Vision and action necessary in cultural policy formulation

History lessons, censorship and the protection of cultural heritage were hot topics discussed yesterday during a feedback session about the draft cultural policy expected to be approved by October.

Before the discussion, Culture Parliamentary Secretary Mario de Marco stressed the policy was not a "wish list" but a vision that had to be coupled with concrete action to bear fruit.

The plan would prepare Malta for 2018, where one of its towns or cities will become the cultural capital of the EU.

Dr de Marco appealed for more coordination between ministries and public-funded bodies to combat complex challenges in turning thoughts into action.

During a workshop for members of civil society, the Front Against Censorship appealed to Dr de Marco to act urgently on the cultural policy's promise to update freedom of expression laws to reflect 21st century realities.

Front member Ingram Bondin said the wave of censorship was gaining more ground by the day and it was unacceptable for a country's laws to empower a magistrate to decide whether a play could be seen by adults.

He asked Dr de Marco to at least give a symbolic token to the cause by making small changes in the law so that a person could not be sent to prison for writing a fictitious story.

The Front said the wave of censorship was a result of lack of exposure to contemporary art and literature in schools.

Children's Commissioner Helen d'Amato said that, if any changes were to be proposed, she would have to be consulted because minors had a right to be protected, a view shared by the Front.

Ms d'Amato called for an audit of culture-related organisations which were not necessarily registered with the Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations.

One of the ideas that emerged from the discussion was for some form of forum to be set up for different organisations and enterprises to make their voices heard more easily and for feedback to be something constant.

A Cospicua local councillor urged the government to protect cultural heritage from being ruined by selfish people who took over shelters and stores around the bastions to, among other things, raise fighting dogs.

He said social enterprises had to be catered for in Maltese legislation because these were different from for-profit companies or NGOs and, yet, such distinction was not made in Maltese law.

The president of an organisation embracing history teachers, George Cassar urged the government not to let history lessons fall by the wayside because these were an essential part of culture.

He said that, although it was being denied, history lessons were becoming shorter and less frequent in various schools.

Other members of civil society said application forms for government funds should be made simpler and more funds should be made available for television programmes and digitalisation projects that sought to record history and traditions for future generations.

Some complained about accessibility into museums and other cultural activities where prices were prohibitive or public transport was not available.

Dr de Marco thanked those who attended for such a lively discussion and promised that all feedback received throughout the consultation sessions would be taken into consideration for the final document.