Ta’ Qali Crafts Village craftsmen and operators are relieved that the long overdue regeneration project has finally begun.
The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2018, Economy Minister Chris Cardona recently announced.
Works have recently started in fields close to the aviation museum. The permits covering this particular area were approved by the PA last week.
The project had remained a contentious issue among operators at Crafts Village, who have pressured the last five administrations to revitalise the area.
The aim of the project is to regenerate and rebrand the area in order to better attract tourists, and allow the village to compete with other such villages around Europe. Minister Cardona previously said that €10 million from the €14 total cost of the project is coming from EU funds, and the other €4 is coming from private enterprise.
Photos James Caruana
The project will see the development of car parks, including areas that are specifically for buses, as well as various green public areas. Additionally, the transformed Crafts Village will be providing master classes in the various types of arts and products created within its boundaries.
The Malta Independent went on site and spoke with a number of craftsmen and operators, all of whom were relieved that the project was finally underway.
Charles Busuttil, a glassblower, has been working in the Crafts Village for over 16 years. He said they had been waiting for the project to start for many, many years. “Finally it started. I expect that, once done, more tourists would frequent the village,” he said, which would result in more work.
Raymond Camilleri a carpenter has been waiting for this project for more than 25 years. “I think it will bring progress. The area needs refurbishment.” He said a lot of money is being spent on the project and expects it will attract more people to the area, not just tourists, but also Maltese.
Sonny Gatt who works with plaster, has worked at the Crafts village for 37 years and has waited for this project for 25 years. “I hope the project would result in the area being attractive for people, as it was a bit abandoned, and that it becomes one of the bigger tourist attractions on the island.” He mentioned that arts and crafts in Malta has been falling a bit behind, and believes a push is needed to attract and interest more people in such work.
In the past, he said, people would come to the Crafts Village curious about how things are made, wanting to see for themselves, however noted that nowadays this is waning. “I feel there needs to be a boost.”
Reuben Schembri who works in Maltese stone and gem stones, has worked at the Crafts Village for 15 years. He hopes the refurbishment and revitalisation will result in more work. He also noted that there are not enough people working in crafts, but believes more would interest themselves once the area is improved and attracts more visitors who would appreciate the crafts.
Mario Borg, a jeweller who also handles filigree, has been at the Crafts Village for 40 years. “They always promised us the project would start, and finally it has.” He mentioned that it will be hard for them to pay for the refurbishment of their shop, “as we are in crafts, but we are looking to the future. The hardest thing is that the majority of us are getting old, and we struggle to find the time to go home and handle the paperwork they are asking of us.” He noted that the area is in need of this project, and that it will be a positive development.
He spoke of the importance of finding more people to go into crafts. In his line of work, he said, more foreigners are interested than Maltese.