Art at Mater Dei Hospital (2)

Some days ago it was reported that the Foundation for Medical Services (read The Government) reached agreement with MCAST to the tune of Lm45,000 for the production of 615 "artistic works" for hanging, erecting, installing and spreading all over the new Mater Day Hospital. It appears that after Smart City we are now creating Art City.

I have always thought that art (nowadays a very abused word) was produced by artists (another much abused word) and while on the face of it this appears to be a fine gesture towards these lucky students and their lecturers, it is in my opinion a slap in the face of all established and true artists who have striven all their life to attain standards which have made this nation proud. To the powers that be however, these artists are only there to be asked to donate works for every charity auction or political party function of which we have myriad.

I ask, why only MCAST, are there no other worthy art schools? What sort of "art" are we getting? Is it going to be vetted or judged, is it going to be good art, bad art, just art or are we going to follow the current trend where everything is art? Is this going to be the same "art" that we have filled our roundabouts with?

One reason cited for this art at the hospital was that art heals. I am no physician and surely some art can heal but some art can depress. Is this art going to be vetted by a medical board as well as an artistic board? Is this going to be some more waste of taxpayers' money? Or is it a handout to MCAST? It has also been described as a wise investment. At Lm73.17c (€171) apiece it certainly is cheap. I think some explanations are in order.