Contemporary Maltese art

For the umpteenth time, contemporary Maltese art has not been officially represented at the latest Venice Biennale. This again raises some important questions about significant State-supported opportunities that may be lost to established Maltese artists.

What happened to the National Artists' Directory? And to the links to artists' personal websites on what was promised to be an official portal for the Ministry of Culture? And what is the policy behind State-sponsored Maltese art in foreign exhibitions or the buying or commissioning of the services of artists by the State?

Well, whenever such occasions do occur, it is often for the benefit of the very few. Let's not diminish the value of diversity in the quality of art while automatically and unjustly pushing others aside.

Let us remember that among the latter there will always be those who, despite being deprived of such opportunities, have spent years, if not their entire life, practising their activity with commitment, zeal and very often without any financial gain. But because they are artists, and they are forever destined to create, they are constantly making their own contribution to Malta's cultural legacy, its real identity, just the same.

Let us seize the opportunities that come our way and find ways of officially supporting contemporary Maltese art at high national and international levels, but with deserved recognition to more than just the few.