National culture and art

It is good to learn that the mission statement of the National Council for Culture and the Arts is to the effect that it is not going to be elitist. This is as it should be. Culture and the Arts belong to all the people of these islands, not to the chosen few,

The protagonists will naturaly have to be few. The givers are few but the partakers should be all. Not everybody is gifted to contribute actively to the Arts. But writers, artists, musicians should keep in mind that what they produce is meant to be enjoyed, appreciated and admired by the masses.

A writer should not preach to the converted. But his work should be aimed in such a way as to educate and convert the profane to a high cultural level; the aim is to educate the ignorant, to make the man in the street feel that he is part of national culture. That culture belongs, or at least should belong, to him as forming an integral part of the people. Only thus can national culture be enhanced.

As far as culture is concerned there should not be a majority or a minority. When one speaks of culture of a nation, one speaks really of the people forming that nation.

There should not really be persons with different cultural preferences, Or to put it another way, people should not be 'fed' with different cultural preferences,

Comparisons are invariably odious, But once comparisons are made there should be arguments for and against such cultural preferences. Persons who find entertainment exclusively in broad vulgar farces should be educated to appreciate a 'more cultured' form of comedy or drama. By education is not meant schooling because both are different areas of learning. Again, culture is not taught directly in the classroom. Otherwise it tends to become a stiff, artificial subject. Culture grows as it progresses. A culture that does not adapt to the times is as dead as the dodo.

A nation is only respected if its culture is truly 'national' and that it has be developed and enriched by generations throughout the centuries. National culture is common to all strata of society. Culture that is claimed by an elite group as its exclusive property is not truly national. When the Court of the Tsars adopted French as their exclusive language and culture it could not be said to be the Russian nation's language and culture. It became so when the idiom of writers, artists and musicians became quintessentially Russian.

This is why the mission statement of the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts is commendable. The statement provides that all strata of society will be catered for in the programme of activities or policy of the council.

Looking for venues

The Malta Council for Culture and the Arts can only attain its objectives if it starts looking now for venues for exhibitions and the performing arts. It defeats the whole purpose if Valletta is retained exclusively to have a few select venues for cultural events and performances. First, Malta must be divided into regions. Each region is to have its own venues.

Gozo must not be forgotten. Indeed it is ahead of Malta and setting an example by holding festivals that are not confined to a couple of items as happens in Malta. Gozo's festivals are varied. The operas presented in Gozo are on a much larger scale and of a higher artistic standard than those produced in Malta.

It is worthwhile pointing out that the council is aiming at a high standard of performance and of good quality in the participation of sectors and strata of society. Each must support and liaise with the other in their common aim at improvement of levels up to the eventual degree of excellence.

The functions have to be of a standard and relative importance as to persuade commercial and industrial firms to act as sponsors and patrons by being involved in investment.

Both cultural and artistic programmes of events and performances have to raise the level of aesthetics and values. New opportunities must be discovered and made available for youths to be aware of our national culture and be proud contributors to the Arts.

An educational structure must be devised to encourage participation and exercise the creative talents of students. They must be made aware that it is important for them to give their share to the progress of the Arts and to the conservation of our heritage and culture.

It is assumed that the council has to act as guide and monitor rather than be a performer. It has to open wider avenues for cultural and artistic activities of a high level of attainment.

Sustainable relations have to be developed between the commercial community and the cultural and artistic community of our islands.

Awareness of our millennial culture and artistic heritage must be promoted so as to keep both culture and the arts in a continuous state of development and progress.

The council must also strive to 'export' our culture and the arts first around the Mediterranean and ultimately around Europe through exchange visits of artists and academics.

We have to foster among the probable sponsors of industry, commerce and individuals as well as constituted bodies the wish to be involved actively in cultural and artistic events. Government must also help in the sense that while the onus of financing cultural and artistic activities are shouldered by private entities, a rebate on taxation must be made proportionate to the actual investment.