We say in today’s issue that “More than 16,500 people attended the approximately 140 performances presented as part of the second edition of the ZiguZajg Arts Festival for Children and Young People, of which 4,500 were schoolchildren who attended the morning performances. The festival, which was organised by St. James Cavalier Centre for Creativity, was held between the 19th and 25th of November in eight venues throughout Valletta, as well as in Gozo.”

The adults who even attended one small part of these events, such as the parade in Valletta Sunday week, can attest at the sheer exuberance and involvement of the young people.

Preparations started in the schools where the children themselves came up with papier-mache images of mostly fish and other sea-creatures, real or imaginary, which they carried with them as a sort of half-way between Carnival and the processions, both very popular in Malta.

But it was the dancing by so many young people in Great Siege Square, to the beat of pulsating music that really woke people up and created an infectious warmth and joy in a Valletta otherwise somnolent and empty.

That was no performance put on by dispirited students doing what they are told to do by the school: the young people entered into the spirit of things and danced away much to their heart’s content.

Of course, the entire festival was far more than the Sunday afternoon march through Valletta. It involved children in many events.

In the words of Festival Art Director Toni Attard: “Our aim was to achieve an enriching, diverse and enjoyable festival experience for all. We’re thrilled with the public’s response to the productions we proposed and the atmosphere generated in Valletta throughout the week of the festival. The presence of schoolchildren for the morning programmes was also very encouraging and we look forward to greater collaboration with schools and teachers for future editions. We believe that children and young people deserve the best cultural experiences, and together with other public cultural organisations, artists, the media and our generous sponsors we promise to deliver another great festival in 2013”.

Just a few weeks ago, on the eve of Notte Bianca, a similar and parallel event was held, Science in the City, organized by the university. It was a first attempt and it was not really advertised but it brought once again together students engaged in doing something that was novel and linked to learning at the same time.

Such events are welcome for they at least get the children out of the classrooms and engage them in fun activities that are also linked to learning. Leaning and studying do not have to be boring activities and swotting on books and on homework may not be the best way to attract children to more learning.

Besides, such activities are very valuable test-case preparations for 2018 when Valletta will be the capital city of culture along with a yet to be chosen Dutch city.

In this regard, it may be instructive to recall what the three Dutch cities that have been shortlisted have stated as regard their aims.

The Dutch cities of Eindhoven, Leeuwarden and Maastricht were given the green light to proceed with their bids to the final selection stage. They were shortlisted from a list of 5 cities which were competing. The final selection stage is planned to take place within nine months.

Eindhoven is offering the city and the region as a complete biotope, 'a mosaic metropolis' as an ideal testing ground for the future network city. At the core of the city’s strategy lies a concept whereby international multidisciplinary teams collaborate on art and culture, with the public and experts acting as co-creators. This concept is being likened to a garden for experimentation. By embedding art and culture more deeply in thought processes and actions, the city seeks to build the capacity in its inhabitants to design their own future. Eindhoven will seek to strengthen the art and cultural infrastructure in society and develop a method to work on a positive future for Europe. This will be used to foster the network city, connect people and practice the art of living together.

Leeuwarden seeks to promote the city and the surrounding province as an attractive living, working and studying area. The key is art and culture, and the mobilization of people. Leeuwarden claims participating in the competition for the Cultural Capital helps citizens, businesses, cultural institutions and directors to work together. The city sees the years leading up to 2018 as important as the EcoC year itself.

Maastricht seeks to demonstrate how cohesion between cultures can become a source of inspiration through the title of European Capital of Culture in 2018. Maastricht wishes to become an international knowledge centre, a residential city with a focus on culture. Using the strength and the sense of innovation that results from a designation as Capital of Culture, Maastricht and the Meuse-Rhine Euroregion will be highlighted in a new way: as a quality region, a leading region, a many-sided region that stands out. Maastricht believes its capital of culture year would help the city and region to become more sustainable from an economic point of view and to increase the quality of life.