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 attract lovers of art, music, dance, theatre and literature.

Planned 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 having 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 in. 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 going up the re-modelled original staircase on Republic Street leading to the elevated outside foyer of the Opera House that overlooks Republic Street. From here one enters 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 where the original stage used to be.