The works on the first International Contemporary Art Space in Malta (MICAS) have reached their final stages and will be inaugurated in October of this year, a government statement read.
More than twelve acres in Floriana will be returned to the public through art, it said.
During a visit to the site along with several artists and representatives from the agency managing MICAS and the Department of Restoration and Preservation, Culture Minister Owen Bonnici said that the entire complex is being developed with a total expenditure of €30 million, part of which - €8.2 million - comes from European funds.
He stated that the complex will consist of the Gallery Space, which will span four levels and cover an area of 4,000 square meters, as well as spaces for artists, gardens, public areas, a restaurant, and administrative offices, blending contemporary aspects in the context of historic military fortifications.
The aim of the complex is to offer spaces for contemporary art exhibitions and installations, both for locals and for foreigners who visit, placing the country on the world map as a destination for those who want to enjoy the beauty of contemporary art.
Another electoral promise, Bonnici said that apart from the regeneration of the fortifications, the site will also have a green area to be enjoyed by families and visitors.
“Government has always believed that Malta deserves to be a protagonist in contemporary artistic exhibitions and cultural dialogues of the highest international level,” Bonnici said, adding that he looked forward to seeing the site transform into a creative space with unique architecture, serving as a platform for the future development of the creative industry,
Chairperson of MICAS Phyllis Muscat thanked the MICAS board members for advancing this project for the contemporary art museum.
“The works to transform the San Salvatore Counterguard into MICAS's outdoor galleries and the Sculpture Garden have progressed steadily despite external challenges,” she said.
Work is also ongoing to establish MICAS as a dynamic international platform for contemporary art, which has been done even as the country’s international artistic program was developed with educational conferences and annual art weekends, Muscat said.