Valletta is going to be Europe’s Capital of Culture in 2018. Many are looking forward to the celebrations and activities, and rightly so. But it is not just about the year 2018. When people look back in 20 years time, they will not be thinking “can you remember 2018, when Valletta was Europe’s Capital of Culture?”

In other words, very simply, people will not care a hoot... not 20 years down the line and beyond anyway. We should celebrate the year with pomp and fanfare that has not been seen since the days of the Knights of St John and odd occasions of the Queen’s Jubilee, Independence, Republic Day and Freedom Day.  Valletta is slowly but surely coming alive, especially in the gritty and grotty backstreets that have a unique charm to them in a new world of industrial art and entertainment. 2018 and the build up to it will serve to push it further. But, at the end of the day, what we should be looking at is leaving a legacy.

The people who are living through these years are living through what is quite possibly the toughest time in post WWII history. We have not been affected that badly, but the bubble has burst and we are having to be very careful with the purse strings. The funding that has been obtained from Europe and the funds that are injected by government should go towards celebrating Malta and our culture. But we should do more. Coupled with the City Gate Project, a chunk of the funds should go towards creating something. We need to leave something behind for posterity. Valletta is a gem of baroque art, but it is also the neglected and abandoned orphan of WWII. That has, as we have already said, given it some of its charm. But the government really ought to think of some capital projects that can give the Capital the boost it needs.

But a decision needs to be made. The projects could range from anything from a biosphere project, to a new concert and music venue. But perhaps, the funds could be spent in other ways. What if we regenerated every inch of Valletta? What if we brought a good amount of the Capital City back to its former glory through restoration? What if we set some grotty houses aside to become industrial bars, which are very popular throughout the world. What if we spent money on Strait Street, leaving it in the unique desolate state its in, but at the same time providing incentives for pop up bars and restaurants? What if we actually fed Valletta the same recipe that kept it vibrant during the years of the Knights – in terms of keeping it lovely and glossy on the outside but decrepit, yet raucous in its back streets and alleyways? The possibility is endless, but one thing is certain, we should not spend on events alone. Valletta needs a modern legacy.