Valletta to come alive to music and arts

The ruins of the old opera theatre and Freedom Square, in Valletta, will provide a backdrop for a mélange of culture and arts as the annual summer arts festival kicks off in just over a month.

A total of 26 events, including theatre, music, dance, recitals, concerts and entertainment along Valletta's streets, will be organised during the month-long festival, organised by the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts.

The festival will kick off on July 28 with a theatrical sketch at Freedom Square, which will be transformed into a garden for the duration of the festival.

Later on, Strait Street and South Street will come alive with street art and performances, busking and jazz. Bars and cafes will remain open until late. On Friday evenings the Valletta Alive Foundation together with the council will organise additional activities in the streets of Valletta to complement the arts festival. Museums will extend their opening hours and restaurants will remain open until after the shows.

Other activities will also be held at the Mediterranean Conference Centre, St James Cavalier, the MITP Theatre's yard and the Valletta Waterfront.

Council executive director Paul Mifsud said attempts were made to come up with activities that are of interest to different people in a bid to make culture and the arts accessible to everyone.

Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech expressed enthusiasm saying the festival would get closer to the people with more activities organised outside and at Valletta's entrance, from where a great number of people pass everyday.

"We want to see Valletta come to life as often as possible in the evenings," he said, adding that culture and art were an important showcase of the country.

He described as an important development the fact that activities were being organised around the harbour. Dr Zammit Dimech said such festivals contribute towards people becoming more conscious of the country's historic and cultural heritage.