What an exciting time for culture in Malta – so many things going on in a matter of a few days!

We kicked off the opening of the first ever maltabiennale.art, showcasing art from around the world. This initiative provides an opportunity for Malta to deliver a platform for all those creatives to express themselves and at the same time be host to new ideas and creative talents from all over the globe.

Fast-forward a few days, and we signed a promise of sale agreement to purchase the premises of Hamrun’s San Gaetano Band Club for €2.8 million, thus securing the future of this important institution which was facing an imminent threat of eviction.

As if this was not enough, the "Muzika Muzika" weekend celebrated the beauty of the Maltese language through music, bringing joy and cultural pride to all who participated.

It was a fantastic week filled with art, music, and cultural celebrations. Let's continue to support our local artists and enjoy the richness of our community's cultural heritage!

Għaqda tal-Mużika San Gejtanu AD 1906

UNESCO has recognised our festa as a universal intangible heritage.  This puts on us more responsibility to make sure that this beautiful cultural expression is not only passed on to generations to come, but goes from strength to strength,

One of the most important players in the Maltese festa are the Musical Societies (Band Clubs) which are found in every community.  They are not only the life and soul of the festa itself, but a culture hub in themselves as well as a musical educational institution as they provide free teaching of music (both practice and theory) to all.

Due to the legal situation relating to the unconstitutionality of pre-1995 rent laws, all those band clubs who operated from generations-old leased premises were risking eviction.  In fact private owners of those premises had started legal proceedings to evict those clubs and this posed a credible and real threat on the future of our festas themselves in the communities which were hit by this ugly situation.

In order words, if the Government had decided to simply sit on a chair and do nothing, that would effectively mean the loss of an important number of leading Band Clubs which, in most cases, have been in operation for as long as well before the pre-war period.

Take for instance the most recent acquisition attempt with regards to the premises of the Għaqda tal-Mużika San Gejtanu.  The Government intervened to enter into a promise of sale to eventually acquire the premises from the hands of the private owners following an investment of over €2.8 million and will be renting back, once the promise of sale matures into a contract, the same building to the Għaqda Muzikali.   Had we decided to sit down and let events unfold, this would have meant that the festa of Ħamrun – one of the most popular in Malta - would have been hit extremely negatively as of course the round the year operations of the club, including the free teaching of music to all.

And that would have meant less culture in our future.

In all the Government has acquired the premises of 5 band clubs and entered into a promise of sale with regards to another 7, thus saving a total of 12 band clubs with an eventual capital outlay of EUR 19 million.

This is a Government which truly believes in the beauty and importance of culture.

Mużika Mużika

For the fourth year running, the Mużika Mużika festival has seen a surge in quality, with top-notch live performances featuring some of Malta's finest talents.

The curtain has closed on another successful edition of the Mużika Mużika festival, which celebrated Maltese music over three days. This year marked the fourth consecutive increase in the festival's caliber, with high-caliber live performances showcasing the talents of some of the island's best artists. During the final evening on Saturday, March 16th, Maxine Pace took home the coveted title with her rendition of "Mhux tal-Aħħar", set to music by Cyprian Cassar and lyrics by Emil Calleja Bayliss. Kantera's performance of "Vjaġġ Sabiħ", with music by Kantera and Micimago and lyrics by Joe Julian Farrugia, secured second place, while Cliff Zammit Stevens' rendition of "Fil-Qrib", set to music by Philip Vella and lyrics by Joe Julian Farrugia, clinched third place. Additionally, Aurelio Belli was recognized for Best Musical Arrangement for "3 Ta’ Ġunju 2021," and GIADA for Best Interpretation of "Imħabba Vera".

We have therefore enjoyed three days celebrating Maltese music, and once again, most of the population was left enchanted. This year's festival has reached new heights, providing a platform for local talent to beautifully interpret songs in the Maltese language. Congratulations to all those involved in the fourth edition of Mużika Mużika, and heartfelt thanks to the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra and its conductors for their musical arrangements, as well as to all the singers and the entire team behind the scenes. Our gratitude extends to all who participated in this unforgettable event, including composers, authors, and technicians. Let's continue to foster a love for Maltese music within us all.

I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to the entire Festivals Malta team, under the leadership of Chairperson Aaron Zahra and CEO Frans Agius. Mr Ray Bugeja, the Chairperson of the Festivals, has once again rose to the occasion and co-ordinated brilliantly what needed to be co-ordinated with the help f the respective committee members.  Once again, the Festivals Malta team has exceeded all expectations in terms of production quality, incorporating the latest technology in technical elements and festival coordination, ensuring the seamless success of Mużika Mużika.

As a Government, we remain committed to raising the standard of the events we produce, striving for continuous improvement year after year. We eagerly anticipate the commencement of work on the next edition of the festival, marking its fifth year, and reaffirm our dedication to celebrating the Maltese language, Maltese music and Maltese talent through Mużika Mużika.

Maltabiennale.art 2024

I had the honour to open a total of seven pavilions as part of maltabiennale.art 2024, including our own Maltese pavillion. These pavilions, apart from our pavillion, represent Spain, Italy, Austria, Poland, China, and the Pavilion of the Lugisland of Art Foundation.

I would like to thank the respective Ambassadors (in the case of Lugisland of Art, the owners of the Foundation) as well as the curators and the respective team for believing so much in what we as hosts had to offer.  Of course a huge thanks is due to all the people at Heritage Malta for working around the clock to deliver a beautiful first biennale.

Maltabiennale.art serves as a significant platform for both local and international artists and curators to express themselves from various perspectives. Through exhibitions, installations, and discussions, the Biennale showcases the richness of global art and fosters better dialogue between artists and diverse communities, with a focus on the Mediterranean.

These events symbolize a celebration of cultural connection and exploration, promoting dialogue through artistic expression as well promoting Malta as a place where important dialogues happen through art. I would like to emphasise the strong opportunity that art and culture provide to convey messages: if a picture says a thousand words, imagine what a whole biennale does!

I would like to give some information about these pavallions:

Spain – "No man is an island", located at Villa Portelli in Kalkara, explores the concept of identity in pluralistic dimensions, emphasizing cultural encounters and exchanges as fundamental aspects. Curated by Angel Moya Garcia, the pavilion offers an immersive experience challenging visitors to reflect on art and society through the artistic work of Avelino Sala.

Poland – The Polish pavilion at Villa Portelli offers an immersive experience curated by Krzysztof Stanisławski. Artists Ryszard Grzyb, Zdzisław Nitka, Krzysztof Skarbek, Zbigniew Maciej Dowgiałło, and Piotr Dumała showcase contemporary Polish art while reflecting on historical archives. Through reinterpretations of biblical narratives and the exploration of artistic techniques, the pavilion provides a dynamic representation of Polish culture and heritage.

Austria – Curated by Carl Aigner at Fort St. Elmo in Valletta, the Austrian pavilion offers a transformative experience. "Humanity's Spectrum" features terracotta figures representing various aspects of human existence, while "Scapegoating through time" explores historical victimization. Christian Gmeiner's artistic work serves as a center symbolizing hope and empathy.

Italy – Eugenio Tibaldi's installation, "Informal Inclusion", challenges conventional narratives by emphasizing open spaces and untold stories at Villa Portelli in Kalkara. Curated by Francesca Guerisoli and Nicolas Martino, the exhibition sheds light on the complexities of inclusion and colonial ties while encouraging visitors to rethink historical perspectives and engage with contemporary issues.

China – Curated by YAN Weixin, the exhibition at Fort St. Elmo explores the intersections of words and portraits, inviting visitors to rediscover buried memories and create shared cultural experiences. Artists like YAN Shanchun contribute to this exploration by intertwining history, spirituality, and artistic expression.

Open stands at the Lugisland of Art, Omenaart Foundation, under the theme "Space & time", curated by renowned Slovak designer Boris Kudlička. This exhibition features works by established Maltese and Polish artists, including site-specific installations with historical references, alongside a careful selection of works from important collections and significant sensibilities.

Our beautiful archipelago of Maltese islands offers so much! Let us keep pushing hard for more culture in our life and in our future!