Education Minister underscores creativity, skills and talent

The Malta School of Art, in Valletta, took the opportunity of an open day yesterday to demonstrate the work of its students over the last academic year and to promote itself among prospective students in view of the next intake.

Education Minister Louis Galea said the government wanted to see more being done by schools to nurture creativity, skill and talent in arts, drama, dance, and music.

He said that through the amendments to the Education Act being discussed in Parliament, the government was emphasising the need that the new college networks will, from an early stage, provide programmes and activities of arts, music, drama and sport and to exploit all possible elements that accrue from such activities for the better development of the skills, talents and the various capabilities of students.

Dr Galea pointed out that as from next September the School of Art, the School of Music and the Drama Centre will be networked into a College of Arts. This college will allow for cross-disciplinary interaction and further development of cross-disciplinary courses.

The network of schools will also provide resources to other colleges and through good networking links should provide support for initiatives and activities in the creative and artistic spheres.

The government also intends to foster further networking between such schools and other artistic and cultural entities such as the National Orchestra, the Manoel Theatre, St James Cavalier as well as with the University of Malta and MCAST. Eventually it is hoped that there will be schools where students will follow the ordinary curriculum with a special focus on music, drama, art or dance, Dr Galea said.

Courses at the School of Art are divided into two groups: fine arts and traditional crafts.

The school also offers a specialised art library service.

The Malta School of Art was established in 1926 in Casa Tessi, now Casa Brunet. Since then it has served as the incubator for nearly all the generations of Maltese artists of the 20th century. Artists who have attended the school of art include Antoine Camilleri, Frank Portelli, Emvin Cremona and Anton Inglott.

Today, the School of Art is coordinated by the Education Division and is run by specialised teachers offering a very wide spectrum of courses.