Artists descend on Bugibba for annual festival

Over the next weekend Bugibba will play host to a number of Maltese artists performing along the promenade.

Held for the second year running, the Bugibba Arts Festival aims to promote authentic Maltese talent in various spheres, including arts, crafts, artisan skills, music, drama and dance.

Artists will take to the promenade to woo people with their performances. Maltese folk music, African song and dance and Latin American and Peruvian music will be performed alongside popular bands Winter Moods and Kudos Kin, which won the Battle of the Bands, a local band competition.

The Pauleen Dance School will be performing Let's Dance and Dance to Your Heart will be presented by Dance 2000.

The festival will close on Sunday evening with a jazz concert by The Big Band.

Although organised by the Malta Tourism Authority and the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association, the festival is not solely aimed at tourists but also at the Maltese people.

Among the activities will be a re-enactment of St Paul's shipwreck on Friday and on the last day of the festival. The Wignacourt Tower, "guarded" by actors, will be open to the public on Saturday and Sunday between 6 -10.30 p.m.

Although most of the activities are being held along the Bugibba promenade, art exhibitions will be mounted at the Dolmen Resort Hotel, the Primera Hotel, the Topaz Hotel and the Suncrest Hotel.

Festival coordinator Joe Quattromani described the programme as "interesting", not only for tourists but also for the Maltese people.