Prison inmates donate paintings for charity

President Eddie Fenech Adami yesterday launched an exhibition of more than 80 paintings and sculptures which Maltese artists have donated for this year's L-Istrina auction.

Besides the fund-raising marathon, during which people donate cash for charity, each year the organisers hold an auction of paintings donated by Maltese artists with all the proceeds going towards the same cause.

Three inmates at the Corradino Correctional Facility have donated their work to L-Istrina. Four works in the exhibition were mouth-painted by Michael Vassallo.

The paintings and sculptures, currently exhibited in the courtyard of the Presidential Palace, in Valletta, will be auctioned on December 19. This time round, people may also place a bid on the internet since the auction will be online on www.istrina.org

Dr Fenech Adami thanked all the artists who donated works as a sign of solidarity. "The sentiment of brotherhood is still strong among the Maltese," the President said, expressing his wish that L-Istrina would gain public support this year again.

L-Istrina front man Peppi Azzopardi said more than Lm20,000 were raised at last year's auction.

PBS chief executive officer Andrew Psaila said half the proceeds from the auction will go to the Malta Community Chest Fund. The rest will be distributed to the Malta Cancer Foundation, Dar il-Kaptan, Arka Foundation, the Richmond Foundation, the Eden Foundation, Equal Partners, Oasi, the Little Sisters of the Poor, the Salesians of Don Bosco, Reaching Out and the Jesuit Refugee Service. The SPCA, the animal organisation, will also benefit.