Creativity centre reaching out to local councils

St James Cavalier Centre for Creativity in Valletta will over the next year be trying to create a bridge with the community through local councils.

"We are going to make a concerted effort to see how we can help the community grow creatively, working with local councils who want to work with us. We want to help them to better exploit the potential of their community," chairman Michael Fenech told a press conference.

Another two goals for St James will be the creation of a mobility fund to help artists reach their goals abroad and to create a more international profile for the centre.

"We are asking for sponsors to come forward and help us create a mobility fund for artists. This would allow artists, particularly young artists, to gain greater exposure to what is happening in Europe and to exchange their talent and creativity with their European partners.

"On the international front, St James is once more seeking friends in international waters. I am happy to announce that St James will be participating in a two-year Culture 2000 project led by the world famous Cittadellarte - Fondazione Pistoletto. This will allow Maltese artists in the visual field to exchange experiences with artists from all over Europe."

Mr Fenech said that six artists will be travelling to spend six weeks at the Virginia Centre for Creative Arts as part of St James's exchange programme with that American centre.

With regard to the new season's programme, a number of "exciting initiatives" are in the pipeline.

"In the visual arts we started off with a bang thanks to the incredibly beautiful but also very shocking World Press Photo exhibition which you can see occupying most of the centre.

"This will be followed by another international exhibition, Analogue, which brings together video art, or should we say film art from the 1960s and 1970s from the UK, Poland and Canada.

"We can also look forward to the photography of Patrick Fenech and an installation by Raphael Vella."

Mr Fenech said the theatre season includes plays which are very contemporary if controversial. The subjects range from incest and child abuse to the environment and education.

"I am proud to announce that we have no less than four new Maltese plays this season as well as a tribute to Maltese playwright Francis Ebejer.

"Our concert season will continue to offer a variety of music from rock to baroque, from new musicians to new composers. And our film season will include a Spanish film festival and a Halloween horror weekend."