President of Malta George Vella presided over the annual Gold Medal 2021 Award ceremony, organised by the Malta Society of Arts (MSA), of which he is the patron. The MSA launched the Gold Medal Award in 1896 with the aim of presenting the Gold Medal to various individuals and/or organisations every year in recognition of their contribution to the arts.

This year’s Gold Medal Award was presented to Mariella Pisani Bencini, a well-known author, presenter, and TV producer. Mrs Pisani Bencini’s name is also synonymous with her weekly television programme ‘Meander’, which has been promoting the art and cultural scene in Malta for the past 27 years.

In his speech, the President congratulated Mrs Pisani Bencini on her extensive contribution as well as her career in the media, where for many years she has been “the face of the arts and culture sector”. He also augured that “the work of Mrs Pisani Bencini will be an example and insightful for the much-needed work among our people who continue to educate themselves in the appreciation of art and creativity.