Malta prepared to host European Cultural Capital

The country looked forward to the legacy of 2018, when Malta will host the European Cultural Capital, reaping the fruits of the year’s achievements in following ones, Culture Parliamentary Secretary Mario de Marco said this morning.

Speaking during a seminar on the 2018 cultural capital this morning, the aim of which was to disseminate information and ensure participation by civic society, Dr de Marco said that each city had a different story to tell.

The winning bid, he said, had to tell its story in a different and authentic way. Malta would be integrating the within wider urban regeneration.

Dr de Marco noted that the draft cultural policy had been approved by cabinet and was now the Nationaal Cultural Policy and the opportunity 2018 presented had to be grabbed for the development of Maltese European creativity.

He pointed out that previous cultural capitals had been criticised for not focusing on the European dimension. He insisted that while Malta would emphasise its European heritage, this would not be done at the expense of its Mediterranean dimension.

The programme, he said, has to enjoy the support of the business community.

Dr de Marco said that there were 4,000 enterprises and 9,000 individuals in the cultural industry and they had to be nurtured

Jacqueline Pacaud, the manager of the European Capital of Culture action, said that the idea behind the European cultural capital was to highlight the richness and diversity of the European cultural city.

The event, she said, was one of the most visible in Europe.