Persons with disability from 11 Day Centres, operated by Aġenzija Sapport, came together to create an artistic project currently being exhibited at Fort St Elmo in Valletta as part of the exhibition Resilience - Thriving through adversity.
The theme of Resilience was chosen to reflect the strength of service users in facing setbacks such as prejudice, negative stereotypes and discrimination. The service users created these items with the assistance of their support workers. Different media were used, including acrylic and 3D painting on canvas, encaustic art, wood and iron, papier-mache, photography, clay installations and quilling techniques. Work on these items started in June and service users were involved in all the stages, from the decision on the collective theme, buying of material, production and installation of the exhibition. Visitors will also have the opportunity to meet some of the artists during the exhibition. Some of the exhibited items will be on sale.
The Minister for Inclusion, Voluntary Organisations and Consumer Rights Julia Farrugia Portelli expressed how this exihibition is providing a tangible means for persons with disability to convey their art and creativity and reaches both the public in general and tourists that visit this historical site.
During the official opening of the exhibition, Aġenzija Sapport CEO Oliver Scicluna praised the effort and determination of the participating artists. Through the creation of such innovative and creative pieces, the participants emphasised the various abilities albeit a challenging environment of persons with disabilty thus reflecting on the chosen topic of resilience.
The exhibition is being held in collaboration with Heritage Malta and will be open until 3 December between 9am and 4.30pm.
More information from www.sapport.gov.mt