Valletta 2018 is only the point of departure. Our year as European capital of culture should be a game changer that leaves a lasting legacy.  Over the coming years, we want to reap the benefits of the events being held this year. Valletta must remain a major artistic centre, a catalyst for all forms of arts and culture in the broadest sense. There is a growing appetite among the people. They appreciate culture and want more of it. The attendance of around 110,000 people for the official opening of V18 is testimony to this.

The V18 cultural programme is an invitation for everybody to join and experience something extraordinary with more than 140 projects and 400 events, grouped around three main themes: 'Island Stories', 'Future Baroque' and 'Voyages'. It sees the involvement of about 1000 local and international artists, performers, writers, designers, choirs and film-makers. The cultural programme will not be limited to Valletta; 200 events are being organised in other towns and villages, 30 of them in Gozo. The idea behind this is that all of Malta should benefit from V18 with culture accessible to all.

Culture can be a major agent for change and a thriving economic niche. With more than 48 million euro, V18 is the biggest investment ever in Maltese culture; an investment in the welfare and quality of life of citizens. This investment is bearing fruits, having the culture and creativity industry producing more than 7% of our national wealth. This means that culture gives more to our economy than the construction or agriculture sectors. Today there are about 14,000 people working in this area. It has become the fastest growing sector of the Maltese economy and is creating good quality jobs. This means that, more than ever, our people can look at this sector not merely as a means of entertainment but also as an opportunity for a good career.

In recent years, a lot of structural restoration work has been carried out in Valletta and across the country. Many restoration projects in the city, including the Manoel Theatre, Palazzo Ferreria, Palazzo Verdelin, Palazzo Castellania, and the Cathedral of St. John, were completed. Restoration is fundamental for preserving and passing on our heritage. Moreover, later on this year MUŻA, the national museum of arts, shall be inaugurated within the Auberge d’Italie. The private sector too is realising the potential that all this will bring and has been fast to react. New restaurants, cafes and boutique accommodation are opening every week. All these, along with other initiatives, are helping our capital city to become a more vibrant place, filled with life and activity. V18 will contribute to strengthen networks, open up venues for collaborations, encourage new work to continue, and raise capacity and ambition.

Large scale projects should continue well after the end of 2018. The Government and the Valletta 2018 Foundation are working together to create an agency which will be tasked to guarantee this cultural legacy. This will, in turn, create a culture of sustainability within the respective sectors, such as the tourism and culture industries. The Valletta 2018 Foundation Chairperson, Jason Micallef, suggested that a Capital of Culture exercise should take place nationally every four years. He suggested further that Gozo and Cottonera should be the next to formulate their bids for the European Capital of Culture title in 2031.

I am convinced that V18 will change our capital city and our country for the better for years to come, building on values of high quality, accessibility and innovation. V18 will change the way we think about and consume culture. It will also give a new identity to our capital city and shape future generations’ ideas of art and culture. It will help our country to experience an image renaissance, attracting considerable media attention and enhancing local, national and international perceptions. It will also create a new approach to cultural tourism. Because of our position in the Mediterranean, we already serve as a bridge between Europe and Africa. V18 is an opportunity to strengthen this bridge through cultural diplomacy and by sending a message of peace and celebration.

V18 will broaden the concept of culture by using culture as a driver for learning and a vehicle to improve quality of life, citizens’ engagement, trade, tourism and growth. It will provide input for existing and future policies with new knowledge, paving the way for policy change. It will put culture on the political agenda as a driver for economic growth and well-being.

Culture engages citizens in any number of ways. It brings us together, makes us communicate and share experiences. Culture can be a bridge builder and can motivate new partnerships. It highlights the similarities, unites and facilitates and fosters collaboration; and as such V18 will give our citizens a sense of pride and belonging. The new levels that we will reach together must be maintained and exploited for further development.

 

Alex Muscat is a Labour MP