The Cittadella Centre for Arts, Culture and Crafts, run by the Department of Culture of the Ministry for Gozo, last week hosted an art exhibition with a difference. Students attending the various schools within the Gozo College were invited to submit drawings and paintings representing their perceptions of Gozo's various characteristics. This exhibition, Characteristics of Gozo, is part of a wider project, called Young Artists' Work (YAW), launched by the Gozo College.

This project was primarily aimed at enhancing the formative artistic process of Gozitan students from the initial stages of their education up to the end of secondary school. It also intended to create synergy between the roles of art teachers deployed within the Gozo College, from primary to secondary level.

Apart from offering uniformity and continuity in the teaching of art, the YAW project also targeted the community's participation in school activities to ensure a better understanding of the teaching methods used within the Gozo College, particularly with regard to this subject. The venue gave a prestigious touch to the exhibition since it is used throughout the year to display the works of established or lesser known artists.

The work involved in the organisation of the YAW project and the setting up of this exhibition was shared by all the teachers and art students involved, under the co-ordination of Lino Xerri, art teacher at the Canon G.F. Agius de Soldanis Girls' Secondary School.

This activity was sponsored by the Sliema Lions Club, whose president, Ian Lochhead, attended the inauguration by Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono, in the presence of Gozo College principal Frank Gatt.

Meanwhile an established annual activity in Gozo's educational and cultural calendar was Lace Day, set up at the University Gozo Centre on April 6. Maltese and Gozitan lacemakers demonstrated their skills at bobbin-lace working as they sat at their pillows throughout the day. Various artefacts, laboriously executed in this traditional and folkloristic craft, were displayed alongside articles used by lace-makers in their work.

Visitors were also provided with information regarding the Lace Studies diploma course which is solely offered at the University Gozo Centre. In fact the Lace Making Programme at UGC has been instrumental in reviving and increasing interest in this craft while giving it a wider academic perspective through the teaching of related subjects such as Pattern Drawing, History of Art, History of Lace in Malta and Europe as well as Costumes and Vestments. The inclusion of Basic Marketing and Accounts completes the package of the Diploma in Lace Studies to make the subject attractive as a business venture. A foundation course is also offered in the summer holidays, between July and September. This course, intended for young people aged 12 and over, also serves as a basic introduction for those who decide to further their knowledge through the diploma course.

Another interesting proposition is that offered to international students in summer. An itinerary, spread over a whole week, is planned for these participants who are interested to learn more about Maltese lace-making techniques. This programme includes residential arrangements as well as cultural visits and excursions to interesting places in Gozo.

This year's guest speaker was the Prime Minister's wife, Kate Gonzi, who also distributed certificates to course participants. Ms Giovanna Debono, who was also present, said that the Diploma in Lace Studies offered at the centre is unique and she expressed the hope that more students would join the course when it is offered again in October.

She said her ministry would continue to support the University Gozo Centre which has become a hub of activity and through it hundreds of Gozitans have obtained a University degree. Consiglia Azzopardi, co-ordinator of the Lace Making Programme at the UGC, highlighted various unique artefacts while she showed guests around.

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