The new British Council Offices in Valletta will be open to the public on 10 November 2004. New telephone numbers will be announced in due course.

The British Council seeks to build mutually beneficial relationships between people in the UK and Malta and other countries as well as to increase appreciation of the UK’s creative ideas and achievement through an extensive programme highlighting contemporary UK performers. Recent performances by rap poet Benjamin Zephaniah, gay rights activist Nigel Charnock, and disability artist Matt Fraser have targeted a younger audience who are keen to learn more about what is happening in the UK today.

A programme of arts from Northern Ireland has been a feature of recent activity with Richard Dormer’s Hurricane Higgins performance receiving particular acclaim. The British Council’s arts events in Malta have been eclectic, ranging from celebrating death (This Imaginary Woman by Welsh Theatre group Volcano) to celebrating pub culture (Publife by Protein dance). In addition the British Council also participates in more mainstream events such as the Bir Miftuh festival and others.

The British Council also plays a less widely known support role encouraging UK-Malta collaboration in education and science. Most recent collaborations have included vocational education support, English language teaching support and institutional capacity building and knowledge sharing. A range of education information services are also offered on the internet at: www.britishcouncil.org/malta

The British Council also manages the Chevening scholarship scheme on behalf of the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office. 18 scholarships for Maltese students to study at post-graduate level in the UK were recently allocated for the academic year 2004-2005. A new round of scholarships for the 2005-2006 academic year has recently been announced.

As part of the ceremonies marking the British Council’s anniversary, the British Council has teamed up with the Manoel Theatre to present Chandra Luna, a contemporary dance performance embracing ballet and classical Bharata Natyam Indian dance. The event marks the launch of a British Council programme of activities highlighting the UK’s diversity which will culminate around the Commonwealth Heads Of Government Meeting (CHOGM) which takes place in Malta next year.