The man who had chaired the committee that monitered Valletta as European Capital for Culture in 2018, Ulrich Fuchs, told The Malta Independent yesterday that he will “certainly not attend any event held by the Valletta 2018 as long as people representing the project destroy European values.”
This newspaper contacted Ulrich Fuchs, the chairman of the V18 monitoring and advisory committee, after The Malta Independent on Sunday revealed that a group of prominent Maltese artists are currently circulating a petition letter to Prime Minister Joseph Muscat asking him to remove Valletta 2018 Chairman Jason Micallef.
This petition letter, which will also be addressed to the Minister for Culture Owen Bonnici and Parliamentary Secretary for Valletta 2018 Deo Debattista, states that local artists are unhappy with Micallef’s behaviour and comments on the murder of assassinated journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, and his frequent comments attacking artists who try to criticise elements of the V18 or disagree with the government. The artists are of the belief that Micallef is no longer fit for purpose and that his behaviour, by default, does not represent the ethos of the European Capital of Culture.
Fuchs told this newsroom that, “unfortunately the selection and monitoring panel of the European Capital of Culture has very small influence after having closed the monitoring process which was the case last year in March for La Valletta 2018.”
“I would appreciate a reaction from the European Commission but this seems difficult,” he added.
Fuchs expressed his view that he would like the other members of the jury to follow him and not attend any V18 events. He said, “I personally took a decision and I hope that many of my fellow panellists will follow. I will certainly not attend any event held by the Valletta 2018 as long as people who are representing the project destroy European values.”
The scornful letter issued by the local artists states: “We, artists, curators and arts managers write to you to express our concern that the legacy of Valletta 2018 as European Capital of Culture is seriously jeopardised by the actions of Mr Jason Micallef, Chairman of the Valletta 2018 Foundation.
“His ongoing derogatory public comments about the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia do not reflect the European objectives and principles of the Capital of Culture initiative. As chairman of Valletta 2018 Foundation, Mr Micallef has been appointed by you to represent a European project, including ourselves, as laid out in European legislation. The role of a chairman of a European Capital of Culture cannot be partisan in attitude and purposely divisive in action.”
The letter goes on to recall how Micallef, on a number of occasions, “used his role as Chairman of the European Capital of Culture to publicly ridicule and attack artists who criticised and satirised those in power. His role as Chairman should be to safeguard this right, not to threaten it. Using artists, culture and Valletta 2018 for political expedience is shocking and outrageous.
“The irresponsible and embarrassing actions of Mr Micallef are causing irreparable damage to the reputation, programme and leadership of Valletta 2018. This is a legacy that the Maltese cultural sector does not need or want. We, the undersigned reiterate the call for Mr Micallef's immediate resignation. “
Apart from the local artists, earlier last week Micallef was slammed for similar behaviour by PEN international writers and 72 MEPs from across political groups. PEN international criticized Micallef in an open letter to European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, European Commission First Vice-President Frans Timmermans, and Director of Creative Europe Michel Magnier.
Since his appointment as Valletta 2018 Chairman Micallef systematically used his Facebook page to spew controversial comments attacking artists, politicians, journalists and activists. Apart from Caruana Galizia herself, Micallef has also attacked members of her family.
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