On Saturday, Maltese artists and craftsmen will be putting their skills to work in different parts of Valletta as part of Notte Bianca – Lejl Imdawwal.

From 6pm onwards, a group of students from the School of Arts will get together to present Artists Alive.

They will be drawing and painting from a live model at the Vee Gee Bee Art Gallery in Republic Street.

Just across the road, there will be artists on the steps of the Royal Opera House ruins who will be painting and sketching the beautiful historical buildings and surroundings of Valletta.

Artists Alive is organised by The Malta Society of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce and the Vee Gee Bee Art Gallery.

Set up in 1852, the Malta Society of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce is run by a council of volunteers which oversees the running of various classes in art, crafts and music.

It also acts as agent for the London College of Music and organises the college’s examinations.

The society also organises various cultural events and competitions, such as The Silver Palette, The National Art Competition and The Young Musicians’ Competition.

Visitors to the Vee Gee Bee Art Gallery will also be able to admire a collective exhibition featuring works by Maltese artists, namely John Martin Borg, Winston Hassal, Marco Archidiacono and Ruth Schembri.

During the same time, at the Lower Barrakka Gardens a group of traditional crafts-makers will be demonstrating the art of Maltese crafts-making, with the kind collaboration of the Malta Crafts Council.