regard.