A group of artists, currently collaborating to present a bid for the title of European Capital of Culture in 2031, will present a day-long programme of performative and participatory work at the old Searchlight Position (often referred to as the Għargħur Battery) at Top of the World.

Artists visiting the site to explore its potential. Photo courtesy Farfara 2031

Taking place on 7 June, the programme will include workshops and readings, as well as a temporary library of non-European fiction. Many of the works will be participatory, allowing the audience to immerse themselves in the artist's works. As evening falls, sound and technology will also play a part, with film-screenings and interactive works.

An artist intervention, drawing inspiration from the birds that have nested in the building: Redent Camilleri | Blokka Flats. Photo courtesy Farfara 2031 and the artist.

The artists - numbering about 25 - have come together to create a collaborative and curatorial experiment, using the fictional island of Farfara that appeared sporadically on 17th century maps of the Maltese archipelago. Designed as an artistic experimental platform Farfara2031 aims to push the boundaries in thinking, practising and experiencing how collaboration and co-creation can be developed.

An artist intervention, reacting to the site’s use for surveillance, and the beautiful view afforded from the site: Amparo Alonso Sanz | Current Surveillance Spots. Photo courtesy Farfara 2031 and the artist.

Top of the World is a place that looks out to sea, and for several centuries was used to surveil the land, sea and shoreline beneath it. The event explores the intangible nature of the island of Farfara; a place that has come to exist only when a group of people meet in its name, but which quickly melts away again as they disperse. Farfara will be something fluid, which we witness changing there and then, and which we influence but which also influences us.

An artist intervention reacting to the intense change taking place in our local environment: Maria Borg | Human and Nonhuman. Photo courtesy Farfara 2031 and the artist.

Participating artists are  Mohamed Ali "Dali" Aguerbi, Amparo Alonso Sanz, Bobb Attard, Amanda Bartolo, Elise Billiard Pisani, Maria Borg, Joey Borg, Daniela Buhagiar, Josephine Burden, Florinda Camilleri, Redent Camilleri, Aidan Celeste, Yanika Ciantar, Katel Delia, Ryan Falzon, Alberto Favaro, John Grech, Marcia Grima, Bettina Hutschek, Tom Van Malderen, Caldon Merceica, Beatrice Portelli, Pierre Portelli, Margerita Pulè, Cyril Sancereau, Philip Taliana, Raphael Vella, Isaac Warrington, Karsten Xuereb, Manuela Zammit, Astrid Zammit Meli.

Top of the World takes place from 2pm - 10pm on 7 June in Top of the World, just outside the small village of Għargħur in Malta. Thanks to the Salesians of Don Bosco for their support.

The full programme is here: https://www.farfara2031.eu/events