A total sum of €400,275 has been spent by government authorities to promote the first edition of Malta Biennale via events, advertising, the invitation of three journalists, and the event’s launch night.
Information tabled in Parliament shows that a total of €324,713 was spent by government to promote this Heritage Malta initiative through events and advertising.
From this amount, €100,000 was paid for by the Ministry for Tourism and the remaining €224,713 came from the Malta Tourism Authority on the basis of “support and promotion.”
Parliamentary questions (PQs) asked and answered last week showed that Malta Biennale’s launch night had cost €72,383 excluding VAT.
The remaining €3,179 were spent on inviting three journalists into the Maltese islands for this cultural event; €748 were spent on one journalist for their flights to and from the Maltese islands, another €928 were used to pay for another’s flight back home, and €1,503 were used to pay for another journalist’s accommodation during their stay.
Other journalists were also invited to attend Malta Biennale, though their costs were not provided since their expenses were either paid for by their employers or were revisited.
This information amalgamates data collected from three separate PQs – all of which were asked by the Nationalist MP Julie Zahra. Two of these individual questions were directed towards Culture Minister Owen Bonnici while the most recent one was asked to Tourism Minister Clayton Bartolo.
The first edition of Malta Biennale took place earlier this year between 13 March and 31 May; it was marketed as a “celebration of art, heritage, and creativity.”
Back on 13 April, Zahra had stated that the government failed to transparently communicate and consult with artists on Malta Biennale 2024.
She had also said that with an allocated budget of €1.7 million, “funds could be better used to support artists and others in the sector.” As a reaction to this statement, the Ministry for National Heritage had responded by expressing its disappointment that “the Opposition has come out so strongly against a cultural event that places the country on the international cultural calendar.