Maltese-Australian Cultural Week opens

The Maltese-Australian Cultural Week opened yesterday at St James Cavalier, in Valletta, to mark Australia's National Day today.

The programme of activities has been organised by the Maltese Australian Chamber of Commerce, supported by the Australian High Commission.

Inaugurated by Youth and the Arts Minister Jesmond Mugliett, it includes an Australian film festival, a collective art exhibition, musical and theatrical performances, talks and Australian wine-tasting.

The collective art exhibition in the main hall, atrium, meditation area, terrace hall and keyhole gallery of the centre for creativity is featuring works by both Australian and Maltese artists, including painter Joseph Catania, artist and writer John Grech, costumier Fiona Hopkins, painter Carmen Pizzuto and ceramicist Sandra Scutella.

A selection of recent leading Australian films is being shown at the centre every evening of the week until next Sunday.

They include La Spagnola, Hotel Sorrento, Innocence, Floating Life, The Wog Boy and Rabbit Proof Fence, and are being screened at 7 p.m., with extra screenings at 9 p.m. from Friday to Sunday and 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Tomorrow, John Grech is giving a talk on the Holtermann Rephotographs, which he produced. The photographic exhibition deals with time, change, and social memory in Australia during the 19th and 20th centuries.

At 8 p.m., Albert Marshall's production of Have you heard, have you heard the thunder: Highlights from Australia's literary heritage will come alive with interpretations by Karmen Azzopardi, Margaret Agius, Manuel Cauchi, Jane Marshall, Angela Hopkins and Alexandra Palk.

The evening will round off at 9 p.m. with an Australian wine-tasting, featuring the Brown Brothers label.

On Wednesday at 7 p.m., Albert Storace will present a Chamber Music evening.

On Friday at 7 p.m., Prof. Henry Frendo will deliver a talk on Ethnicity, Culture & Integration: The making of a Maltese Australian Identity, followed by an address by John Grech on Cultural remnants: Fragments of identity articulated by the Maltese migrants of Australia.