The Birkirkara Visual Art Group (BVAG), an official NGO, was founded in January 2010 with the intent of bringing together all artists practising the visual arts to meet, share experiences and discuss their profession and hobbies as well as to promote the importance of art and culture. The BVAG is also concerned with helping to improve the local talent as well as to raise awareness and appreciation of the treasures of our beautiful island.
The group, which is under the patronage of the Birkirkara local council, holds its meetings at the council’s premises and the group also features in the Council’s newsletters and website.
The group had been initially aimed at Birkirkara artists but although it attracted a good number of members, it was later decided to extend the membership to any prospective art lover and artist.
Every month the committee organises cultural tours such as visits to the Verdala Palace, the Inquisitor’s Palace as well as visits to the studios of renowned artists. On a regular basis, workshops are organised for the members to present their works.
Each year the group organises an exhibition in aid of the Dominican missions in Albania where members exhibit their works and a percentage of the proceeds is donated to the missions. In previous exhibitions renowned guest artists were asked to take part and in the first exhibition John Martin Borg was the guest of honour whereas last year it was the turn of Anton Calleja. This year Jessica Debattista kindly accepted the invitation and, as in previous years, will be delivering a lecture/PowerPoint presentation of her work at the Dominican Convent’s Radju Marija Auditorium Hall on Saturday, 11 November at 7.30pm. All members and prospective members are invited to attend.
The exhibition Art Aid ghall-Missjoni 2013 will be officially inaugurated on Friday, 8 November and will be open for viewing from Saturday, 9 to Sunday, 16 November from 9.30am to 12.30pm and from 4.30 to 7.30pm at the Dominican Convent in Rabat.
In the previous two events the group donated €5,000 to the missions and they hope that this year will also be a success so as to continue in their aim of helping others through art.
For any further information send an email to: [email protected]