The Old Opera House ruins and Freedom Square are being transformed into a centre of artistic activity for the Malta Arts Festival – Summer 2006. For the three-week long celebration of the arts, the two areas will be attracting lovers of art, music, dance, theatre and literature.
Designed by architect Adrian Mamo and designer Daniel Mercieca, the location will be transformed to create opportunities for interaction and dialogue with the artists. In line with the festival’s aim to offer “art for all”, the general public will have the opportunity of making a unique “artistic experience”.
Describing the festive atmosphere being created, Adrian Mamo said that one will be able to walk around a sculpture garden in Freedom Square, where over 30 artistic works are on display. This surrounds a small performance area where various activities, such as short plays, literary readings and mini-concerts, will be held. Here too, free live modelling sessions in clay will be held every weekend for the public to participate. To add to the charm of the area, children will have the thrill of climbing up a four-metre high Magic Tree and catch a festival butterfly from the tree-top.
“Patrons attending the main events of the Malta Arts Festival at the Old Opera House ruins will re-trace the steps made by patrons of the Royal Opera House in the first half of last century. Entrance to the venue will involve a climb up the re-modelled original staircase on Republic Street leading to the elevated outside foyer of the Opera House, which overlooks Republic Street. From here, one will enter the open-air theatre through the doors of a “reconstructed” image of part of the Opera House façade and walk down the central axis, looking down at the performance area sited on the spot of the original Opera House stage. This should prove a novelty experience for all,” continued Mr Mamo.
“The Malta Council for Culture and the Arts works at bringing visual arts and cultural activities closer to the public. Freedom Square and the Old Opera House site just next to City Gate are the ideal prime location for an Arts Festival. Both spaces have been purposely designed to enliven the area and engage passers-by,” said executive director of the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts, Dr Paul V Mifsud.
The Malta Arts Festival – Summer 2006, organised by the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts in collaboration with the Tourism and Culture Ministry, will kick off today and runs till 20 August with daily performances and cultural activities. The festival is supported by HSBC Bank Malta plc, the Valletta local council, Bank of Valletta plc, and The Westin Dragonara Resort.
Tickets are available from Malta Arts Festival Information Stand, Freedom Square, Valletta. As from today, the opening hours will be: weekdays 8. 30am to 1pm and 5pm to 9. 30pm, and weekends from 10am to 1pm and 5pm to 9. 30pm. One may also call on the Malta Arts Festival hotline 9999-0145. www. maltaculture. com